Drum Dancing

From early times, the Inuvialuit have used songs and chants to recount legends, stories, and traditions. Accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums, dancers reenacted the great feats and accomplishments of kinsmen. In this way, Inuvialuit history was handed down through the generations. At feasts and celebrations, the blend of the drum beat and the rhythmical rise and fall of voices, punctuated with shouts of "auu yah iah!", quickly drew men and women to the dance floor.

Not long ago, drum dancing appeared to be dying out. After decades of contact with foreigners, many Inuvialuit had forgotten how important drum dancing was.

However, a few elders did not forget. Together with groups of determined young people, they began to work on its revival.

Today, the tradition continues. Drum dancing has experienced a resurgence and is flourishing in the communities of Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok (Holman). In the last few years, drum dance groups have performed at home and around the world, including Japan, Mexico, and the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany.

Drum dancing is performed to the rhythmic beating of caribou skin drums. To achieve the right tautness, drums are made from the stomach skin of young caribou taken in the summer. Finished drums are approximately 24 inches in diameter, stretched across wooden frames.

Songs usually start softly with drummers tapping their drums and dancers swaying rhythmically. As a song starts over; drums are struck harder, and the people sing louder. Dancers throw their bodies into the song with arms and knees bent, their outstretched, open hands wave to and fro capturing the drum beat.

A drum dance performance may include enactment of the following stories and images, provided by the Aklavik Drummers and Dancers:

Okomaksiun

Years ago Inuvialuit did not travel with outboard motors. When the current became too strong they used ropes to pull their boats along the river. The ropes would often get caught on the willows. The traveler would be forced to pull a little harder to get the ropes untangled.

Kanai

A group of people run low on food in their camp. One morning, a man makes a seal net and starts walking out onto the ice to look for a place to set it. After walking for a while, he decides on a good place. He chisels out a hole in the ice and after taking out the slush, sets the net. Later, he checks the net by pulling it out and finds that he has caught a seal. He pulls out the seal and puts his hands up in the air to say how happy everyone will be when he invites them over to have some fresh meat. He turns and pulls the seal home.

Hopodinik

A man prepares to go caribou hunting. Instead of taking his harpoon, he takes his muzzle-loader gun. He walks most of the day until he finally spots some caribou. Kneeling down, he sneaks up on them. When he gets close, he readies his gun, taking careful aim. When he pulls the trigger the gun misfires. He tries to fix the weapon, but does not know how. Disappointed, he gives up and starts walking home. He thinks about smashing the gun and wrapping the barrel around the first stump he comes to.

Cutting Wood

A man goes out to cut some wood. He walks to a tree and kicks it to get the snow off the branches. Then he chops down the tree and drags it a little way. Finally, he saws the tree into blocks and piles them up.

Komilogi

Many dances came from watching the animals doing everyday things. Years ago one elder watched some ducks on a lake picking at their tail feathers, then taking off from the lake.

Kanogova

A man wakes up one morning to find there is no fire in the stove. He complains it is too cold. Then he realizes that he has to get out of bed to make a fire, cook, and go out to hunt for more food.

Savittah

This song is usually performed at the end. It is an Invitation Dance to get people up onto the dance floor to have a good time, an experience that should not be avoided and an opportunity that should not be ignored!

A man goes out to cut some wood. He walks to a tree and kicks it to get the snow off the branches. Then he chops down the tree and drags it a little way. Finally, he saws the tree into blocks and piles them up.