In an effort to help bridge the culture gap she found in the community, Loretta McDermott started a drumming group for local youth.
Nearly three years later, the Silver Evening Star Singers have more than tripled in size and continue to gain popularity.
“We respect the reason we’re at the drum,” said McDermott. “It’s to take pride in your culture. It’s to have the courage to sing and to practice and to be a part of this positive thing in our community.”
The group, then unnamed, was made up of just six girls when it began, and the youngest was only five years old.
The group attended a sweat lodge and was given its name – Silver Evening Star Singers – by a cultural advisor.
The group spent over a year practising and learning about the drum, the Cree culture and the connections the traditional music brings.
Now, with over 20 drummers, the group has been invited to perform at various community events.
Most recently, the group attended the family-friendly First Night Out celebration on New Year’s Eve, hosted by CADAC, to help ring in 2015.
“Not only did we drum during the performance, but we stayed the whole time for the First Night Out,” said McDermott. “It made the connection stronger with the younger ones. You have to mix the teachings with fun and I’ve found that makes our group a lot stronger.”
Learn respect
The Silver Evening Star Singers learn to respect themselves, others and the drum while they are practising and performing. Before each performance, the drummers and the drum are smudged with tobacco.
While the teachings and songs are based around Cree language and culture, McDermott says a Cree background is not mandatory for drummers to participate.
“Anyone can drum,” she said eagerly. “You just have to concentrate on the drum.”
Currently the youngest members of the group are four years old and McDermott says they help bring a sense of pride.
“You like to hear those young voices [singing],” she said. “They pipe up and you can tell they are proud.”
Nikki McDermott, originally the group’s youngest drummer, and Sheena Ballantyne have been with the Silver Evening Star Singers from the start.
Both girls, now 7 and 11, continue to enjoy their involvement.
“I like the singing, drumming and all the activities we get to do,” said Sheena, who has learned to take initiative in both drumming as well as everyday life.
Through drumming, Sheena has learned “not to bring any negativity to the drum.”
Nikki likes spending evenings with the group because it’s fun.
“I like when you get to do the check beats,” she said. A check beat gives the beat that the rest of the drummers are to follow.
“And it’s taught me to speak Cree a bit,” said Nikki, whose spiritual name is Singing Morning Dove.
Loretta, who is Nikki’s mother, didn’t grow up drumming, but said she knew it was something she wanted to bring to the community.
“No, I didn’t [drum] but that’s why it was so important for me to connect the Aboriginal youth to something positive,” she said. “It’s their culture.”
Loretta, who has been with the Youth Centre, based out of the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre, for six years, saw a need for something positive for the youth.
“There’s so much to learn and it keeps them out of trouble,” she said.
Respect
Before the Silver Evening Star Singers begin the smudging ceremony, Loretta reminds them that those who have been in contact with alcohol or drugs are not eligible to participate.
“It doesn’t pertain to the younger ones, but you know some [of the other] youth are curious…and I’m just making it clear to them that [the drum] is to be respected,” said Loretta. “With all the teachings, you’re respecting yourself, others and the drum, and when it relates back to their culture…it’s all integrity. I believe it does [teach them respect outside of drumming].”
Loreena Hrechka has been with the Youth Centre since August and helps younger drummers with the beat – and drums herself.
“When you’re drumming you feel something you’ve never felt before,” said Hrechka, a youth leader. “It speaks to your soul. I can’t even describe it.”
Loretta says the connection drummers feel with themselves, the drum and the other drummers relates to the traditional culture.
“I’m providing an opportunity for the youth to connect with their culture,” she said. “And it’s going great.”
Drumming also teaches friendship, confidence and strength.
“An elder once told me, ‘You need to find out where you come from in order to move forward,’” said Loretta. “We’re providing that opportunity.”
The Silver Evening Star Singers are always looking for new drummers and are open to youth from the community.
For more information, contact the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre.
