Drum Making Ceremony - Giving Voice to Spirit

The first sound that the fetus hears is the sound of it's own tiny heartbeat-boom-boom.  With that awareness comes a second sound, louder, stronger and steady boom-boom.  Mother's heartbeat.  After coming into the world, the new baby is only aware of it's own heartbeat-only one.  Eventually, one day, the person will hear the sound of the drum-boom-boom, welcome home my child, Isabelle Meawasige.

Drum making is a time of entering sacred space and working from there.  This is a time when we work with energy and the transference of that energy.  What kind of energy we put into that drum is the kind of energy that the drum will resonate with.  If we clear our minds and put good and loving thoughts in the making of the drum, the drum will resonate and vibrate with that energy and will enter into our people's ears and travel to their hearts.  This will open up their heart space and enable them to hear that second heart beat.  That is why it is so important to be in a good mind.  The Grandmothers will be giving you the stories about the first drum.  Why it came, how it is made, what are our responsibilities to the drum, how to use and care for it.  You will also learn a good "thanksgiving song".

The ceremony is within seven days to allow for the drying time of the drum and to welcome the seven grandfathers' teachings to come and put their energy into those drums.  The awakening of the drum is when the drum sounds its voice for the very first time.  From this time on, the drum becomes animate and has its own heart beat and its own voice.  It helps us find our own voices.  We feast our drum and sacred items quarterly.  At the time of the equinoxes and solstices is a very powerful time to feast and honor them.  This is when all the energies of the first family of creation are all in alignment and power can be called upon to remain with the sacred items.

This Drum Making Ceremony called Giving Voice to Spirit will be led by Indigenous Grandmothers, Isabelle Meawasige and Caroline Recollet on Sunday, November 22, 2009 and Saturday, November 28th, 2009.  It will be held at Sacred Harvest Grove.  The cost is $200 for both days and this includes the sacred hoop (13 sides and 13 inches across).  You will need to intimately select and purchase your deer rawhide and four eagle-wing spans of rawhide lacing at Beaded Dreams at 426 Bank Street in Ottawa.  The cost is approximately $50 (let them know it is for this ceremony).  For information, directions or to register contact Cindy Gaudet at 613-601-1647  or Liz Henderson at 613-821-9762

Location:  6561 Harvest Grove Drive:  Greely, Ont. K4P1E9 (google mapquest)

Investment:  $200 plus your material costs.

Dates:  Sunday, November 22 and Saturday, November 28, 2009

Times:  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.