Because I love southwest decorating, I recently added ceremonial drums as part of the rustic, southwest decor in my new home. I was so impressed with the authentic, rustic feel that the Native American drums created in my home, that I began learning about the history and the influential role they play in Native cultures.



If you are like me, you have probably seen how significant ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not know their importance in tribal ceremonies or how exactly they are used. Every tribe is different in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very symbolic and part of the main focus of the ceremony.

Throughout my research, I have found that learning about these drums truly grants you a great appreciation of the American Indian culture and their customs. As you start reading about ceremonial drums, you will find it very intriguing that the native people consider the ceremonial drum to be sacred. They are most often used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to call on the Spirits and to connect with their creator.

It is believed that each drum holds a spirit and that the drum beat signifies the heart beat of Mother Nature. Since the drum is believed to connect the people with the spirit world and guide the a healer in helping his people, you will find that they are commonly used by the healers or Shaman to enter the trance-like state, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to communicate with the Spirits.

Also, as you study the importance of ceremonial drums in today's culture, you will see that Native Indian drums have a significant part in the preservation of Native American tribes such as the Tarahumara. Making and selling these rustic style drums allows them to earn a living, through selling and trading their cultural hand crafts, and helps them spread the knowledge and traditions of their culture to those who purchase them.

The drum making knowledge, passed on from generation to generation in these tribes, teaches the drum makers how to make durable and long-lasting ceremonial drums with elements from the Earth and the environment around them such as pine wood and natural rawhide.

Now days, Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Native American drum groups and as Indian musical instruments, but they are also gaining popularity as pieces of decorative art, instruments used in school music classes and even as canvases for Native American art projects and southwest paintings. Some types of ceremonial drums are also used as southwest style furniture and western decor, such as the larger powwow drums and pedestal drums that are used as decorative tables.

Today, it is very easy to buy these beautiful Native American ceremonial drums online and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic home decor. However you decide to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming purposes or in home decorating, you will no doubt be drawn to the simplistic charm and southwest style of ceremonial drums.