RLG Students Make Drums

RLG Students Make Drums in Honour of Truth and Reconciliation
Posted on 10/07/2025
James Nelson Teaches Drum Making

This week Ross L Gray School was honoured to host Ernest Cobiness, Ernest Cobiness Jr., and James Nelson as they instructed traditional drum making at our school. Over three days students were shown how to trace and cut Elk hide, punch holes for laces, and string their hides to wooden rings. "It felt like a tortilla" said grade 7 student Lochlon, when asked about his experience working with the hide.

Thank you Elders for sharing your knowledge with our school community, thank you Orange Shirt Day Fund, and thank you Mrs. Keffer for all of your work in planning and preparing this event.



Mr. Cobiness and Tanner
Mr. Cobiness teaching Tanner how to wrap his handles



rlg girls stretch hides
A group of RLG students prepare to stretch and tie Elk hides

Border Land School Division

Border Land School Division acknowledges that the communities and schools located within Border Land School Division sit on Treaty 1 and Treaty 3 land, the original lands of the Anishinaabe peoples and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Border Land School Division respects the treaties that were made on these treaty areas and we dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with our Indigenous communities in a spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.