Pow Wow Season !!!!

I am a Pow Wow Dancer and i love getting out to dance. Last year i danced at Fort Erie, New Credit and Barrie Pow Wows and this year I'd like to get out to the same ones and a few others especially making it back to Munsee-Deleware which is one of my favourites. I've been singing at the Drum for 8 years and recently i've composed some songs of my own that i'm bringing out on Wednesday Nights during our practice sessions. We practice at the school if anyone is interested we are there from 6-8....very relaxed, friendly and beginners are always welcome.

I've been listening to alot of David R. Maracle's traditional flute music over the past 2 weeks. My son and i love his "Natural Resources" Cd which i received from my Dad as a gift a couple of years ago. I'm so inspired in fact that i'm actively trying to purchase a nice flute so that i can teach myself some songs.

I sat up last night after my son went to bed and i surfed www.Youtube.com looking for Pow Wow videos and Drum groups and if this is something that you're interested in then this site is a valuble resource for songs. My favourite groups were well represented and included lots of quality Anishnaabek and Cree groups..... Taabik, Young Gunz, Snake Island, Whitefish Jrs., The Boyz, Bear Creek, Little Otter, Battle River, Eyabay. Just go to the site and type any of their names in. Just before i went to bed i listened to an awesome inter tribal by Harvey Dreaver and Whitefish Jrs. that almost brought me to tears.I saw them live in Connecticut at Schmetizun Pow Wow and Festival of Green Corn in 2001 and i danced Fort Erie last year when they were the Host Drum. Check them out !!

Oh, one other great website for traditional teachings.... www.fourdirectionsteachings.com .

The Drum : Heartbeat of the Nation

The Drum is much more than a musical instrument to Native People. It is sacred. It is a very special tie to the traditional way of life. The Drum sets the rhythm of the dances and the tempo of the song. The Drum should be cared for in a prescribed manner. All singers must know the protocol while seated at the Drum.The Drum is used in ceremony and for social gatherings. The Drum used at Pow Wows is the Plains or grandfather Drum around which a number of drummers and singers gather. The hand drum and the water drum are two other types of drums. The Anishnabe refer to their ceremonial water drum as "The Little Boy". The Drum is not made as a craft nor a play toy. We call our singing groups "drums".The sound of the universe.

Songs were many and varied, fun and festive, war and conquest, honor and family, religious and songs of joy and mourning. Many songs are still sung in native tongue and are either newly composed or revivals of old songs. These songs are reminders to the Native People of their old ways and rich heritage. The person in charge - drum keeper, head singer or drum chief - is an honored position and one with huge responsibility. He must keep and protect the Drum, get his singers together, provide drum sticks, know and lead songs for dances and set an example for younger singers.

An Elder once said, "A song to a Native is like a prayer. A singer raises his voice so high so that the Great Spirit may hear his call and ride his voice down to Earth."

Every man, woman and child who dances as a symbol of his/her culture realizes that today's singers are performing the old songs that have been passed on. One sings for the spirits around them. The music puts people in touch with the natural world.