For the first time last Wednesday, St. Mary School students heard a new drum educators hope they will continue to hear as they grow.
St. Mary School hosted an introduction ceremony in front of the school to show the students a new drum Light of Christ School Division has purchased. The drum is hand made and hand painted, and made of moose skin.
The introduction ceremony also included a smudge.
“One of the things we wanted to do was provide an opportunity for a sense of identity for our children, and not just our Aboriginal children but all of them,” St. Mary Principal Shaun Loeppky said.
Drumming facilitator Shonan Awasis said he’s excited to be instructing the youth. Awasis also provides drum instruction to John Paul II Collegiate.
“Trying to catch [students] when they’re young really helps in a big way for generations to overcome prejudice and racism,” Awasis said, adding he hopes public schools will also bring in the program.
