| Hand Made Native American drums are certainly the | | | | a drum becomes a very personal artwork to the |
| most identifiable Indian instruments among Native | | | | owner. The Indian drummer becomes an artist and |
| Americans and non Native people alike. Drums for | | | | communicates impressions of his inner feelings and |
| centuries have certainly been at the center of | | | | beliefs which adorns his drum. Some American Indian |
| American Indian lifestyle, forming what is now the | | | | tribes use animals to personalize their drums and |
| central point of religion and spirituality as well as social | | | | others use geometric patterns and everything in |
| gatherings where a pow wow drum is center stage. | | | | between. In some tribal Indian cultures the drummer |
| Many Indian tribes in North America history have all | | | | will place something of personal value inside the drum |
| used drums in various ways to interact with a higher | | | | to permanently join himself with his hand drum. |
| power known to most as the Great Spirit. To Native | | | | When it comes to adorning Native drums, the |
| people, Indian drums are much more than just | | | | beautiful Native American designs that the artwork |
| decorations or beautiful musical instruments. American | | | | on the drums depict is usually painted with natural |
| Indian drums are believed to speak to the drummer. | | | | earth colors taken from nature. Some are dull and |
| Native drums being made in a circle represent the | | | | others are bright coming from flowers, roots, berries, |
| earth and life. The most recognizable being hoop | | | | bark or herbs that are boiled to release their unique |
| drums and shaman drums which are Indian hand | | | | earth tones. Other Native American drums are |
| drums used in many personal healing and religious | | | | decorated with iron oxide which is a naturally |
| ceremonies as well as public ceremonies such as a | | | | occurring red rock that can be easily crushed. When |
| Native American powwow. | | | | mixed with water, it produces a rich orange red dye |
| It is thought that the skin of the animal that is pulled | | | | that is much like paint and is indicative if the |
| over the ring brings with it unique characteristics of | | | | surrounding hillsides and rock formations like those of |
| the spirit of the animal and brings a sense of life to | | | | the beautiful Arizona red rock canyons. The region of |
| the drum when played. Many people think of beating | | | | Sedona is thought to be a special place with spiritual |
| a drum to make a sound, but to Native American | | | | power like the energy created by American Indian |
| drummers and those involved in modern drumming | | | | drums. |
| groups and drum circles, the desire is to draw out | | | | The desire of Native American Education except for |
| the sound. The beating drum is compared to the | | | | those Indian boarding schools that have tried to |
| beating of a human heart and is said to represent the | | | | stamp out Native culture has always involved the |
| heart beat of the earth which is a belief that is classic | | | | sharing of beliefs through music, songs, stories and |
| Native American. Drums in this way become the | | | | legends. It is in harmony with these methods of |
| central point to connect one's spirit with that of the | | | | learning that the communication and cultural |
| earth and the Great Spirit through out the history of | | | | importance has been found in the use of drums. If |
| Native Americans. | | | | you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life as |
| Native American Indian drums have a beautiful culture | | | | pertain to Indian beliefs, you will get a lot out of |
| and because they are so important they are used in | | | | having and playing Native American drums. |
| not only music but art and dance as well. Decorating | | | | |