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Inuvik
Drummers and Dancers Abel Tingmiak still remembers the call he got from Debbie Gordon-Ruben and Leonard Harry in 1989. The two had been calling just about everyone on the Inuvik beneficiary list to come out and practise drum dancing in order to start up a group for the town. The first people they called were Martha and George Harry, Jean Arey, Tom Kimiksana, Sarah Tingmiak and Billy Day. Abel has since become an icon in the culture. He was also the person to bring in Brian Rogers, better known as Nungkii, in 1992. Brian was only 21 when he went to his first practice at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation building. “Both sides of my grandparents drum dance,” said Nungkii. “That’s why I hear the drum dance all the time. It’s like your heartbeat, a place of belonging.” For member Patricia Rogers, the sentiment is similar.
