Responses to Sylvain’s visit
S.S. says ….. What would I remember 20 years from now of what Sylvain Rivard showed us? The drum and how in back it symbolizes the four elements. The drum itself symbolizes the world etc.
B.W says ….. after that he (Sylvain Rivard) played us a song on his drum. That was my favourite part. Here is a story that connects to my life. Last summer I went to Mexico and heard the same drum that the artist played for my class. I love the sound it made. Thanks a lot Sylvain. I hope to see you soon.
Mrs. Theriault says …. Our readers may not know that Sylvain didn’t buy this drum. He made it himself. Also, our St-Lawrence music teacher Mrs. Carole Forget reminded me in an email that this drum is called a pacoligan. It is made from the skin of the female deer and the four sections underneath represent “the four colours of people on earth: black, white, red, yellow…”
Related post on this blog:
The Inuit also used animals skins for drums (The Inuit are not Algonquin)
Further Reading:
Native Dance – Onigoke – Our Dance Stories
Native American Indian Legends – The Story of the Drum – Abenaki
Mrs. Theriault’s photos of Quebec White-tailed Deer (Cerf de Virginie)
