‘So empowering’: All-female Indigenous drumming group gains new support
Global News
A Calgary-based Indigenous women's group has been awarded $20,000 to produce documentary on drumming group.
Some young Indigenous women in Calgary are getting a nice boost to help their efforts to preserve their traditions. It comes at an important time, as they set out to drum up support.
Members of an all-female drumming group run by the Stardale Women’s Group are celebrating after being awarded a $20,000 grant to go towards producing a documentary on the group.
“We are super grateful and really excited about it,” 17-year-old drummer Jenna Jebb said. “This drum group is so empowering.”
Stardale runs programs to support Indigenous women and girls, with the drumming group being an important part of it.
“As the girls say ‘the drum is my medicine,'” Stardale executive director Helen McPhaden said. “It is a cultural revival.”
The young drummers will perform on Friday Sept. 30 at Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary at an event marking Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“I like that we get to express how we feel with the drumming,” 13-year-old drummer Kaydence Letendre said. “Because of the residential schools we lost our culture and so we never got taught those traditions.”
Members of the group are hoping the documentary will further support their work of sharing their culture.