Hand drum circles are open to all
Drumming and singing are vital parts of Indigenous culture
Since moving to Edmonton in 2023, Terry Aleck and his partner Christine M. Turenne have joyfully shared Aleck’s songs and many hand drum gatherings at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse on 118 Avenue and elsewhere. Terry Aleck, also known as Coyote, is an Elder of Lytton First Nation in British Columbia. The name Coyote was given to him by his great uncle. After four days fasting in the mountains, it marked a transformation on his healing journey. During their time together, Turenne was given the name White Wolf Woman, which she cherishes.
I asked the couple to share their thoughts on the meaning of drumming in their lives:
What does the hand drum represent?
Terry: Every life has a heartbeat, whether it walks, flies, or swims. When we drum, we show respect for life. Drumming is sacred to our way of life as First Nations people. It was a tradition that was lost until fairly recently in my community. We woke up with the power of the drum.
How does the hand drum help you?
Terry: I wanted to drum as a young man in my twenties. But the Elder told me, “You are not ready yet.” He was right. I fell off the wagon again and went into treatment. Thirty-seven years later, I am still clean and sober.
In 1988, I picked up a hand drum at the Stein Valley Festival. I was on the highway walking home when I received my first song. It felt like I hit an invisible wall. I felt a surge of energy from Mother Earth went right through me, and the song came out. When it peaked, I walked into the Elders Lodge. They said they had not heard that song for 50 years. It was a medicine man’s calling song to feast together, share storytelling, and have fun.
Sometime later, I got together with the medicine man’s family. They pulled out his hand drum and asked me to play it. What an honour to hold his drum. This was the start of my hand drum journey in 1988.
Christine, why did you and Terry start the hand drum workshops?
Christine: We teach people from all walks of life, sharing our songs. After an hour of drumming, people feel differently. They have new energy and feel more positive. Many say, “I’m glad I came today.” Even though Terry and I may have obstacles on the way to the circle, we feel the same way when we finish.
How does the drum help others?
Terry: Drumming brings healing energy to people. When they hear the beat of the drum, it opens them up to healing and energy in their lives. Something changes in their DNA, in their system, which can lead them to a better way of life.
Do you have to be Indigenous to play a hand drum?
Terry: No. When the Elder was teaching me, he said, “If anyone is interested, share your knowledge. Keeping it in can lead to sickness.” That’s why I share the Elder’s songs with their permission, and the songs that come to me.
What is your feeling about playing the hand drum?
Christine: I love it. Terry encouraged me to sing. I loved to sing but my mother and my elementary school teacher discouraged me. They didn’t like my voice. When I first got up in public and sang with Terry, it was scary. Today, I see drumming and singing as prayers. The more you say prayers out loud, the stronger they are. I feel happy. That inspires me to continue.
Terry, is it hard to learn to play the hand drum? Are there protocols to respect?
Terry: No, a drum is like any instrument. Everybody has a heartbeat. Tune into that rhythm. Listen to the other drummers. Close your eyes and feel it.
Before we begin, we offer sage to the organization that has invited us, as well as the animals who provided their hides, be they deer, elk, moose, bison, elk, coyote, bear, or even dog. We learned from a teenager back home how to rescue hides. She was deeply committed to respecting the animals who were deceased and discarded. This fall, we will teach drum making.
Many people have a drum hanging on their wall at home that they never play. Take it down and play it. The drum is never too old, nor the drumstick. My drumstick is over 40 years old.
Drumming is good for the soul. When you drum alone or in a drum circle, you change the energy in your body. Soak it in.
Aleck was recently profiled in an award-winning documentary, s-yéwyáw: Awaken. The documentary is about the pain of being taken from his grandparents’ home to St. George residential school and its harsh reality. Produced by his daughter, the musician, Ecko Aleck, it is a moving film about intergenerational healing, available free of charge on Telus STORYHIVE.
Watch for ongoing drum circles and drum making workshops in Edmonton this fall.
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Learning about our first cultures adds dimension and joy to my life.