SpiritWolf Singers Perform at Algonquin College Convocation

Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2025

When the SpiritWolf Singers take the stage at Algonquin College’s convocation ceremonies, they bring with them not just thespirit wolf singers sound of the drum – but generations of history, teachings, and spirit. Led by Randy Kakegamick, a four-time Algonquin College graduate, the SpiritWolf Singers represent a living tradition, rooted deeply in Indigenous culture and community.

“Our drum, our adayweygun (drum in Oji-Cree, tewehigan in Anishinàbe), it’s a healing tool,” says Kakegamick, who is the appointed drumkeeper. “There’s a whole protocol behind the drum. You don’t just sit and bang on it—you sing. You honour it. It connects us to the heartbeat of Mother Earth and even to our first memories in the womb.”

The SpiritWolf Singers are a group of eight core members, with a recently added ninth member – a “rookie” as Kakegamick calls him. The group has been singing together for years, performing at nearly 50 to 60 events each year, from powwows to college convocations, where the group first began performing under the name Bear Nation.

Their music is more than performance; it’s a form of ceremony, healing, and remembering. Kakegamick shares the original story of how the drum came to the people: A woman, seeking help for her community when men were fighting and harming one another, prayed to the Creator. She was gifted the drum and the songs to heal and teach the men how to coexist with humility and love. “Every time we hit the drum, we call on the ancestors to join us,” he explains. “It’s powerful.” Kakegamick said “sometimes I can even hear women’s voices singing with us when nobody’s there.”

At convocation, the songs chosen are meant to honour the graduates and offer prayers of strength and encouragement. Kakegamick notes the emotional impact of their presence: “I’ve had people come up after and tell me they didn’t know why they felt so much when they heard the drum. And I smile, because I know why. That beat, that rhythm, it’s something primal—it’s your first connection to life, just like hearing your mother’s heartbeat in the womb.”

Beyond the emotion and ceremony, the SpiritWolf Singers also serve as educators. Kakegamick values when students and faculty ask questions about the drum, the songs, and the protocols. “I love when people are curious. Every year, someone thanks us, someone tells us it was amazing. It’s a way to open doors of understanding, even just a little bit.”

Convocation is a special moment, and SpiritWolf approaches it with deep reverence. Their presence reminds every one of the land they are on and the people who came before. “It’s about remembering that even though Canada is here, there were—and are—people with identities, languages, societies. We are visitors on this land,” said Kakegamick.


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