Burnurwurbskek Singers: Drumming from the Toes

They may have been on stage, but what the Burnurwurbskek Singers offered was far more than a performance.

Barry Dana prepares to drum

As a group of six at the University of Southern Maine campus last night, they sang as one voice, sitting at one shared drum. The Corthell Hall audience couldn't have guessed that the group had just finished drumming as one of many Indian basketmakers and artisans that participated at the Common Ground Fair. After blessing their drum, the singers poured themselves into each song as though it were their first of the day.

One song welcomed to Wabanaki country the visiting performance artist James Luna, who gave his "Phantasmagoria" performative lecture after the Burnurwurbskek Singers finished.

Over half an hour, the group shared honor songs - old and new - that remembered veterans, blessed the children who will create our future, and recognized the long history of American Indian self determination struggles.

Burnurwurbskek Singers at Univ. So. Maine

I've listened to drums at pow-wows all across the country and have experienced my share of chills at the sound of some of the high Plains voices. But the sound of the Penobscot men who encircled this drum was distinctive, deep. When I mentioned it to Dean Francis (sitting at far right in photo below), he said that they were "drumming from their toes." Francis spoke eloquently to the audience about the power of the drum to bring people together and to remember who they were, who they are, and who they want to be.

Rather than clap, what the Burnurwurbskek Singers prompted me to do was to reflect upon the strength and bravery of those who labor to help their children remain proud of their heritage and their community to stay together.

Penobscot Drummer

So here's my cyber thank-you card to you, Burnurwurbskek Singers. Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing.

Stay in touch with me here at Heritage in Maine to read more Wabanaki happenings on my blog.