Bob Grylls, Contributor
Update: Due to a miscommunication regarding certain First Nations sacred practices and terms, this story has been edited. The letter will be printed in the next issue, as well as online. I apologize for the error. -Editor
WESTMEATH – September 3rd was overcast but a rather mild evening, perfect for a farewell.
My neighbours, Cathy and John Phannenhour were leaving in a few days to relocate to the Big Grassy First Nation Reserve in northern Ontario. Rounding out the group was Cathy and John (both familiar with pow wows), John’s daughter Julia and her friend Emily.
Cathy will make up time lost with her biological family who live in The Big Grassy First Nation Reserve. (Cathy is a 60’s scoop survivor, taken from her biological mother at birth). She was finally able to locate her biological parents and sister in 2016.
John is following his dream to earn his master’s degree in psychotherapy.
A event was a social gathering, specifically to meet and dance, sing, socialize, and honour their own culture. This gathering was set up as a circle for the ones participating. The six persons from Golden Lake all had drums, as did Cathy and John who had learned the practice during previous pow wows over the last few years in their back yard.
The variety of ‘spirit drums’ were either hand-made or gifted and are strongly associated with First Nations people. Some people say, “Drumming is the heartbeat of Mother Earth.”
This event began as a farewell celebration to Cathy and John that changed course and ended in a celebration of a new beginning.
The songs were short with a single melody but repeated several times during a performance. Singing style varied according to who was singing. Some songs used words in an Aboriginal language or in English. Each song served a specific purpose and had a meaning.
One song was to honour John for his friendship, another for a birthday. Trevor sang a powerful ‘happy song’. He said afterwards, “It was my first song I did for the community and it helped bring us together.”
The celebration was concluded with the traveling song which meant ‘safe journey’. In the circle, after each verse, each person in succession sang the theme until everyone had participated individually.
On another note, Trevor wanted to pass on to our community that a group of singers and dancers would like to participate in a local event sometime.
