Inuvik Drummers & Dancers at GNAF 2009 # 3

"...Group started in September 1989
by Debbie Gordon-Ruben
The Inuvik Drummers and Dancers began in the Fall of 1989. Leonard Harry and I called George and Martha Harry, Sarah Tingmiak, Jean Arey, Tom Kimiksana and Billy Day to ask them if it was alright for us to start a Drum Dance Group and if they were interested in teaching. The response was so genuine in full support for us to try to learn and continue our Inuvialuit tradition. Billy Day said just call all over to anyone you can think of and let them know that drum dance practices were going to start and for sure you'll get some people attending. So I got our Inuvialuit Inuvik benenficiary list from Marcy at IRC, Leonard and I checked it out. I gave Leonard half of the list with phone numbers and I took the other half and we called all over. By the next week Monday evening we held our first meeting and practice at ICS. Some of the people that were there were the elders mentioned above (our instructors) Abel Tingmiak, William Day, Wilbert Papik, Scott Kasook, Annie Aleekuk, Sandra Ipana, Emma Dick, Shirley Kisoun, Louisa Alunik, Shauna Gully, Melissa Kisoun, Erin Alunik-Simon, Louise Malegana, Esther Ipana, Jamie Keevik, and various others (I apologize if I missed any, please add your name and shake me up next time we meet. lol We had no drums so we looked around at what we could use at the office. We found two plastic garbage can lids (for our drums) a yard ruler and a pointer (for our sticks). The first song that they tried to learn us was "Qanuq Uvanga." The elders wondered how on earth we were gonna learn cause we didn't know anything, how to drum, sing or dance!!! It was so much fun, you know laugh from your gut, sore cheeks fun!!!:) The elders gave their time unconditionally with so much love, time, knowledge, wisdom and patience. We are forever thankful for what they gave to us! ..."

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20090711 VID00003 Inuvik Drummers

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Entertainment

Tags:

• Inuvik
• Drummers
• Dancers
• Inuvialuit
• tradition
• NWT
• NT
• Northwest
• Territories
• Canada
• GNAF
• Great
• Northern
• Arts
• Festival
• art

[mediamentor]

Well.. the goups has a leader and as I understand it... they decide on what they will do as a collective.

[TheFireprincess666]

i have to do this dance for a project and i have to say i hate it. not the dance, the project.

[Jay1971]

Beautiful!!!

[Barn767]

I always wonder if the dancers have a leader

[danielleelanik]

ooo that was my sister :D