Drum Making Workshops – Finding our Voice

Grade 5 Indigenous students across Abbotsford School District are coming together to meet new friends at the Indigenous Education Centre for a Drum Making Workshop in the month of February.  The students will each make a special drum to keep, or to gift to someone special.  The Drum Project was designed with the input of our Cultural Advisor, Dr. Gwen Point and in consultation with our Indigenous Advisory Committee.  Each student had the honour of making a drum with Knowledge Keeper, Darren Charlie from Sts’ailes First Nation.  Students learned the teachings of the drum and how to care for their drum.  Students learned about the importance of finding their voice, and to be proud of who they are and where they come from as an Indigenous person. 

At the workshop, students met new friends from other elementary schools they will go to middle school with.  They played ice breaker games, enjoyed lunch together, played outside and made their drum.  Students will also have the opportunity to share these teachings with their peers in grade 5 once they go back to their school.  The Indigenous Support Worker from each school received the book called The Honour Drum to share with all Grade 5 students in their schools. A big thank you to Allison Gardner, Chris Kelly and Loraleigh Epp for supporting this work.