Big Drum is a balm to my spirit

As I toured the new ceremonial Big Drum hall, Gimanidoowichigemin Gwaaba'iganing, last week in Sawyer, I felt the importance of the community efforts to see that this place was built, bringing Nimishomis (our grandfather, as the drum is called) home.

Listening to speakers who delivered their comments in Ojibwe was an uncommon opportunity to hear the flow of the language as it must have been in community gatherings before the boarding school era, which deliberately attempted to destroy the language altogether. These speakers are our testament to the fact that the attempt to obliterate the indigenous tongue did not completely succeed.

The sense of community I experience when I sit and listen in such a gathering is without question a balm to my spirit, and a reminder of who we are as a people. It felt good being there, witnessing the community coming together to welcome this building, this newest addition to the infrastructure at Fond du Lac, there to add strength to the important process of healing a community and passing along traditions to the younger generation.

As a youngster, I had the privilege of learning from my grandmother, Cecilia Robinson, who was also a member of the Big Drum, and hearing the drum songs being sung by my uncle Ray Robinson, who sang with this and other drums in the area. His songs are still being sung byBig Drum singers today.

Brothers Vern and Russ Northrup have accepted a huge responsibility in being drum keepers for the Fond du Lac Big Drum. They and the singers take their place alongside the other groups in the area rotation to make sure the ceremonial dance dates continue. The first ceremonial dance to be held in the new drum hall is scheduled for Sept. 20-21.

My plans are to attend these ceremonies for as long as I am able, and to lend support to the ogichidaakwewag (the female members of Big Drum), who also play a significant role in supporting dance and feast responsibilities. They, too, answered the call when the Sawyer Big Drum was awakened.

Together, the community moves forward and once again, the sounds of Big Drum will flow over the community to envelope it in spiritual guidance.

Ozhaawashkogiizhigokwe Janis A. Fairbanks, Ph.D, is a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior and is an Ojibwe Cultural Consultant specializing in the history, language, literature and culture of the Great Lakes Ojibwe. She is also the Pine Knot News accountant. Contact her at [email protected].