Because I love southwest decorating, I recently added ceremonial drums as part of the rustic, southwest decor in my new home. I was so happy with the unique, rustic look that the Native American drums brought to my home, that I started researching and reading about the history and the significant role they play in tribal cultures.



If you are like me, you have probably seen how important ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not know their importance in Native ceremonies or how exactly they are used. Every tribe is unique in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very significant and part of the main focus of the ceremony. Throughout my research, I have come to find that learning about these drums truly gives you a great appreciation of the Native American culture and their customs.

As you begin learning about ceremonial drums, you will find it very interesting that the native people consider the ceremonial drum to be sacred. They are most often used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to come in contact with 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 state of mind, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to come in contact with the Spirits. Also, as you learn about the importance of ceremonial drums in modern culture, you will see that Native Indian drums have a significant role in the preservation of native 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 buy them. The drum making knowledge, passed on from generation to generation in these tribes, teaches the drum makers how to design durable and long-lasting ceremonial drums with elements from the Earth and the environment around them such as pine wood and natural rawhide.

Today, American Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Indian drumming 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 rustic 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 unique Native American ceremonial drums online and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic home decor. However you choose to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming groups or in home decorating, you will no doubt be drawn to the rustic charm and Native American style of ceremonial drums.