Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One
Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One
She peered over the bank’s edge and into the water so clear. When she saw her reflection, others began to appear.
In red dresses, they stood behind her and smiled. They said, “We remember when we were carefree and wild.”
The women gave her feelings of strength, warmth, and love. But they also brought with them a warning from above.
“Your path is not easy–there may be more darkness than day. But with your ancestors’ strength, you will find your own way.”
Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One tells a beautiful and empowering story about a little Anishinaabe girl’s adventure in a forest. Filled with determination, confidence, and joy, and accompanied by old animal friends who share the traditional territory with her, she sets off. When she looks into the river, along with her own reflection, appear her ancestors in red dresses, and they bring to her strength and warmth as well as a warning for future challenges. And there it is! A powerful monster named Hate who is invisible and hidden in clouds of darkness. Though feeling a hint of fear, the young girl manages to fight back Hate with the help of Thunderbird. Together, she sings and drums with her ancestors to celebrate, joined by the bright sun, blooming plants, and joyful animals. The drumming connects her people through their shared history and spirits. Now she has the strength of thousands and power from inside to chart a new path in a better world.
The author Willie Poll is a great storyteller. Reading through the words feels like sitting by a bonfire in the forest while listening to a story full of surprising twists and heartwarming moments. Cultures, histories, and spirits are exquisitely threaded through the storytelling. The reader walks in the forest with the young Anishinaabe girl, experiencing with her the emotions that emerged in different moments – the excitement for adventure, the warmth and joy with her ancestors, the fear faced by monster and darkness, and the strength empowered by her people. In the author bio section on the back page, Poll mentions that her passion is to support Indigenous youth to reach their dreams and reclaim their power. It is evident that she incorporates such a mission in this story, and she does it so elegantly.
The Anishinaabe artist Chief Lady Bird perfects the narratives with her excellent illustrations. The carefully chosen colours vividly present the natural environment in the young girl’s traditional territory and the spiritual elements important to Anishinaabe people. The illustrations not only provide meaningful representations of Indigenous people, histories, and land, but they also serve as great learning windows for people to learn about Indigenous cultures.
Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One would be a great addition to young children’s learning in classrooms, libraries, and homes.
Emma Chen is a Ph.D. Candidate with a research focus on transnational parent knowledge and heritage language education at the University of Saskatchewan.