Interested
in drums from childhood, Deerwomon has studied many cultures and drum making
styles.
Her personal interest in Shama(nic) techniques of healing and journeying has
led her to creating drums that are for everyone. In the past she studied indigenous
traditional techniques to create the beautiful and unique drums and drum heads
for hand-thrown pottery bases, hollowed trees, tin frames, and rounded, ash
wood hoops named Shama drums.
The traditional Shama drums, that are Deerwomon’s specialty, are quite impressive
and unique.The wood is milled to size, soaked, then carefully bent to form
a circle. These drums are then hided and hung to dry. The drum does not always
turn out round, but is very much a natural shape. These drums are specifically
made to be used for shama healings, rituals and Spirit workings.
Choosing the Drum Head
Each head is carefully chosen, not only to suit the drum, but in some
instances to suit the person the drum is going to.The actual heading of the
drum can take up to 2 hours, with drying taking 3-5 days. The sound of the
drum is not known until the hide is dried thouroughly. Not all the drums
pass the ‘’sound’ test, and must be resoaked and restreched.
The Process of Preparing the Hide
The process of preparing the deer and other animal hides involves both
perserverance and luck. Local deer hunters, road kills, and state forest
services are all sources for the hides. Deerwomon respectfully begins the
process with prayer and other rituals to insure the peace and passing of the
animal. She then thouroughly cleans and soaks the hide for many days in a
mixture of wood ash and water. When the hide has reached its best state, the
de-hairing begins, taking anywhere from 5 hours to 2 days. Deerwomon then
chooses the parts of the hide that will become the drum head, only certain
portions of the hide are suitable. All parts of this process are chemical
free and require much tending and care.
