EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURAL IDENTITY, HEALTH, and SOCIAL SUPPORT with an ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S HAND DRUM GROUP

Abstract

Aboriginal women’s hand drumming on reserve and the relationship with cultural identity, health and social support were explored using an Indigenous approach. Seven Mi’gmaq women from the Pugwales hand drum group shared their experience of being in the group through a sharing circle and one-on-one story telling sessions. This study extends Goudreau’s (2008) work on urban Aborginal women’s hand drumming. My findings demonstrated that the main themes, sisterhood, culture, overall well-being, and spirituality did not stand alone but in fact were very much interconnected with one another and built off each other. Being in a women’s hand drum group and revitalizing a cultural tradition such as hand drumming positively affected group members’ cultural identity, health and feelings of social support.