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1999 Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute |
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1999 Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute |
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Bahweting Singers |
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The Bahweting Singers is a traditional drum group from the Bahweting (Sault Ste Marie) area. Sault Ste Marie is located in the eastern end of the upper peninsula of Michigan and is a traditional gathering spot of the Ojibway people because of the great fishing in the area. The Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is a tribe with roughly twenty three thousand members spread throughout the United States. The Tribe has greatly supported the Drum group. The group was formed when Bud Biron offered some samah (tobacco) to Butch Elliot to start a drum group in the area. The group is made from young men and some older men. The Bahweting Singers is the first drum group in the community that has stayed together and really been committed to the people. They have been together for about five years. All of the members are committed to the anishinabe way of life which means every member tries to set a good role by being drug and alcohol free. They have traveled to many pow wows, some in Michigan some in Wisconsin and Minnesota and Canada. The group also spends a lot of time within their own community with different events like graduations, traditional funerals and community gatherings and feasts. The Bahweting singers is always willing to help out anyone who needs help. All you have to do is offer some samah (tobacco) to the drum in a good way and we will be there for you. The group's main purpose is to sing for the elders and the tribal community and the creator. There are roughly fifteen members on the drum and they all live in the Sault Ste Marie area.
