LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - The sound of 24 drums beating in unison was one of the highlights of a three-day workshop held at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson.

From March 9 to 11, 13 students from Fort Simpson and 11 from Fort Providence joined together to learn about the teachings of the drum and to build one of their own.

Fort Providence students Axell Bouvier, left, Nolan Bonnetrouge, kneeling, and Brandon Thom display the drums they made with the help of Lawrence Denetre during a three-day workshop in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Students used pre-made hoops but, under the guidance of instructors Aline LaFlamme and Lawrence Denetre, they placed and strung the hides themselves.

Making a drum is part of the region's Dene Kede curriculum, said Bernice Gargan, the language specialist at Bompas.

"It's also important for us because a lot of our kids don't know their (cultural) identity," she said. "It's very important they know the meaning of drums and how to care for them."

Gargan submitted a proposal to the Dehcho Divisional Education Council to host the drum making workshop in Fort Simpson. Students have been involved in drum making in Fort Providence for a number of years but this was only the second time that youths from the village have been able to participate, Gargan said.

Kyla Sabourin, 12, of Fort Simpson said she was excited to learn she would have the chance to make a drum.

"It's fun," Sabourin said as she punched holes for lacing into her hide.

Sabourin, who had never played a drum before, said she was looking forward to having one of her own to play.

Elvira Bonnetrouge, 12, of Fort Providence was also enthusiastic about the workshop.

"It's fun but it's hard work," she said. Bonnetrouge's brother has a drum, she said, and she too wanted one to play.

It's hard to explain in words the pride the students have and the closeness they feel to their culture when they play the drums they've made, said LaFlamme, one of the instructors.

LaFlamme, who's from Vancouver, has helped people make close to 1,200 drums. Her original goal was to assist in making 1,000 in her lifetime and now she's aiming for 2,000.

"I make drums with people because I believe in drums," she said. "The drum is the heartbeat of the people. That's not just a little foolish saying, I believe that to be true."

Colonialists took drums away from the people because they wanted to break them, said LaFlamme. At one point aboriginal people went to jail if more than three of them were gathered with drums, she said.

LaFlamme added that she has a great respect for elders who maintained the drums, the songs and the ceremonies. The freedom they won for us should be honoured, she said.

"Imagine the elders who suffered so we could make drums in school," LaFlamme said.

While LaFlamme taught the female students to make a drum style that is right for women, Denetre, who lives in Fort Providence, led the male students in making Dene drums.

Blake Minoza, 14, of Fort Providence said making a drum is hard work, especially if the hide lacing gets dry. Minoza, however, said he was looking forward to using his finished drum for handgames.