Tsawaysia Spukwus at LVUC Drum Making Workshop

On Saturday September 7th fifteen of us enjoyed a drum making workshop offered by Tsawaysia Spukwus. Tsawaysia is a Squamish Nation member, born and raised in Squamish, BC.  She is (a mother of three and grandmother of twins) who is strong, committed, and active in the preservation of her Culture and Heritage. In this hands-on workshop participants were able to make a traditional First Nations drum. The workshop was filled with stories, music, education and hands on drum
making.

The workshop began with song and then a blessing of the materials we were working with, the hide, the wood, and the twine. Tsawaysia asked us to imagine the journey the hide had been on, and then had us think about all the animals that had interacted with the tree to make the frame of the drum. At the end of the workshop Tsawaysia asked the group to share something they will remember, learned or appreciated. Many shared that the reminder of where the materials came from made the making of the drum even more meaningful. We were reminded the beauty of a Drum is to
make music and keep the heartbeat alive of the deer. We thanked the deer for giving up its life. We thanked the tree for giving up its life. We transformed these beautiful things into another form, a drum.  It was transformed into a beautiful gift – from your mind, body and spirit.

We are grateful for this opportunity to create and learn with Tsawaysia. If you are interested in knowing more about what Tsawaysia offers you can look up her website and or see her at the MONOVA museum. Working with her is always a gift. She is an avid participant in healing Tribal Journeys and more recently co-produced a number of documentaries including Squamish Nation: Stories from the Heart, Tribal Journeys, and Riding with the First Nation’s Snowboard Team. During the 2010 Olympics she coordinated her Family’s Sea Going Canoe Pekultn display and her Family shared songs, dances, history, in honour of her late father Ernie Harry
(Pekultn).