Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 19, 2007

DEH CHO - Acho Dene Koe First Nation is looking for people who are interested in learning about drumming.

The band is working to establish a drumming group, said Anne Marie McGuire, the band manager.

"We're trying to re-establish the culture and bring it back to the forefront again," McGuire said.

When the group is in place ,elders will be given an opportunity to pass along the oral traditions and history of the drums as well as lessons on drum construction and different types of songs. These lessons will be given to adults, who will form the core group of drummers, said McGuire.

In turn, the adults will pass the lessons on to interested youth.

"The whole idea is to get people in a practice of sharing," she said.

Cultures come under threat when the generations don't talk and share information with each other, said McGuire.

The band has received funding from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for the drumming project and for an oral tradition project.

The idea for the drumming group came from a number of community drummers, who have wanted to start a project like this for a while, she said. With a broad focus to the group that encompasses many teachings about the drum, people will get a sense of where the drum comes from and why it is played a certain way in Fort Liard, said McGuire.

"As one person put it to me, there's a big difference between playing the drum and beating the drum," she said.

Phillip Betthale is one local drummer who is eager to see the project get underway.

"I feel good to do these kinds of things for the youth," he said.

Drumming is not as strong in the community as it used to be and many of the elders who had the knowledge have passed away, said Betthale. Lots of youth, however, are still waiting to learn, he said.

"I think they really want to learn," he said.

Betthale, who has drummed all his life, said he plans to be one of the teachers.

"I want to bring back the old traditional tea dance song," he said.

When it comes to drumming there is a lot to learn and people have to listen closely. People should know the spiritual lessons if they want to play, he said.

Betthale said learning to drum is good for the youth because it connects them with their roots.

"They should really know who they are and where they're from," said Betthale.

The drumming project is part of a bigger initiative being started at the band.

"We have a network of things we are building on," McGuire said.

All of the projects are centred on helping people regain pride in their heritage and rebuilding a sense of community, she said.

Plans are in the works to begin celebrating traditional holidays and festivities that were done around important times like the spring and fall hunt. There are also plans to develop victim services and enhance the preschool program.

This is all part of a project to build a set of resources and services within the community to service residents, said McGuire. The band is trying to introduce programs that will have a long-term benefit and not act as a band-aid. Emphasis will also be placed on skill development and training for youth, she said.

"We've got a lot of good things going," said McGuire.