For the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we were given the opportunity to do a fire circle with Clayton Gauthier and the UHNBC drummers. It was a very cold day with rain dribbling constantly, but it was worth it to experience. We all huddled around the fire and each other, some sharing umbrellas and blankets. Clayton spoke to us about his experiences with his culture and how it is important to stay true to yourself and not follow the path that others want you to go on. Clayton had a beautiful walking stick, that had (I believe) an eagle foot on the top. We all stood in a circle and chose two words that described how we felt after this experience while holding Clayton’s staff.
After Clayton spoke, we got to sing and drum with the UHNBC drummers. They drum outside the hospital every Monday for the people inside the hospital who are experiencing hard times. I felt a bit shy to start when I picked up a drum, because I didn’t want to somehow break such a beautiful instrument, but after a moment of getting used to the drumming it felt more natural. We all sang traditional songs together and though we didn’t know the words, the UHNBC drummers helped us along. This experience is something I’m always going to remember and think of fondly.
Photo Credit: Education Block 1 Cohort, September 2023
