The drum is central to powwow and Native American ceremonies, providing the rhythm and music for dances and songs. But the Native American tradition of drumming and singing is more than a performing art. Its significance plays a vital role in cultural identity, spiritual connection, and healing.
“We consider the drum to be the heartbeat of the people,” says student Rizal Agaton-Howes ’29, Cloquet, “and quite literally, some songs feature a beat, where it's literally the heartbeat sound.”
Powwow has been an important part of life growing up for Agaton-Howes, whose Ojibwe names are Little Golden Eagle and Hero of the Feather, part of the wolf clan. An enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, OK, and descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Agaton-Howes has participated in different drum groups and eventually started singing consistently after joining the Ojibwe drum circle at his high school. Having a deep love of the cultural activity, he started UMN Morris’ first student drum group.
“The powwow trail has always been something that's given me a good energy and given me a good feeling within my heart,” says Agaton-Howes. “I really love it. And so not only did I want to share that with other people, but I also wanted to kind of have that as a part of my experience in college.”
So even before applying to UMN Morris, Agaton-Howes was asking around about whether there was a drum group on campus and who he could talk to about it. It was one of the first things he pursued when he arrived at Morris last fall.
“When I had heard that there was a really accomplished powwow singer [on campus] and that there was a drum that we could use, I wanted to start a group.”
Gabe Desrosiers ’05, Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada, a Native American and Indigenous studies lecturer at UMN Morris, is the lead singer, composer and keeper of the drum for the Northern Wind Singers (Woodland Ojibwe) group.
“He approached me and I told him that was a great idea,” says Desrosiers. “He really kind of took the lead [and] made it happen.”
The group, called Circle of Nations Singers to signify the inter-Tribal and multi-ethnic nature of the drum, has around 25 students, with 10 to 12 who showed up regularly for practice twice a week (roughly 6 male singers and 6 female singers)—numbers that, right off the bat, somewhat surprised both Agaton-Howes and Desrosiers.
“People are so excited to be at practices and to be learning songs,” says Agaton-Howes.
Many of the students who joined the group had never sung before.
“The bottom line is they want to sing, they want to learn, they want to be a part of something,” Desrosiers says.
Desrosiers has been impressed with the group and notices pride and a determination in the way they perform.
“[I]t takes a bit to accomplish rhythm, accomplish singing, and even to lead a song,” says Desrosiers. “I think Rizal has had a lot to do with it. He’s encouraging them and teaching them during their practice sessions.”
Although Agaton-Howes is the main leader of the group, he’s glad to see others gaining the confidence and comfort level to also take on more leadership within the group.
“I'm just a person who wants to … sing and see other people sing and be culturally involved,” he says. “While it's a Native tradition, it isn't exclusive to Native people. We come from very different places, but we're all interested in this same cultural healing practice.”
Desrosier has happily advised the group when they had questions or needed guidance and is quick to praise the students for their efforts in learning their roles and responsibilities as a singer. He recognizes the positive connections and energy the group has created. He notes that many students participate in the drum group not just for themselves but for their families and their culture.
“It affects that … home connection, and that’s important. [T]hat's a beautiful thing,” says Desrosiers. “And sometimes we don't even think about that.”
Agaton-Howes agrees. “I've heard [of] some of our singers going back to their communities and telling their families that they're involved and them being really, really proud.”
The group has participated in different powwows and ceremonies around the area. Agaton-Howes wants those who may be interested in joining the group to know that they don’t have to be Native or have experience with powwow, or have a musical background.
“This is a space to learn and to be involved in a way that some people haven't before... I want the door to be open … regardless of where they're at in their life. And if they're at a better place later … throughout their educational experience at Morris, and they want to come back to being involved in the drum, then that's always open to them,” says Agaton-Howes. “Because it is a really beautiful thing, and I really love it.”