Here is a traditional Indigenous drum a classmate and I developed for our analogical model project in EDUC 446. Below the photos, you will see the model’s written summary.
Truth and Reconciliation Themed Traditional Indigenous Drum, 2024
For our analogical model, we decided to build a traditional Indigenous drum and design a design in honour of truth and reconciliation. The motto “every child matters” is displayed on the drum, representing that every student in our classrooms is recognized for who they are, emphasizing inclusive education, and promoting truth and reconciliation of Indigenous learners. The theme of truth and reconciliation in Canadian schools is prominent in the contemporary; as we embark on our educational journey in this new generation of teachers, our contribution towards the reconciliation in schools within our communities in the unceded traditional territory of the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen, and home of the Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations, is essential. Creating a traditional drum for the classroom can enable us to promote cultural awareness regarding Indigenous peoples and mindfulness for all learners.
When discussing ideas for the analogical model, we wanted to create something that also has educational use within the classroom, and this drum can be used as an educational tool. It can be utilized to grab the attention of students through mindful listening when communicating to the class collectively and be used in a variety of subject areas, such as rhythmic activities related to physical health and education, music, an example for art projects, and storytelling for different academic areas such as English or Socials Studies, adding an essence of creativity in the classroom while simultaneously recognizing Indigenous knowledge and being mindful of the First Peoples Principles of Learning.