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TSIIGEHTCHIC/ARCTIC RED RIVER
Darius Andre received an unexpected treasure when he and his classmates participated in a drum-making workshop at Chief Paul Niditchie School in Tsiigehtchic earlier this month.

The Grade 7 student said when he picked up one of the traditional drums to learn how to replace the skin, he happened to notice the initials "H. Andre" on the back.

Andre said further investigation revealed the drum had belonged to his great uncle, Hyson Andre.

Andre said he was thrilled at the discovery.

"While I was at it, I found a drum that was my grandpa's brother's from long ago," he said.

Even before finding the drum, Andre said he wanted to learn everything he could about drum making so he could share that knowledge with others.

Fort Good Hope drummers Lawrence Manuel and Jonathan Tobac visited the school to teach how to replace and maintain traditional drums, and Andre said he spent every spare minute he could with the drummers.

"I learned a lot," Andre said. "I wanted to stay there so I could learn and pass it on to the little kids."

Andre and his classmates learned how to replace the drums' skins, which are made of caribou hide. They also learned how to properly care for the instruments to ensure they last as long as possible.

"We took off the caribou hide because it was all ripped up," he said. "We learned that we can't keep it out, we have to keep it in the freezer to keep cool."

Students soaked the hides to make them pliable before cutting out the shape and stitching them to the drums, Andre said.

"We put the drum shape onto the skin and we had to cut out the shape a little longer than the drum so it could go into the drum so we could tie it on better," he said.

The drummers also taught students traditional songs.

Andre said after they were finished, elders from the community visited to bless their drums.

During the workshop, students also learned how to make dry geese. Andre said he liked learning traditional activities.

Andre's love of tradition and sharing knowledge isn't limited to drum making.

When he returned from competing at the Northern Games/Dene Games Summit in Inuvik in March, he decided to teach younger students what he knew.

Andre placed first in both the 12-and-under boys stick pull and the head pull. and he placed third in the one- and two-foot high kick competitions.

He also won the most overall points in his age category.

While he saved one or two for himself, Andre presented some of his winning medals to the students he was teaching.

"When I came back, I asked my teacher if I could teach the little kids how to do it," he said. "I brought my medals to school and whoever came first I just gave them to them."

Andre said he hopes to continue to learn traditional activities.

"It's to bring back our culture," he said. "We don't have the opportunity to do this much and that's what I like to do."

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