I'm from the beating of the drums

We used George Ella Lyon's poem Where I'm From as a starting point for children telling stories about the Alderville First Nation. Children worked in small groups to list ideas on a theme they chose about the Alderville First Nation community, and used the ideas to create poems. Then students worked with aboriginal performance artists Tracy Bone, JC Campbell and Dave Mowat, to develop live performances to be shared with their community.

I’m from the beating of the drums (download the mp3 file)

Sugar Island Dancers
Energetic, fancy-fun
The clans they come together
Celebrate under the sun

I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes
I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes

The beating of our hearts
Reminder of our first home
Bring us all together
From where we may have roamed

I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes
I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes

We smudge before we feast
To cleanse our bodies and souls
Then we eat our bannock
The pow-wow makes us whole

I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes
I am from the beating of the drums
The Sunrise Ceremony
When the daylight comes
When the daylight comes