| Native American drums are arguably the most loved | | | | decoration to a drum becomes a very personal |
| Indian instruments among Indigenous and non Native | | | | artwork to the owner. The Indian drummer becomes |
| people alike. Drums for hundreds of years have | | | | an artist and communicates impressions of his inner |
| always been at the hub of Native American lifestyle, | | | | feelings and beliefs which adorns his drum. Some |
| forming what is the channel of religion and spirituality | | | | American Indian tribes use animals to adorn their |
| as well as social gatherings where a pow wow drum | | | | drums and others use geometric patterns and |
| is center stage. | | | | everything in between. In some tribal Indian cultures |
| Indian leaders in North America history have all used | | | | the drummer will place something of personal value |
| drums in various ways to connect with a higher | | | | inside the drum to permanently join himself with his |
| power known to most as the Great Spirit. To Native | | | | hand drum. |
| people, Indian drums are much more than just | | | | The different Native American pictures that the |
| decorations or nice musical instruments. American | | | | artwork on the drums depict is often painted with |
| Indian drums are thought to speak to the drummer. | | | | natural earth colors taken from nature. Some are dull |
| Native drums being made in a circle represent the | | | | and others are bright coming from flowers, roots, |
| earth and life. The most recognized being hoop | | | | berries, bark or herbs that are boiled to release their |
| drums and shaman drums which are Indian hand | | | | unique 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 |
| The skin of the animal that is stretched over the ring | | | | that is much like paint and is indicative if the |
| brings with it unique characteristics of the spirit of the | | | | surrounding hillsides and rock formations like those of |
| animal and brings a sense of life to the drum when | | | | the beautiful Arizona red rock canyons. The region of |
| played. Many people think of striking a drum to make | | | | Sedona is thought to be a special place with spiritual |
| a sound, but to Indian drummers and those involved | | | | power like the energy created by American Indian |
| in modern drumming groups and drum circles, the | | | | drums. |
| desire is to draw out the sound. The beating drum is | | | | The intent of Native American Education except for |
| compared to the beating of a human heart and is | | | | those Indian boarding schools that have tried to |
| said to represent the heart beat of the earth which | | | | stamp out Native culture has always involved the |
| is a belief that is classic Native American. Drums in | | | | sharing of beliefs through music, songs, stories and |
| this way become the channel to connect one's spirit | | | | legends. It is in harmony with these methods of |
| with that of the earth and the Great Spirit through | | | | learning that the communication and cultural |
| out the history of Native Americans. | | | | importance has been found in the use of drums. If |
| Native American drums have a wonderful culture and | | | | you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life as |
| because they are so important they are used in not | | | | pertain to Indian beliefs, you would get a lot out of |
| only music but art and dance as well. Adding | | | | using and playing Native American drums. |