My Cousin Barry Anaquod is a very hard worker. He takes the time to learn things and goes about making things. He was the person I sought out to fix a violin (fiddle) that belonged to Sues deceased Dad. It was in bad shape. Barry really did an awesome job fixing the fiddle. Barry had been mentored by this old gentleman. That old gentleman became a very good friend of Barry's. Sadly that Old Gentleman had a heart attack and died.
Barry was asked by another cousin of ours to make him a Water Drum. Barry sent me pictures of what he did the other day. I say he did a remarkable job carving out a piece of wood and making the drum. They call the water drum, the Little Boy out here.
It is going to be a surprise for my cousin. My Cousin is a Traditional man.
I like that about my Cousin he is always willing to share and give of himself. I think a lot of our people are like that.
The story of the Little Boy is an Ojibway story that went out and sought Help for his people. He traveled a great distance and was given a gift of a Ceremony to help his people. I am not a Teacher so I can not tell the story in its true form.
As you can see the Drum started as a block of wood and Barry carved it out. I am sure that my other Cousin will love the Drum and use it in his Ceremonies. I hope no one tells him that he is going to get a present from our Cousin out in Alberta.
The Drum is made in a specific way to represent the Teachings of the Little Boy. I hope I am not breaking any Ceremony protocol by showing off this piece made by my Cousin. If any Traditional Teachers of Midiwiwin know if this is wrong, just let me know and I will take this off the internet.
Steve this is beautiful and it is not just because of workmanship but because of his spirit . you can truly see the drum is a part of him and he must in fact be a part of the drom ☺
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you cousin would know of a man Mr. Twoheart ? he made canoes and he is the person who taught my grandfather how to make canoes . My Mum said Mr. Twoheart was the last man she knew who knew that tradition . My garndfather died when my mum was 7yrs so he is not here either to pass on how to make the canoe with the birch bark and tree roots etc. He used to make small canoes for kids to play with in the water I have old photos of mum & cousins in them paddling & goofing around .
I wish my grandfather were here to teach my boys those skills and traditions .Your cousin is a gift to your community isn't he ☺
Thank You so much for sharing
I remember as a kid in the 60's that Old Joe Fontaine made a boat for my Dad. It was hand made and my dad used it for fishing down the bank at our place. That old man did not use power tools.
ReplyDeleteI know that there was a Fontaine on the northshore who was real talented at making stuff. Norman Fontaine's Dad.
ki gee a-shkway eeway-ka-ishee wabadawegayun
ReplyDeleteka-kway a-back-awithin ki-ga-ooginay
there are many who do say we should not record or even take pictures of the sacred. I feel we should not "hide" anymore. Our ways were against the law, so of course our people hide it. So maybe it is why we have those feelings now. I live with onjine everyday. I know it.
DeleteBeautiful Construction, however I have seen old drawings of Chippawa and Ojibway water drums in which the wide part is on the bottom and the narrower opening is on top. Apparently your drum is made upside down...
ReplyDeleteyes, this is correct
DeleteThis drum is symmetrical in that both top and bottom are the same size. The angle of the photograph gives the illusion that the drum is smaller on the bottom.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have seen drums with slightly larger bottom portions as well.
There is a lot of teachings involved in a little boy drum. How the cover is tied. The seven stones. The Megis shell. The water. The hole.The songs.how to hold it.
ReplyDeleteIt is true. We should know the story of the Little Boy and how he brought to his people. The Teachings go with the Drum that is for sure.
Delete