By Bryan Eneas

On the powwow trail: Honouring family with the Rez Boys

Aug 9, 2016 | 5:11 PM

Whether learning how to dance or passing along songs to drummers and singers, family plays a major role on the powwow trail.

For Kevin Abraham of the Rez Boys drum group family plays an even bigger role this year; he is honouring his sibling’s memory by taking his brother’s drum across Canada with him.

“My brother was a few years older than me, so it was kind of like he was my role model growing up,” Abraham said.

Abraham took over the drum carrier role for the Rez Boys from his brother who was murdered last August. As drum carrier, Abraham is responsible for keeping the Rez Boys powwow drum safe. After setting up on Aboriginal Day in Winnipeg, the Rez Boys have been on a powwow trail across Canada.

“His drum sat all winter, and this year we’d been talking about doing something for him,” Abraham said. “If I didn’t set up that day and we didn’t place, we probably wouldn’t be travelling. We doubted ourselves a lot, and we didn’t realize we sound somewhat okay.”

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“Ever since then we’ve been travelling together. We’ve been talking about places we’ve wanted to hit, and take his spirit with me, with us,” Abraham said.

The group believes because Abraham’s brother was the original drum keeper, his spirit still lives on within their instrument. According to Abraham, his brother talked about setting up a drum group for some time before he passed.

“He didn’t really take (the drum) anywhere. He took it to traditional powwows. He didn’t take it to any competition powwows, but that’s what his life was about, competition,” Abraham said.

Abraham’s journey on the red road has been a tumultuous one.

“Long story short, (my brother) got mixed up in gangs in the city when I was in school. When my parents got divorced I ended up following in his footsteps and got mixed up in his gang,” Abraham said. “He ended up going to jail, then I went to jail.”

The brothers served time in both the provincial and federal correctional systems in Manitoba. It was through the federal system the Abraham brothers began reconnecting with their cultural identities. They also met Willie Spence, one of the current Rez Boys drummers.

“They kept us busy in a cultural way by keeping us around objects that make us who we are as Aboriginal people. It kept us in touch with reality on the outside after being inside for a certain amount of time. It gave us hope to continue doing it as we got out,” Spence said. “After doing it for so long it became something you like to do, not something (you do) out of boredom. It became something you wanted to, you looked forward to doing.”

Abraham echoed the sentiment.

“We changed our lives around together while we were in there. When we left, we left all ties to our gangs as well, and started coming to powwows,” Abraham said. “If I hadn’t learned how to sing (in the penitentiary), I wouldn’t be singing today.”

In 2006 Abraham carried a drum on his back from the Stoney Mountain penitentiary 189 kilometers to Little Black River, his home, to begin making amends with his community. He said his history of drug dealing and violence marred his reputation, and people still have a perception of who he is which he said is not true.

“I wanted to show our people change is possible, and I wanted to help show our young people what my life was like, and through gangs you just end up in prison,” Abraham said.

Through the walk the brothers also hope to inspire the community to start supporting powwow again.

Because of the residential schools, Little Black River lost its culture, and 95 per cent of the community no longer practising powwow or other ceremonies according to Abraham. Since their journey, Little Black River has hosted two powwows.

The name of the drum group honours the memory of Abraham’s brother. He said when the drum was first set up three years ago, his brother didn’t know what to call the drum. He settled on Rez Boys, and the name has stuck.

The Rez Boys drum group features around 10 members from across Manitoba. Abraham is currently touring with three of those original members because most of the other drummers have work or family commitments.

Their tour now is slowly working towards Little Black River Manitoba, Abraham’s home.  

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas