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The Peace Drum
by Traute Klein, AKA biogardener
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The steady beat of the peace drum unites the women in the drumming circle. The rhythm unites and relaxes and gives the participants direction for the coming month.
Note: This article is part of a series of articles on what I have learned from my ongoing association with the Aboriginal people of Manitoba. The other articles are linked below.
Symbols of Peace
What comes to your mind when asked about peace symbols? There are many, and I have just in the last year discovered a new one. Native North Americans have a most powerful peace symbol, the peace drum. Its design was conceived by an Ojibway woman who received the directions for its construction in visions long before the coming of the white man to North America. In these dreamlike revelations she learned of the need for women to unite in drumming to bring peace to their warring tribes. In the visions she learned that women would have to take the initiative to bring peace. After building the drum, she invited friends and enemies alike to come and drum together and to make peace with each other.
Drumming Circles
There are many drumming circles in Manitoba and they are attended by people of all ethnic backgrounds. Most of them take place monthly. One of them is lead by a young man of Mennonite heritage who has collected various drums and other percussion instruments from around the world. I took part in one of his workshops and was impressed by the freedom of expression in the room.
Mae Louise Campbell leads another circle which is called "The Daughters of the Dream Drum." From her I heard the story of the origin of Native drumming.
 I have now joined a drumming circle at a women's resource center which meets at every new moon. Other circles meet at the time of the full moon. Everyone is free to bring a drum or other percussion instrument or to choose one of the spare instruments. No one gives instructions. People just start drumming. You might think that this would result in a chaotic cacophony of rhythms. I thought so, but soon found out that the drums have their own beat, and anyone who beats them soon gets caught up in their course. The united beating of the drum, the singing and chanting, the sharing of hopes and experiences soon unites the women who are present.
 I am often so overwhelmed by the relaxing rhythm that I fall asleep during a session, but no one seems to mind. I have never felt embarrassed. When I wake up, I don't even know that I have been asleep unless someone tells me. Like everyone around me, I feel as though I am swimming in an ocean of rhythm, an ocean of relaxation, an ocean of peace.
Women Show the Way
 The woman who received the vision of the peace drum was told that women must show the way to peace in this world. It appears to be such an easy task when you sit in a circle with other women who are also drumming. It seems impossible for people united in a common rhythm to be at war with each other.
If more people would join this circle, we might be able to stop wars. If we could only get politicians to sit around a drumming circle, they would soon lay down their arms and sign a peace treaty.
Articles about Aboriginal Culture
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