With the coming of the missionaries and the explorers, drum dancing was discouraged and even forbidden. The newcomers believed this expression of joy to be an expression of evil. Heavily influenced by these newcomers many Inuit stopped the practice of drumming. In several regions of Nunavut, Inuit have almost forgotten how to drum. We drum danced at the official opening of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly a few months later.
Today there are more individuals and groups enjoying the pleasure of drum dancing.
I enjoy drumming and my daughter has learned from me the pleasures of drumming. We, my daughter and I, enjoy drumming together. Fortunately the Elders and Community Leaders saw drumming as an important heritage of the Inuit and have promoted it as entertainment and pleasure. Drum dancing today has become accepted in most communities as entertainment once again. I am proud to say I am playing a small role in keeping part of the culture alive.