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Questions and Answers about Cedar Mountain Drums
Who owns Cedar Mountain Drums?
Patrick Pinson is the founder, maker and keeper of
the drums… the drums belong to the earth, and are to be worked with.
The idea of “ownership” is an illusion. I never considered myself to
own these drums and I deeply believe that the drum seeks the one who
seeks it. I prefer to give information rather than “sell”. I have a plan to dialogue with others to create an
independent/interpendent way of business where value is expanded to
include others as tribal members. Back in 1988, an Oglala man helped me
with a Ceremony where I spent four days on a hill with no food or water,
in prayer. My prayer was to find what my work. I had a dream of a
young girl rolling a hoop down a hill, and the hoop transformed into a
bear. After working with my teachers to interpret the dream, my
guidance was to follow the drum, follow my heart. Full of doubt and
fear, in 1988, I began Cedar Mountain Drums. I provide the daily
stewardship of the business and provide information to those who seek
to make these sacred products.
Where is it located?
Cedar Mountain Drums was “birthed” at 2237 E.
Burnside St. in Portland, Oregon, and is still at this location. I have
acquired another twenty acres in Carson, Washington where I intend to
create a lifelong dream of a self sufficient small community that is
both “off the grid” and abundant with many “cottage industries” to
support it. I and others will teach seekers to work with their hands to
create. Currently my friends and I have constructed a shop to make drum
rims and other products. There will be apprentice programs and
Ceremonies to help each align with their gifts and to discover and
manifest their potential. Classes and workshops will be offered there,
giving people an opportunity to be in nature and heal. We call this the
Bear Creek Heartspace center.
Who makes the drums?
Over the years, I have had apprentices who make
drums after going through a process of training in aspects of drum
making. I make most all of the drums, rattles, talking sticks, drum
kits and drum sticks.
How did you learn?
For years I was a part of a circle where the old
ways were taught, including drum making. An Osage man taught me the way
of lacing the drum using the four directions tie. Being in recovery
from drugs and alcohol, I turned my obsessive/compulsive nature to
something positive – making drums. I gave away my first 100 drums. At
the time I was working as a fund raising consultant traveling across the
country, and every time I went to a new place, I sought out the drum
makers to learn more. It never occurred to me to make it my business
until my vision quest where I was guided to follow the drum.
Where do you get the hides?
The only legal way to obtain wild
animal rawhide is through hunters, who often donate the hides to various
service clubs across the Northwest who in turn sell them to tanneries to
be processed into tanned leather or rawhide. I buy these hides and each
time I get a shipment in, I smudge and offer my prayers to each hide
that I work with. Drum making is a prayer, and I am honored to work
with the energy of the wild animals and the tree spirits. Since I don’t
know how these animals were killed, I offer my prayers of gratitude that
I can use these to create the drums and rattles.
Where do you get the hoops?
Over the years there have been individuals, who
make drum rims in a good way, and these have been my source – I am
currently planning to construct my own hoops at the Bear Creek
location. The hoops I currently have in my home are ones that I obtain
overseas and from local woodworkers. My plan is to make drums by
producing all of my own hoops.
How do you make these drums?
I prefer to cut all components of the drum from the same hide and work
with each skin to hand cut the lacing myself, cut and punch the drumhead
and go out in nature to get the sticks for the beaters. I have
learned over the years to only make the drums when I am clear of
resentments, anger and am taking care of myself. Each drum I make
is unique and I have never lost the wonder of creating these one drum at
a time. I smudge each hide with sage and offer my prayers to the
spirit of the animal and tree spirit. If I am making a drum for
someone I have consulted with, I offer my prayers for that person and
pray for right relationship and deep healing.
Are you Native American?
Although I am not a “registered” member
of a government recognized tribe (my tribe which is Mingo isn’t
recognized) I have Native blood as well as so many of us who have a
variety of ancestors. The State of West Virginia does recognize the
Mingo peoples and I am a member of the Appalachian Indians of W.Va. and
have my tribal enrollment there.
When was Cedar Mountain Drums founded?
17 years ago. In 1988, I began to
manifest the dream of Cedar Mountain Drums.
How do I take care of my drum?
With each drum I make, I include an
information sheet on taking care of it. The drum represents our Mother
Earth and is sacred. We take loving care of what we hold as sacred.
The general answer is to treat it like you would a child – keep it away
from extremes in heat and cold and in dry environments, keep the drum
hydrated. In winter, we often use gas heat which dries out our skin,
so keep the drum in an environment away from extreme dryness. If you
hang your drum on a wall, keep a humidifier in the room to keep moisture
in the air. I treat my drums with Shea butter, a natural conditioner
that keeps the drum from drying out and splitting. Storing the drum in
a case protects it when not in use. The drum is alive and expands and
constricts depending on climate and environment – the general rule is
water expands the skin and heat constricts. The drum constantly changes
as we do, and I encourage drum owners to work with the drum, develop a
relationship of respect and in journeying with the drum, you can always
ask the drum what it needs.
What paints are best for the drums?
I encourage those who acquire a drum to
work with it. Some drums don’t want to be painted and often if you
spend time with your drum, the design will emerge naturally. In
studying the patterns on the drumhead, often people will see a design
that wants to emerge. I have used natural plant dyes to paint the drum,
which is the old way, but most of my artists use latex paints on the
rawhide, and we spray the finished artwork with a matte fixative
available in most art stores.
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