Fort Simpson (Dec 08/06) - Participants in Michael Cazon's class won't really be learning to move to the beat of their own drum but to a beat that has been passed through generations.

Michael Cazon teaches a program sharing traditional songs and drum beats with youth each Monday evening at the community hall in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Cazon is teaching traditional drumming to people in Fort Simpson, particularly youth. The idea for the drumming program came from Robert Byatt, the principal of Thomas Simpson school. Byatt said he hoped to offer an activity for youth that is culturally relevant.

"We've had very strong drumming programs in the past," said Byatt.

The program was also designed to offer some variety compared to other local activities that are mainly centred around sports, he said.

Teaching drumming and songs to the youth is an important way to keep the traditional alive, said Cazon. Many songs have already been lost or are slowly being forgotten as elders pass away. There are a variety of different songs that vary from place to place, said Cazon.

In the past, every community had a prophet who had the songs come to them through dreams. The songs could then be used by the community when they needed help from the spirits or nature, Cazon said.

There are different songs and drum beats for handgames, traditional dances and prayers.

Participants in the program will be taught about the history of the songs and also how to care for the drums.

The drums are very sacred items that hold the songs, said Cazon. Care for the drums varies. Usually the elder who made the drum will tell you how to look after it, he said.

There's more to playing a drum than making a beat.

Drummers have to be in the right state of body and mind when they take part in the sacred circle, said Cazon. One person's feelings can go into the other drummers, the dancing circle and then into the crowd, he explained.

It's important for drummers to take care of themselves, he said.

People who are using alcohol or drugs break the sacred circle because when people are dancing or drumming they are all praying.

Drumming is powerful, said Cazon.

It can create the good feelings that people experience at drum dances as everyone becomes part of the community.

Drum songs don't exclude anyone, he said. Elders say that as long as the drumming makes you feel good than you are connected to the essence of it, he said.

"It has a whole way of changing your way of being," said Cazon.

He learned to drum about 10 years ago by playing with other drummers and elders.

After drumming for a year he began to learn how to sing.

"I love drumming," he said.

So far participation in the Monday night sessions held at the community hall at 7 p.m. has been low.

The program was originally slated to run until Christmas, but Byatt said it will be re-evaluated after the holidays so see if a different time would work better.

The program is open to both men and women, but women are asked to bring their own drums.