SHESHEGWANING—Over the last year and a half, Lance Panamick and Dave Southwood have been involved in teaching music to a group of youth in Zhiibaahaasing and Sheshewaning First Nations.

“From November to March, we ran guitar lessons at the Sheshegwaning complex,”  explained Mr. Panamick. “Dave was also teaching bass, drums, guitar and keyboard in Zhiibaahaasing.”

“Throughout all of this teaching, we found that there were a group who had the desire to want to learn music, put forth the energy going to Dave’s house almost every day to learn,” said Mr. Panamick. He explained the group included Josephine Sagon and Kennady Nakogee, “who have a real talent and consistency for playing drums. We also had Trinity Simon, and Destini Rose Wabegijik who have the talent to play bass. Alexis Panamick started out playing guitar, but later found she had the talent to play bass instead.”

“However, none of these youth had an instrument of their own to practice on at home,” said Mr. Panamick. “One of the biggest barriers to learning music is not having an instrument of your own to play on. So we knew we needed three bass packages, and two drum sets. It was at this point the Jammin for Jr’s fundraising initiative was born.”

The group’s first fund-raising event, a concert, was held on April 23, 2016 at the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation community hall. All of the youth involved were invited to perform at this event to showcase their skills and show people that they did have the musical talent for their instruments.

“We also invited other talented musicians to perform as well,” Mr. Panamick said. Christian Kaiser-Fox came out and performed a few  songs for us. A band called Generator Blues came out and played some live music for us (John Roy, Melanie Pitawankwat and Ferdinand Prohaska.) We also had some  local talent perform as well. At this event we raised $1,271.”

Mr. Panamick explained, “we held several more fundraising events throughout the month of May, which consisted of a euchre tournament, a poker walk, and a yard sale and barbecue on the date of a power outage. We also received several donations from people in support of this initiative. Our grand total after all the fundraising was done was $2,081 to purchase two Mapex Tornado drum set packages, two Fender Squier Bass guitar packages, and one Fender Squier Jaguar bass and guitar strap. A special  thank you goes out to Long and McQuade in Sudbury for all their help with this purchase.”

Mr. Panamick also acknowledged all the volunteers, and all of the people and businesses that donated time, money, energy, and merchandise to support this initiative. “And to my friend and fellow musician Dave Southwood for not only teaching music to the youth, but also for all of your help, time, money, energy and support with this whole initiative.” He also acknowledged the Right to Play program in Sheshegwaning, all those that played at the April concern and chief and council for Zhiibaahaasing First Nation for all their support.