Here's a short essay I wrote about this project, and a photo of Mara and I at M'Wikwedong.

Nokomis: Grandmother Drum for M’Wikwedong   

After hearing the stories brought to light by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and attending Wasa-Nabin at the Harmony Centre last year, I felt it was a good time for our community choir, OSSIA, to acknowledge and honour First Nations people through song and drum, in a concert in Owen Sound. The proceeds from the concert will go to build a Grandmother Drum for the M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Centre. 
Within many First Nations, the drum represents the heartbeat of the people and mother earth. It provides a place to for people to come together in community, to sing, to share the teachings, and to pass them on to each generation. Mishomis/Grandfather Drum, and Nokomis/Grandmother Drum, bring balance and oneness to men, women and families on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual levels.
 The idea to build  this new  drum came from the heart of elder, Shirley John, who is a source of wisdom for the community. The community will come together in a community social, to build the drum.
Drum circles, led by Mara Bouman and Tanya Coulter, are held every Wednesday at 4:00 at M’Wikwedong, and are open to the whole community. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples are welcome. All ages participate in drum circle, from babies to grandmothers. Eight year old Lindsay told me that the drum is calming and it relaxes her. In a drum circle I attended, an eight year old boy drummed steadily with exceptional control and focus, while a tiny baby slept blissfully as her mother and grandmother drummed.
OSSIA’s concert, called Earth Tones, will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday April 16th, 7:30 pm, and Sunday April 17th, at 3 pm. Admission will be by donation. 
For more information about OSSIA, and the programs offered by M’Wikwedong, the websites are: www.ossiachoir.com andwww.mwikwedong.com/

 Last year, I said no more big concerts ... too much WORK! I said... we'll just sing in Seniors' homes, at fund-raisers or volunteer appreciation days. We even sang on main street a few months ago, for Random Act of Kindness Day!!  But NO MORE CONCERTS. 
Then I went to Waba-Nasin at the Harmony Centre and listened to Lee Maracle and John Ralston Saul speak about the experiences and history of First Nations. Sylvie Kindree sang about Pauline Johnson School in Brantford and about identifying as a settler.  Then I heard more and more heart-wrenching details revealed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Finally, at a noon-hour concert last summer, while I listened to Sylvie and Mike perform, this idea leapt into my mind and after the concert, I asked Sylvie if she would consider being our guest at an OSSIA concert to honour First Nations. She and Mike both said yes, and it had begun. 

I've been going to Drum Circle at M'Wik in January. One of the Elders, Shirley John, has been hoping to find the money for Nokomis/Grandmother Drum. When they found out they would receive the proceeds from our concert, the Drum started to become a real possibility. This is a brilliant idea because the drum represents music, communication, and healing.  And it's a gift from our community to theirs. 

I've come to the conclusion that people who love community choirs are the dearest people in the world. They take chances, make themselves vulnerable, help each other, take many leaps of faith, and they don't hide the joy they feel when they sing together and hear the harmonies develop.