Drum Making at St. George's, Vancouver

The Diocese of New Westminster was pleased to support the work of Vivian Seegers partnership with St Georges Anglican on December 12th, 2014, for a First Nations Drum Making Workshop. The participants were diverse and the teaching time was enjoyed by all.

Vivian explained that "the cultural experience of learning to put these drums together was very spirit filling, bringing back memories for each participant of teachings from grandparents and other deceased friends and relatives. We can almost hear the drums of days long gone beginning to awaken and beat again. Our children will have the opportunity to experience the sacred drum circle once again because of the work that is being done by this wonderful project.

In our drum making session, we learned a few important things about our culture. When we first receive a drum as a gift we must wrap her in a blanket and place her up high four days. 

Respectfully, we are taught that when we are getting to know someone for the first four days we just be who we are and go about our days as we normally would and yet remain silent with each other but aware of each other.

The drum is one of the seven sacred ceremonies of the Sun Dance tradition. The heartbeat of mother earth, she gathers the heart of the community into one. This allows us to bring our hearts and minds to the generosity and abundance of mother earth - making us mindful of how important we are to our Creator who so unconditionally cares for us through all the gifts we receive from mother earth. Each person who received a drum is given this teaching of our elders."

Thanks again to St. George, Vancouver and Vivian Seegers for this great time of cultural learning.