The air around the surrounding area of Crystal Ranch in Botha filled with songs and drumming on Friday evening, April 1 as shamana Joanne Bean led a drumming circle of 12 people.
Bean narrated her experience of how she became a keeper of drum songs and immersed herself in drumming before she led the group into their first song.
"My spirit name is Sleeping Buffalo Woman," said Bean. "I learned the songs as a result of attending over 200 sweat lodges in a two-year period, and since the first time I heard a First Nation drum song, I had a profound experience and was able to see the ancestral guides of the Elder singing."
Several months later, Bean attended her first sweat lodge, which again enthralled her.
"When my teacher moved to Europe, I continued leading prayer circles, much like today and have been singing these traditional songs with the drum for eight years, since I stepped onto the Red Road," added Bean. "Drum circles include building community, connecting to the land, with each other, besides supporting one another in our own healing process."
Owner of Crystal Ranch, Shelley Streit who was also one of the participants said that she had always been attracted to the native culture and with many of the people visiting the Ranch being interested in traditional teachings, she has had several requests for drumming and to learn the drum songs.
"The workshop was a great success, with the attendees experiencing something totally new, enjoying themselves, taking away something positive and looking to learn more," said Streit. "From the event, I personally learnt new songs and loved having the experience of many nationalities and backgrounds come together to share in the learning, it doesn't matter where you come from, we can all learn in different ways."
According to Bean, the 'native' drum has been known to carry the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
"They are used to accompany the voice in songs," said Bean. "Drums have been used to communicate, celebrate and connect people of many cultures and are typically made with wooden rings covered in animal hide such as buffalo, elk, moose, deer, or cow hide, while the drum stick or tom is often made from a willow branch, the end being covered in padding and soft leather."
Streit said that all of their workshops are aimed at helping people to learn new things and expand their awareness while enjoying themselves.
"In the past we have had drum-making workshops so learning a few drumming songs for those individuals seems only natural," said Streit. "We enjoy serving people from all over the province and are always grateful to those who come to join us from near and far in the new experiences we share with them."