A long relationship has existed between St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Ottawa and the people of Iqaluit, Nunavut. Many of the congregation, from teenagers to grandparents, have visited Iqaluit in our several visits there in recent years, and many lasting friendships have been made.
In June 2021, during the pandemic when it was impossible for the congregation to travel to Iqaluit, the Rev. Canon George Kwari suggested that the congregation of St. Stephen’s might follow up with the people of Iqaluit by asking if there was some project the congregation could assist them with. Frances Macdonnell contacted her friend Darlene Nuqingaq, the co-ordinator of the Iqaluit Music Society, to ask about such projects, and Darlene came back to us at once to say that one thing there was a great need for — but never any money for — was the provision of child-sized Inuit drums for the children of Iqaluit.
All the children of Nunavut aspire to be drum-dancers when they grow up! But because of the expense and the scarcity of materials, Inuit drums have only been built in adult sizes, and so the children have had to wait years before they were tall enough to be able to learn the ancient Inuit skill of drum-dancing. “Could the congregation perhaps provide some funds to pay an Inuit craftsman to build such in smaller sizes for the children?” asked Darlene.
“Of course!” replied St. Stephen’s, and a fundraising drive began, raising approximately $6,000 from within the congregation. The craftsman in question was to be David Serkoak, a very well-known elder, drum-dancer, and craftsman; David has drummed in Iqaluit for the Pope, and in Ottawa for Governor-General Mary Simon.
In October, the parish has received a letter from Charlene Paterson, the vice-principal of Joamie School in Iqaluit (the Inuktitut-speaking Junior school), saying: “It was our honour the week before last to have our beloved friend, cultural advisor and former school leader, David Serkoak, come to Joamie School. I want to thank St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish, Ottawa, for this wonderful gift of music and cultural sharing between a much-respected elder and the youth of Joamie School. Our new drums are hung in each of the K-5 homeroom classes to be integrated into daily programming when possible. Please come visit us next time you have the chance, and thank you for bringing us this good fortune and showing generosity and action towards reconciliation. It is through these friendships we forge a new path.”
David Serkoak has initially made 12 of these smaller-sized drums for the children and will make more. It is important to remember is that these drums are not toys; they are hand-crafted musical instruments, and they will last the children of Joamie School for many years. In the pictures below, you can see how much smaller the new drums are than the adult-sized drum David himself is playing.
As Charlene Paterson said, this is another way of expressing friendship and action towards reconciliation. And as the world opens up again, the congregation of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ottawa, look forward to another Arctic visit soon!
St. John, Antrim — Deanery of the Southwest