Paula White
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jun 14/99) - Rose Fredlund is just one of many talented artists and performers who will be at the Great Northern Arts Festival in July.

Fredlund is a drum singer who performs many original and traditional pieces in both Dogrib and Slavey. She accompanies herself with drums and rattles.

"We're really delighted to have her," said Tanya Van Valkenburg, one of the co-ordinators of this year's festival.

Born and raised in Wha Ti, drumming was always a big part of Fredlund's life. According to her biography, she first started drumming at the age of seven. But there's a lot more to drumming than just playing. It involves learning to sew, how to tan caribou, fox and beaver hides and how to hunt, trap and fish. And for Fredlund, it also involved learning about herself and her people, who they are, where they come from and where they are going.

Fredlund now makes her home in Churchill, Man. Van Valkenburg and Marilyn Dzaman, also a co-ordinator, said Fredlund had heard about the festival from a friend in Iqaluit. Fredlund then contacted Dzaman and Van Valkenburg and the rest is history.

"The thing with her is she's so diverse in her skills," Van Valkenburg said. "Her singing voice is just really powerful."

"She's just wild," Dzaman added.

In Fredlund's own words, "learning and writing my own songs which are based on love, dancing and prayer, are very special things in my life. Today, I still maintain my knowledge and teach my children as well as others in the community as I believe strongly in our traditional cultures. Working together and sharing our knowledge will bring us back together."

Dzaman said Fredlund will be holding a workshop on rattle making during the festival, which takes place from in Inuvik July 16-25.