Feminine Powwow Drum Learning Journey
Join us for our 12-week feminine powwow drum learning journey! If you are a female-identifying person or otherwise have feminine energy and you think this group would be a good fit for you, please join us at Mamele’awt Centre on Monday evenings for some drum teachings and good medicine. There will be snacks provided from 4:30 to 5PM, and following that, we will open with the Flag and Charging songs, followed by some teachings and drumming.
These sessions are guided by Elders, knowledge keepers, and experienced drummers, particularly those from Salish Star drum group, and Elder Flora. The sessions are organized by Kelly Penner and Nicole Provost. We are grateful to our sponsors – the Abbotsford School District and VYPER. We are deeply grateful to Canada Arts Council for providing the funding to make this project possible.
The Story of How the Group Came To Be
At a VYPER Culture Night a in 2024, someone at a big drum group said “anyone who wants to come drum with us, please come.” A lot of young boys rushed forward and sat down at the drum, grateful to be given the opportunity. But one young girl also went and sat down. But she was quickly told to stand back up and leave, because this drum was a male drum. She was very sad and discouraged by this, and asked “why?” but was repeatedly told “because you are a girl”. Nicole Provost from the VYPER lead team at the time saw this and decided to start a feminine drum learning journey one day, because there are some feminine drum groups around here, such as Fraser Valley and Salish Star. So in 2025 Nicole wrote a grant through Canada Arts Council, and in 2026 VYPER received funding to run this 12 week feminine powwow drum learning journey. The story of how the group came to be was told, and the little girl who was turned away happily joined, and felt happy that the group was formed in recognition of her experiences.
On June 1st 2026, the young girl, Thea, was blanketed and lifted up by the community in recognition of her experience. Throughout the learning journey, her voice became more and more powerful as she gained confidence and felt that her experiences mattered.
We were told by an Elder at the session “every nation has its teachings, and every drum and drum group has its own way. If you ask to sit with them and they turn you away, put your chin up and say ‘okay’. But know that there will always be a place for you somewhere else, and it is not a reflection of how they see you specifically.”
One heart, one mind!!
