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