VIDEOS: DRUMMING AND DANCING IN WAINWRIGHT

I’m in Anchorage for a Public Health Nursing Summit this week, so am taking advantage of the faster internet speeds to upload the videos of the drummers and dancers at the celebration in Wainwright.  I hope you find them as enjoyable as I did.

I think it’s interesting how there is such a strong connection between the older and younger drummers and dancers.  The younger ones seem eager to learn, watching the older ones and imitating their movements.  The older ones don’t appear to be encouraging by visibly instructing in any way, but seem to be allowing the younger ones to find their way by watching and imitating. 

I think it’s interesting too how in one of the videos, a young boy sits down with the drummers.  The adult drummer on the far left moves to the outer seat, giving his seat to the young boy.  The message I took away from his action was that he was telling the young boy that he was one of them, a welcome member of their drum group.  Over the generations, this inclusiveness must engender not only skills in drumming but also a sense of belonging, meeting one of the greatest human needs…to be valued and accepted.  

 Thursday, January 17...unfortunately the videos didn't upload from Anchorage.  Will upload them from Washington on my first trip down.  Think you'll all enjoy them very much.

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