The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor The drum has always played a pivotal role in aboriginal culture. 'It symbolizes the heartbeat of the aboriginal people,' notes Katie Kawerski, director of the Aboriginal Head Start Initiative. And so the drum represented the perfect focus of a workshop recently completed by Head Start children and their families. Once a week for seven weeks, they attended the Community Youth Resource Centre, where they made their own elk-skin hand drums. 'The kids really enjoyed it,' says Kawerski. 'They learned some drum songs and were able to play the drums, and the parents really enjoyed it.' Under the instruction of drum-maker Cindy O'Nabigon of Cranberry Portage, the participants fashioned both drums and sticks. 'It's a huge part of the aboriginal culture,' says Kawerski. About 55 participants, ranging from three-year-old children to adults, took part. Most were from Head Start, but a few kids from the Youth Centre also joined in. Teachings Fittingly, the weekly classes incorporated the seven traditional teachings of aboriginal culture: wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility and truth. And they were not limited to aboriginals, as several non-aboriginals also participated. Kawerski said participants want to form their own drum group and hope to supply a drumbeat to introduce students at the Head Start graduation later this year. She said families involved with Head Start had for years been suggesting a drum-making workshop. Kawerski was able to turn the idea into reality after securing a $7,500 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, which purchased supplies and paid for the instructor. She is hoping to put in another grant application to continue with drumming programming, probably in the fall.
