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American
Indian Affairs (AIA) of Occoneechee Lodge 104
Drum Information for 2007
To Native
Americans, the drum is far more than just an instrument.
It represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Without the
drum, there can be no dance. Being at the drum is both a
special privilege and a special responsibility. There were
no written languages among Native Americans in olden times.
History was kept alive through the stories, legends, and
songs that were passed down from generation to generation
for hundreds of years. Singers were, and still are, respected
as members of the community for helping keep alive the events
of the past. Some of the traditional songs still heard at
pow wows today go back several hundred years. They refer
to real events and real people from the past. That history
is constantly being renewed when these songs are sung. Although
a drumstick is used for most songs, being at the drum is
not really about beating the drum. It's about singing and
keeping history alive.
Click
here to see the 2007 dates for drum and singing practice!
The Lodge "HOKA" (singer) patch
became a reality in 2004. The purpose of this patch
is to encourage youth Arrowmen to become involved with the
drum and singing. The patches are now on hand and ready
to be awarded to those Lodge Arrowmen willing to complete
the requirements. Now is the time to start. Yes, you will
have to sing for it! No, you don't need any prior musical
experience (traditional or Native American) to earn it.
Attending a Lodge Drum Practice session will get you started.
All dancers (and those who want to be) are always welcome
to attend any drum session. A dancer who knows something
about singing and the drum will be a better dancer.
You can be one of the first Occoneechee Arrowmen to earn
the new HOKA patch. Come on out Lodge
Drum Practice and get involved. Practice sessions are held
at the Bethesda Ruritan Scout
Building (home of Troop 402), 845 Glenco Road in southeast
Durham near RTP.
Click
here for directions to Lodge Drum Practice.
Attend
your third official practice session and receive a FREE
drumstick kit!
If you are really serious about Native American singing,
dancing, crafts, or ceremonies, you should attend the Carolinas
Indian Seminar (CIS) in Statesville, NC in January 2007.
There will be classes for Beginning and Advanced Southen
Singing. Northern, too. If you are not already registered
for this event, contact your Chapter Advisor or Lodge AIA
Advisor Jeff Brewer
(919)-868-6274 immediately. Attendance is limited to 400
participants and is always filled up. CIS is a first rate
event with many of the same instructors from the National
OA Conference 2006 and Indian Summer 2003. The price is
very reasonable (registration is $35.) and it's practically
right in our backyard. A wide variety of Native American
dance, singing, craft, and ceremony instruction will be
available and the Pow Wow on Saturday night is awesome!
This event is a must for anyone interested in anything Native
American and is a great way to start off the new year!
Here
are the web links to a Masters thesis by Chris Glazner titled
"Honoring Our Warriors: Southern Plains American Indian
Music for War Veterans".
Abstract (1 page): http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/user/g/l/glazner/www/thesis/thesis.html
PDF File - Full Text (70 pages): http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/user/g/l/glazner/www/thesis/glazner_thesis.pdf
Works Consulted: http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/user/g/l/glazner/www/thesis/Works_Consulted.html
Lots of great information for anyone serious about Southern
Singing.
Contact
Information:
Bill Morris - Adult Adviser
bmorris3@nc.rr.com
919-949-7163 - cell
Practice sessions for the Lodge Drum are held at the Bethesda
Ruritan Scout Building (home of Troop 402), 845 Glenco Road
in southeast Durham near Research Triangle Park. For
directions click here!
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