FDLTCC To Host Women’s Drumming and Singing Gathering

Oct 19

Northland Sports Online

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is hosting the fourth annual Women Drummers of All Native Nations Gathering on October 20-24, 2010. Approximately 75 musicians from across the United States will attend and participate in workshops, lessons, and public performances during the event on campus.

This is the first time that the event will be held at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. “This is an exciting and truly unique event that will be taking place at the college,” said Lyz Jaakola, Music and American Indian Studies faculty at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.

“We have gained support and interest from participants who will be coming great distances to participate. We have Pura Fe Crescioni (from Tuscarora, North Carolina) coming, Laila Hansen from Ilulissat (currently residing in Copenhagen), Sharon Day of Neeconis Singers, the Oshkii Giizhik Singers, and many women from Ojibwe communities across the region.”

The gathering is open to Native American women who are interested in singing either with or without hand drums. Two free concerts are scheduled and are open to the public. The first concert is set for Thursday, October 21, in the amphitheater beginning at 7:00 p.m. A Saturday night concert will be in the amphitheater beginning at 8:00 p.m., both concerts will feature participants at the gathering. “This is our fourth annual gathering of this sort,” said Jaakola.

“Since the beginning of the Oshkii Giizhik Singers, our members have sought to give back to the community in every way possible. This is one way we do it, by holding an annual women’s gathering to teach and learn about being native women singers.”

The event is supported by several funding sources as well as the gathering participants. “We operate on a budget generated by our singing gigs and we accept any donations for the gathering,” said Jaakola. “We have received assistance from the First Nations Composers Initiative, the Ojibwe-Anishinaabe Musical Arts Association, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and a handful of individuals donating time, fry bread, and venison.

It really is a community-supported, built-from-the-ground-up effort.” “ Native women, collectively, continue to be a segment of the population that experiences violence and oppression at rates three to four times higher than that of the mainstream population or even that of other minorities,” said Jaakola. “Oshkii Giizhik Singers hope to be instrumental in encouraging indigenous women to use their voices in positive ways to rise above these statistics. This is our main reason for singing and holding these gatherings.

Oshkii Giizhik means ‘It is a New Day’ and we hope to usher in a new era for native women to use their voices in empowerment and support of healthy choices and positive roles in our communities. We hope our neighbors will assist us by attending our concerts next week.”

The schedule of events for Wednesday includes an opening feast and welcome gala in the evening. On Thursday through Sunday, the schedule includes singing workshops, drumming classes, traditional women’s teachings, self-care for singers, and sessions on other related topics.

Some attendees will participate in the Pumpkin Run and Walk 5-Kilometer race at the college on Saturday morning. The Thursday evening concert will present 2009 Native America Music Award winners Oshkii Giizhik Singers with the Anishinaabe Youth Chorus. Friday evening will conclude with an Open Jam for participants, and then the Saturday evening concert will provide an endcap for the gathering.

People interested in the concerts on Thursday and Saturday evening are encouraged to attend, admission is free. Space for gathering participants is still available; registration information is available via email to oshkiigiizhiksingers@gmail.com or by contacting Lyz Jaakola at 218-879-0721.