Blending old with new, students at Pacific secondary school are learning to move forward by looking into the past.

The cohort Grade 12 class at Pacific secondary school is learning traditional First Nations creative techniques as an aspect of their arts education. The students, under the guidance of First Nations experts, are creating paddles and traditional hand drums, while learning about aboriginal cultural and the concept of heritage in general.

B次元官网网址淭here is a tribal root to every person, regardless of where their ancestry comes from,B次元官网网址� said Charlene George, a TB次元官网网址橲ou-ke First Nation textile artist who is working with the students. B次元官网网址淪o somewhere in the world their tribal ancestry is not that different from mine.B次元官网网址�

Teacher Sean Cowie said the cultural aspect of the project teaches students how to look beyond their own immediate worlds.

B次元官网网址�(ThereB次元官网网址檚) beautiful cultural exchange and understanding, without any fanfare,B次元官网网址� Cowie said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 down on the ground reality, weB次元官网网址檝e got First Nations communities working pretty seamlessly within the community here.B次元官网网址�

Haylea Walker designed her drum using a traditional coastal First Nations image of a wolf, but modified it to reflect the personality of her own dog, which, as it happens, is three-quarters wolf.

The Grade 12 student said sheB次元官网网址檚 finding this component of her course rewarding, as it asks each student to consider her own background and where we all come from.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just little things that make you think and realize,B次元官网网址� Walker said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of stuff at school doesnB次元官网网址檛 make you think, because itB次元官网网址檚 all textbook, answer, textbook, answer.B次元官网网址�

Drum making also adds life skills.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 many parts to the discipline of teaching how to make a drum B次元官网网址� that teaches them awesome life skills for anything they wish to do in their life,B次元官网网址� George said. B次元官网网址淪o some of the ones who might have had a difficult time with some other areas in their life, are able to be successful here. Success in one part of their life leads to success in many parts of their life.B次元官网网址�

The drums are made from elk hide and cedar rims, something old, and synthetic sinews, something new.

B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 like doing old and new together, which is what we all are,B次元官网网址� George said.

kwells@goldstream

gazette.com