The drum Or rather the Sacred Drum! Because he lives, because he breathes! The drum belongs to the Indians since their very existence, as if the drum and man were created at the same time. Or better yet, the drum and woman!

The drum has the sacred shape of the circle and is made with the wood of the trees and with the skin of the animals; historically of buffalo, moose or deer and today with cowhide. There is a "Devotion" shared among the American Indians that holds that the drum receives the vital energy, "the good medicine", from both the tree and the animal from which the drum is made ... The skin of the sacred drum binds itself to the wooden frame!!! I say this because strips of the same skin are made to form the strings that will serve to tie it to the wooden frame. There is no other material than leather and wood for the Hoop, if it is done in the traditional way. Even the drumstick is made in the same way!

It is a popular belief among American Indians that once the drum is "born" (built) it should not be played before the sacred ceremony called "The Awakening Ceremony" takes place. During this sacred ceremony the "Voice" of the drum is awakened. The duration of this ceremony from the birth of the drum until its awakening is more or less about seven days and during the ceremony to the drum is given a female name. Because the drum is considered feminine! Its rhythm is said to be the heartbeat of Mother Earth or, the heartbeat of all life. And again poetry ... A legendary belief says that “the first sound that the baby hears in the mother's womb is her heartbeat and, as soon as the baby is born the first sound He/She hears is the heartbeat of Mother Earth”. The drum is sacred because it reminds us of this, because its voice is the beating of the Heart of Mother Earth! In fact, when young children go to the powwows it comes natural for them to listen to the voice of the drum and the songs. Very often, near the drum, children can be seen sleeping serene and peacefully in the arms of their parents. While hearing the voice of the drum, children sleep and laugh without problems.

During the awakening ceremony, they usually pray and give thanks to the animal and the tree that gave their lives for the creation of the drum, as well as prayers and rituals to purify the drum and prayers for the people who participate in the ceremony. The drum is a sacred and important instrument for American Indians because it gives rhythm and meaning to life. He “The Drum” gives his rhythm to the dancers who proudly offer their thanks and praise to the Creator during the ceremonies. The Voice of the Drum accompanies the songs and prayers to the Creator and helps to heal the sick. When the drum is played, its rhythm has the ability to fill a room. Percussion can be heard from a distance, and is the call to the community and ceremony when the nations of the American Indians come together for the powwows and parties. The drum plays an important role in many ceremonies, celebrations and spiritual feasts of American Indians. Through many songs and dances with the beats of the drum, they pray to the Creator and succeed in putting themselves in close spiritual relationship with Him.

Many claim that the sacred drum contains in its voice thunder and lightning and when it is beaten it helps capture the attention of the Creator and also contact the spirits of their ancestors. Many American Indian nations have a selected and impeccable person to whom they entrust the task of “Drum Keeper". He usually is the eldest son of a selected family, and in their culture it is a great honor to be the custodian of the sacred drum. There are different types of drums but the spirituality remains the same! These are: the hoop or frame drum, the drums for powowos, water drums and other ceremonial drums. Some are played with drumsticks or bones, others by hands. The dimensions of the drum range from several inches to several feet in diameter. The larger ones, for the powows, often have enough space to accommodate eight or more players around it. It is also a shared "Devotion" between the American Indians that both the drum and the drumstick deserve recognition and respect. Because when the wand hits the drum their power together is able to create a sound that can be heard everywhere in the world, a sound full of deep respect for everything that exists. Therefore, the drumstick and the drum represent all living beings and together with man they unite to offer all creation a song of love and profound respect! The drum is alive, it breathes… and for them it symbolizes a strong bond with the Creator! Thank you