Shaker Making With Families

On May 31st our A.A. Wright family was joined by Leslie Stonefish from Bkejwanong (Walpole Island).  We had 34 participants at this event!  

We had some hide left over from our drum making nights so we decided to use it to make shakers.  

First Leslie talked to us about the importance of being thankful when using materials that came from a living thing such as a plant or an animal.  We were using cowhide for our shakers, so we had to be sure to be thankful to those cows for giving their lives so we can make shakers. 


We soaked the hide to make it soft, then we all learned how to sew a stitch called "the baseball stitch".  It was tricky!


Once it was stitched up we filled our shakers with sand so the hide can dry in a rounded shape. 


Then we let the shakers dry for 2 weeks.  


When they were dry we poured the sand out of the shaker and put some dried popcorn in.  




We attached the handle to the shaker and stitched it up.  

Shakers are a sacred part of Anishinaabe culture.  It is important to remember that as school teachers, we are not to be teaching Indigenous Culture, unless it is our own culture.  If you are interested in including Indigenous culture in your school, you need to invite a First Nation, Metis or Inuit community member, elder or knowledge keeper in to ensure the culture is shared appropriately and with respect.  
A good phrase to remember is, "Nothing about us without us".  When in doubt, ask your schools board's Indigenous Lead or Indigenous Education Special Projects Teacher.  

Now that more of our A.A. Wright families have drums and shakers, it's time to have another Drum Social!