In celebration of Indigenous People’s Day, members of the Abenaki People visited each of our schools. Brenda Gagne, coordinator of the Abenaki Circle of Courage, along with student representatives of the Circle of Courage demonstrated some of their songs and drumming.
The first song was a welcoming song where the drum leader starts off with verse then the next drummer sings a verse until all drummers have sung. The students sang additional songs with explanations of where to strike the drum face, how to cheer/applaud, the roles of the drum leader and drum keeper, and that the drum must not rest directly on the ground.
The heartbeat of Mother Earth resonated throughout the Grand Isle School this morning honoring the Abenaki People.