National Indigenous Peoples Day 2023
One of the many traditions of Indigenous culture that we as funeral professionals respect and appreciate is the tradition of drumming.
There is something almost reverent at being present when a family honours their loved one with the moving tradition of drumming. The rhythm seems to reverberate through your body and soul as you listen to its solid beats…
“Drum is a voice, a prayer to Spirit, is the voice of the Earth coming through to speak of its heart. Drumming connects us to our Creator, connecting our heart to the heartbeat of the Earth. It is a way to connect one’s spirit with the Great Spirit.” ~Terriea Harris, BWSS Aboriginal Women’s Outreach Counsellor
The drum is looked upon as the heartbeat of each soul, also connecting us to the heart of Mother Earth. Music and song are among the First Peoples’ strongest traditions, and the drum is the sound of every life occasion from birth through death.
This piece that aired on CBC a few months ago explains not only the importance of drumming to the ceremony of a loved one crossing over to the spirit world, but also some of the other traditions maintained by First Peoples during and after the death of a loved one: Inside an Indigenous funeral: How a First Nation sends a member to the spirit world | CBC News
On this National Indigenous People’s Day, our Park Memorial team is grateful for our opportunity to serve our Indigenous community and experience their beautiful culture and customs in honouring the life of a loved one.
May we all dance in our souls to the beat of ‘Drum’…
To learn more about Indigenous funeral traditions, please visit our
National Truth and Reconciliation Day blog post.
