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HealthWellnessDrummingCircle20TuesdayMarch262013AprilisDaffodilMonthHELPINTHEFIGHTAGAINSTCANCERHELPUSMAKECANCERHISTORY.CanadianCancerSocietySocitcanadienneducancerwww.cancer.ca.ByRENEFRANCOEURAlineLaFlammecomestoFortSmithaboutfourtimesayeartoofferculturally-basedhealingworkshopswiththehealthcentreandcorrectionalfacilityandeverytimeshesherethereisjustmagicaboundingthehighlyrespectedMtiseldersaid.LaFlammewasintownagainlastweektoholdapub-licdrummingcircleThurs-dayorganizedbyJulieBea-verandLidaBlessecommu-nitywellnessworkerswiththeFortSmithHealthandSocialServicesAuthority.Thedrumislikeaheart-beataheartbeatthatgoesouttotheworldLaFlammeatraditionalhealersingerdrum-makersundancerandpipecarriernowbasedinVancouversaidduringthecircle.Anyoneoutthereneedingwarmthanyoneinadarkplacewedrumandsingforthem.Sotheycanhearus.Soourheartbeatcangetstronger.Itneedstogetstrongerbecauseofev-erythingthathashappenedtousandourpeople.Thegroupofabout25peoplewithafewrsttimedrummersbeganwithasmudgefollowedbyintro-ductionsmadebypassingaroundLaFlammesbeadedandtasseledwarriorstick.ParticipantschosefromLaFlammes30orsoelkanddeerhidedrums-sheshelpedcreateover1000handdrumsthroughherwork-shops-laidoutonabuffalohideanddoverightintoase-riesofrhythms.Eventhosewhodidntknowthesongsweresingingalonghalfwaythroughbeltingoutpower-fulsoul-invokinglinessuchasEarthmybodywatermyMtiselderstirssoulwithdrummingcirclebloodairmybreathandremyspirit.Othersongsincludedathankyousongsongsforthegrandmothersastrongwomansongoneforthelonewisebuffaloandan-otherdedicatedtoremem-beringthosewhohavepassedon.ThatwasaverycoolamazingexperienceKatieBlanchardrst-timedrum-merandtherecreationalther-apistattheNorthernLightsSpecialCareHomesaid.Youfeelveryconnectedtoeveryoneintheroom...Theoneheartbeatthingshemen-tionedoverandoveragainmeantalottome.EachdrummingcircleisspecialandholdsuniquememoriessaidLaFlammewhofoundedtheHayRiverAboriginalWomensAs-sociationamongotherorganizations.IrememberonetimeawomaninawheelchairwantedtocomebutwecouldntgetherupintotheroomhereattheWellnessCentresoyouknowwhatwedidWeheldthecirclerightthereinthefoyerandohcouldyoufeeltheenergy.DrummingisacelebrationaformofprayerandhealingwithsomuchtoofferanyindividualLaFlammesaid.IwasgiventeachingsandtoldbymyelderstogohelpthepeoplesothatiswhatIamdoing.PhotoReneFrancoeurAlineLaFlammewhosayssheisjustaMtisgrandmotherdrumswithherFortSmithgirlslastThursdayattheCom-munityWellnessCentre.LefttorightJulieLysLidaBlesseAlineLaFlammeJulieBeaverandMalorieRehm.