| Native American drums are without a doubt the | | | | well. Decorating a drum becomes a very personal |
| most recognizable Native instruments among | | | | task to the owner. The Indian drummer becomes |
| Native Americans and non Native American people | | | | an artist and communicates impressions of his |
| alike. Drums for many generations have always | | | | inner feelings and beliefs in his Indian art. Some |
| been at the center of Native lifestyle, forming | | | | American Indian tribes use animals to adorn their |
| what is the conduit of religion and spirituality as | | | | drums and others use geometric patterns and |
| well as feast days where a pow wow drum is at | | | | everything in between. In some Native cultures |
| the center. | | | | the drummer will place some item of personal |
| Indian leaders in North America history have all | | | | value inside the drum to permanently join himself |
| used drums in various ways to connect with a | | | | with his hand drum. |
| higher power known to most as the Great Spirit. | | | | The unique Native American pictures that the |
| To Native people, Indian drums are much more | | | | artwork on the drums depict is usually painted |
| than just decorations or nice musical instruments. | | | | with natural earth colors taken from nature. Some |
| American Indian drums are said to speak to the | | | | are dull and others are bright coming from |
| drummer. Native drums being made in a circle | | | | flowers, roots, berries, bark or herbs that are |
| represent the earth and life. The most well known | | | | boiled to release their unique earth tones. Other |
| being hoop drums and shaman drums which are | | | | Native American drums are adorned with iron |
| Indian hand drums used in many personal healing | | | | oxide which is a naturally occurring red rock that |
| and religious ceremonies as well as public | | | | can be easily crushed. When mixed with water, it |
| ceremonies such as a Native American powwow. | | | | produces a rich orange red dye that is much like |
| The hide of the animal that is pulled over the ring | | | | paint and is indicative if the surrounding hillsides |
| brings with it unique characteristics of the spirit of | | | | and rock formations like those of the beautiful |
| the animal and brings a sense of life to the drum | | | | Arizona red rock canyons. The region of Sedona |
| when played. Many people think of beating a drum | | | | is thought to be a special place with spiritual |
| to make a sound, but to Indian drummers and | | | | energy like the energy created by American |
| those involved in modern drumming groups and | | | | Indian drums. |
| drum circles, the desire is to draw out the sound. | | | | The goal of Native American Education except for |
| The beating drum is compared to the beating of | | | | those Indian boarding schools that have tried to |
| a human heart and is said to represent the heart | | | | stamp out Indian has always involved the sharing |
| beat of the earth which is a belief that is classic | | | | of beliefs through music, songs, stories and |
| Native American. Drums in this way become the | | | | legends. It is in harmony with these forms of |
| conduit to connect one's spirit with that of the | | | | learning that the communication and cultural |
| earth and the Great Spirit through out the history | | | | importance has been found in the use of drums. |
| of Native Americans. | | | | If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life |
| Native American Indian drums have a wonderful | | | | as pertain to Indian beliefs, you will enjoy owning |
| culture and because they are so important they | | | | and playing Native American drums. |
| are used in not only music but art and dance as | | | | |