Drum-Making Workshop
In our Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Resurgence of Land Based Pedagogies and Practices course, a drum-making workshop stands out as one of the most memorable experiential learning exercises. This exercise focused on Indigenous customs and cultures. With the expert guidance of an Indigenous elder, making a drum from scratch was a very meaningful and instructive experience. We studied the traditional ways of making the drum, its function in ceremonies, and its cultural significance in Indigenous cultures. This practical experience gave us insights into the therapeutic benefits of drumming, particularly for traumatized residential school survivors, in addition to teaching us about the technical components of drumming.
A drum is made through a number of stages, such as choosing and preparing the wood, stretching the drumhead, and putting the drum together. In order to provide a sense of achievement and a connection to the drum’s cultural significance, each step demands meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.
The process of manufacturing drums can be extremely therapeutic for survivors of residential schools. The elder was explaining how drum making had helped him recover from the trauma he had gone through at the residential school. The cultural customs of many survivors were taken away from them by force. They can recover a suppressed aspect of their identity and reestablish a connection with their heritage through drumming. In order to recover and regain a sense of belonging, this cultural connectedness is essential.
The Indigenous elder who was helping us to make the drums elaborated on how emotions can be powerfully expressed through drumming. Drumming’s rhythmic quality can aid in the processing and release of bottled-up emotions in survivors, promoting emotional recovery. in this manner. Community settings are common for drum-making seminars, which promote bonding and support among participants. You can create a network of support and lessen feelings of loneliness by sharing this creative process with people who have gone through similar things. Playing involves concentration and attention due to its intricate and repetitive nature. By keeping survivors focused and in the present, this can be therapeutic and help them manage trauma symptoms like anxiety and flashbacks.
Making drums and other arts and crafts can improve general wellbeing. Playing the drum and creating it physically can boost mood, lower stress levels, and increase cognitive abilities. For survivors of residential schools, drumming is a means of healing and more than just a craft, I’ve discovered. Through this meaningful activity, survivors can find strength and comfort by reestablishing a connection to their cultural heritage, expressing their feelings, creating a sense of community, and cultivating awareness. My comprehension of the cultural significance of drumming has been enhanced by this practical learning task, which also brought to light its potent role in trauma rehabilitation.