Transcending barriers with the beat of a drum
- Marjorie D.L. Roden | June 23, 2023
Prince Albert’s Pride Week kicked off on Sunday, May 28 with a drumming circle that gathered together Indigenous and non-Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ community members at Riverbank Park.
This was the first time since the pandemic that an event like this was held. Organizers and participants felt the event was a success with strong support from the community.
My first time doing a community drumming circle like this was 2018 or 2019, and we didn’t know what to expect, or who would join us,” said Alex Powelinski. “We were overwhelmed by the amount of support and new faces and spirits that were able to connect with. Today was another example of that,” they said.
Jennifer Lenny led the drumming and singing in their traditional language. They are grateful for all those who attended – noting a mix of children, adults and people from different organizations bringing their clients to the event.
“That’s what I think these circles are about, is just about the healing, and about connecting, it was lovely.” Lenny said.
Chelsea Bleau, the chairperson of Pride Prince Albert was also pleased to see the multi-generational aspect of the participation.
“When youth show up to these events, I feel like it heals my inner child in a way. I never got to go to events like this as a kid,” they said.
Powalinski agreed that it’s great to see the excitement from the youth.
“We talk a lot about the importance of our culture, cultural continuity, and the resurgence of Indigenous culture. It’s opportunities like this where we’re able to plant the seeds for the next generation, but also, within the context of inclusion of two spirit identity,” they said.
The event was primarily a women-led and two-spirit drum circle, centered around two-spirit leadership because of the marginalization that two-spirit face within Indigenous spaces and mainstream society.
“To see so many kids from so many different backgrounds here today, sharing space with us, really gives us hope for that next generation and how they’re going to continue to go along and relate to other two-spirit people,” Powalinski said.
Although there were close to 50 people at the event, there were some parts of the community absent from the celebration.
“It would be cool to see people from all spaces and positions within our community joining in events like this because what it does, it breaks down the barriers,” Powalinski said. “It would be so cool to have police sitting here drumming with us, and maybe some of our community leaders, our educators, to share that space where we’re all equal and are connecting through music, through sound, through vibrations, through culture.”