A12 Thursday, July 11, 2019
Agassiz-Harrison Observer
www.agassizharrisonobserver.com
ARTS
‘It’s not just a craft … It’s not just an instrument’ Darren Charlie will bring his drummaking workshop back to the Harrison Festival this year Grace Kennedy The Observer
It was 1982 when Darren Charlie made his first drum. Then a young man in his early 20s, Charlie was introduced to the craft by his younger brother, who spent time learning about Sts’ailes traditions from their elders. But in the nearly 40 years since then, Charlie has turned his knowledge into a way to help others connect with Coast Salish culture. “They say it’s a medicine for the people, because the songs are prayers,” 59-year-old Charlie said, sitting in the Observer office with one of his drums. “Our elders tell us that we’re able to share more of our cultural teachings, just for awareness for mainstream society,” he added. “Because we are multi-cultural in Canada,
“They wanted to offer more things at the Festival of Arts, and drum making they thought would be a good fit for them,” Charlie explained. “It’s been very successful.” Each year, Charlie opens the workshop with a song and a prayer “to bring down the spirit of the occasion, where we can enjoy our time together … to be part of each other’s lives for that day, and have a good time doing it.” But the workshop, taking place on Saturday, July 20 this year in Memorial Hall, is more than just a chance to make a drum and enjoy some music. It’s also a chance to learn some of the teachings of the drum, and the teachings of the Coast Salish people. “That was all taken away from us,” Charlie said, talking about the traditions and language that disappeared after colonization and the introduction of residential schools. “But now, they say that when the time’s right, all those teachings (will start) to come back. And they are today. “Some of our elders will call it miracles that are happening. Our songs are coming Darren Charlie will be hosting a drum making workshop during this year’s Harrison Festival of the Arts. back. Our teachings are coming back. And (GRACE KENNEDY/THE OBSERVER) there’s no laws against us anymore.” (From 1884 to 1951, an amendment to the it’s time to start sharing some of our gifts, knowledge with the community. our ways of life.” For the last five years, Charlie has also been Indian Act made the potlatch illegal and Charlie has been doing that in both his per- bringing the art of drum making to the Har- stopped many communities from holding sonal and professional life, helping youth in rison Festival of the Arts, giving attendees a their traditional gatherings and ceremonies.) care become connected to their First Nations chance to learn about Coast Salish traditions Continued on Page A13 roots through drum making and sharing his while making a drum of their own.
Locations
Stands Luckakuck Way Prest Road North & Sout
The Rural and Remote Take Home Naloxone (THN) Project is community directed to respond to local needs. It aims to make Take Home Naloxone kits more available to people in the rural areas surrounding Mission. This is vital as it takes emergency responders longer to get to these areas.
1514 people died in BC from an illicit drug overdose in 2018
@MissionRuralTHN #NaloxoneSavesLives
First Aid treatment for an opioid overdose (fentanyl, heroine etc.) Very safe. Enables breathing. DOES NOT increase substance use.
illustration/design
www.neuroscriber.com neuroscriber.com
• Sasquatch Crossing Eco Lodge • Dewdney General Store • Chehalis Store and Gas Local businesses interested in participating in this project, or for more information contact: leah.shepherd@hotmail.com
Farm Store + U-Pick
h
Fields
.50 / lb We-Pick $2 0 / lb U-Pick $1.5
$25 per 10 lb
box
Farm Store al wack Centr li il h C 1 1 2 1 5 Road
FARM FRESH - DELICIOUS - BLUEBERRIES