The Sacred Drum

[Bryant Cochran (dikanowadidohi digadili)]

Listen to the beat of the drum, for it is the heartbeat of mother earth and father sky, it is the heartbeat of the great mystery that is creator. Listen to the song of the singer for it is their prayer. Feel the beat come to your chest and how it reverberates within you, bringing to you the power. Dance to the drum and you will offer up your own prayer and you will know, deep in your innerself, that you are dancing for the spirits and creator. Sing your prayer to creator and mother earth, sing for the spirits of the winds and fire, sing for your own purpose and that of all the people. For when you let the spirit of the drum come within you and you move to the beat, sing with the beat, you are heard by all the spirits, creator smiles and mother earth knows you are one of her own.

The drum is a sacred instrument used for prayer, dancing, healing, bringing forth spirits and most people don't have a full grasp of drumming. The people I call seekers, so want to become like those on the good red road that they on occassion create a problem from their lack of having a spiritual understanding of what is going on. These folk want to jump right in without being truly prepaired for the experience and so act in ignorance, which usually troubles those who take offence at any outsider desiring to learn our ways. Many of the seekers only have white man music to refer to when they start to locate the good red road, they think anyone can beat on a drum and they only see what they hear as music. This is not what I hear when I listen to the drum.

How many have actually participated in setting up for a powwow and paid attention to the setting of the ceremonial drum? Did they notice the offerings being made at the space where the drum would be placed? Did they notice the smudging of the site, the drum, the drummers? Did they notice the prayer of each drummer as they took their place and lifted up their beater? Did they notice that the first song sung was a prayer to the creator, mother earth, father sky, the wind spirits and fire spirits? Did they notice that the ending song was a prayer of thanks?

When I approach the circle of the drum I stop and offer prayers for a good meeting. I also offer prayers for all those that have come to participate to have a wonderful spiritual experience and that they will leave with all that they sought. I offer prayers that those who are in need will recieve that which they need. I then thank the creator and spirits for allowing me to be in attendance and to guide me, give me more wisdom and knowledge for the purpose of helping those who ask. For me, the powwow is still as in the old days, a gathering of medicine people and spiritual leaders. It is where we can hold council and exchange ideas, talk of things, and work healings if requested. It is also a place where all are brothers and sisters, connected by spirit. Sure it is also the place where the seekers gather to see the ceremonies and start or continue their walk to the good red road. It is a place where some sell their handiwork and others teach or show how to do crafts.

But nothing would really happen at these gatherings were it not for the drum. It is the drum that connects all that hear it to mother earth and father sky, it is the drum that glues us all into one family reguardless of origin.