The Castlegar Youth Action Network (Castlegar and District Community Services) partnered with the West Kootenay Regional Educator to bring 6 youth aged 11-16 to a drum making workshop at the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society, followed by a Drum Awakening ceremony.
COINS staff shared about their roles working with youth and families, as did the CYAN coordinator and the BCSS Regional Educator. COINS staff shared about drums as cultural practice and medicine. The CYAN coordinator shared a personal story about her early childhood as a Canadian of European heritage living next to indigenous neighbours in Lillooet. The BCSS Regional Educator spoke about the Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual model for treatment of mental illness and self-care, and how cultural practices such as drumming can be a part of that. Youth shared about their ancestry.
The youth and adults went through the process of making a traditional hand drum and drum stick.
A local indigenous elder spoke about how to manage feelings of frustration while working on the drum to avoid building that into the drum. Protocols were shared about the care of the drum, and learning songs. The elder spoke about keeping the drum away from alcohol and substances. The youth had the opportunity to learn some communication strategies both within the group and at home regarding the care of their drums.
A week later, participants returned to COINS for a Drum Awakening ceremony, learned the heart beat rhythm on their new drums, played some traditional songs and shared reflections.
Youth participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity and appeared pleased to have beautiful drums made with their own hands. They shared about conversations at home about drums in their own heritage and ancestry.