As an act of reconciliation and cultural revitalization, a two-day workshop is focusing on the reintroduction of the Native American flute. Dickie Yuzicapi has been playing the flute since he was five-years-old. He is leading the youth workshop for ages 12-18 taking place at the mâmawêyatitân centre. “[The workshop] shows that our culture did not disappear, it did not die. We did not go away. We didn’t disappear, we’re still here,” Yuzicapi said. Seven youth attended the first workshop in July. They were able to learn some of the flute scales and musical notes of the instrument. Yuzicapi was raised by his great-grandparents. His knowledge of the flute, including how to play and make the instrument, were passed down to him. Yuzicapi shared some of this history with the youth. “There are different styles of play. We have the Nehiyaw, which is Cree. The Dakota way of playing. The tribes from the south. Everyone has their own style,” Yuzicapi said. Yuzicapi shared some oral history of the flute and how it was originally brought from a southern tribe to the plains. For some time in Saskatchewan, there were a small number of traditional flute players. The workshop is intended to change this. “Through survivors of the Indian residential school system; those grandparents gave those flutes to their grandchildren,” Yuzicapi said. “Then they started bringing it back. I am one of those grandchildren,” he concluded. The Regina Indian Residential School Survivors Board, along with the Archdiocese of Regina, played a part in getting the workshop going. The second workshop will take place Aug. 12 at the mâmawêyatitân centre.
