Elders Keeping our Traditions Alive
By Kayla Neyelle, aged 15 Years, Déline
An elder of Déline by the name of Johnny Neyelle has been
making drums since 1950. He taught himself by watching other
people making drums. He has taught a few people how to make
drums as well. He enjoys
making drums, because he would like to keep the tradition
alive.
On my grandfather’s side of the family, making a drum isn’t
just something to do. It’s a skill that gets passed on to people
who want to learn. It’s called passing on knowledge that’s
been in the family for generations.
People should know and understand that there are a lot of
steps to making a drum. You have to learn the basics step
by step. Making drums can be a lot of work. It can take hours
or even days to get it
just right. For my grandfather it would probably take close
to two days, or maybe less. He works hard at making drums.
I admire my grandfather because he never gives up until the
work is finished, even if a project takes most of the day.
He may be old, but he still does have a lot of strength and
energy.
I wrote this story about my grandfather because I think that
people should know that keeping out traditions alive is the
best way to go. If people don’t keep the traditions alive, they
will lose everything they know and everything that they have been taught
by their
grandparents.
Grandparents are very special people in their grandchildren’s
lives. They have a lot of stories to tell, and they have a very special
thing
inside them-their memory of the past when their parents were
still alive.
To the people that are reading this article: Make your grandparents
and parents proud of you by showing how much you care, and
by keeping what they’ve taught you as an important traditions in
your family.
Thank you so much for taking time to read this. Mahsi, and
take care.
ELDERS KEEPING OUR
TRADITIONS ALIVE | BREAKING TWIGS | FOOD
FOR THE FUTURE |
