North Carolina Drum Making Workshop of August, 2008
In a public workshop in Chapel Hill, NC., Jean Steele led eight participants in the construction of a traditional Plains Indian one-sided frame drum with a drum beater. Jean Steele is the the tool-maker of Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge, a position of trust in the traditional ways of
  Among indigenous people, it is believed that the drum is a living thing. The spirit of the animal and the tree of which the drum is made both live on in the drum.
Nine participants joined Jean in Chapel Hill, NC., to make a American Plains Indian, one-sided drum.
During this all day workshop the participants prepared their wooden frame, selected, cut and stretched horse hide tightly over a wooden frame, laced it together, and made a beater.
While making their drum participants heard many
of the traditional beliefs about drums. They learned
how to use and care for their drum “in a good way.” Hides were selected by the workshop participants
All but one of the drums are about four inches deep and approximately twenty inches in diameter. The drum frame was made of Maple. The rawhide covering was of horse from horses that died natural deaths. There was laughter and comradery thoughout the day. When the drum is completed it was smudged with sage and blessed through ritual
by a traditional healer Chuck Skelton.
Jean Steele, Workshop Leader
Drum Making workshops led by Jean Steele
are available to the public. A group of eight (8) to twelve (12) participants is required.
Jean Steele may be contacted through Bear Spirit Medicine Lodge.
 Chesley Sugg preparing is drum round Jean Steele's personal Drum Chuck Skelton blessing Chesley's drum
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