Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 09/99) - The enchanting beat of drums can be heard from the papal site in Fort Simpson on various nights.

While the Deh Cho Drummers' music may be moving to the listener, it reportedly has an even more profound effect on those who play it.

Mike Cazon took up drumming again a couple of years ago after a period of personal turmoil.

"It's a way of restoring balance, a way of nurturing your spirit," he said. There are many symbolic elements to a drumming ceremony. The fire is a primary one. It represents the centre of the earth or the "core," and the smoke from the fire opens the doors to the spiritual world, according to Cazon. A tobacco offering is extended to the flames prior to the performance.

A smudging ceremony often takes place as well. In what Cazon describes as a very humbling experience, the drummers acknowledge their mistakes and shortcomings to the Creator and ask for his protection. Through smudging, an individual purifies the energy around them and is able to accept others for who they are. For instance, Cazon said he used to feel discouraged when someone arrived at a drum dance after indulging in alcohol.

"It wasn't my place to judge them," he explains. "But we can't let them stop us from feeling good...so you start noticing the good things. It's a really good way of strengthening yourself as a person."

The drumming itself brings out a wide range of emotions. A large and enthusiastic crowd results in a euphoric feeling, according to drummer Joseph Nayally.

"If there's lots of people dancing, it kind of gives you feedback and makes you want to sing and play harder," said Nayally, who learned to drum in the late 1980s in his home community of Wrigley. Prayer songs, on the other hand, evoke a very different emotion, Cazon said.

"Sometimes it comes out through tears," he said, adding that he feels a strong connection with the land and his ancestors during those moments.

For Gerald Antoine, his introduction to drumming came two years ago when he was presented with the instrument at a Deh Cho leadership assembly. Having been teased as an adolescent because his voice often cracked when he sang, that gift offered Antoine a shot at redemption.

"It really helped me to fulfil that vision I had for myself being able to sing...it was quite emotional for me at that time. It's something that I really treasure in my heart," he said. "(The music) is something that has been given to the Dene people and it's something they need to utilize to enhance their way of life and relationship with their Creator."

The Deh Cho Drummers, which includes about a dozen members, was formed last fall and plays at leadership assemblies. Their practices are open to youth, who are encouraged to take part.

Cazon noted that the group is still learning songs and the meaning of them. He said they recently travelled to a gathering a Meander River in northern Alberta and saw a variation of drum dancing where people gathered three-by-three. They have also learned a great deal from other drummers and elders from groups such as the Haida and Squamish.

"It's good for our drummers to experience different cultures," he said.