Native American Music


Native American Music centers around the drum. For this reason, the singers are often referred to as a Drum Group, or simply as The Drum. Drum groups are usually made up of extended family members and friends, and are often named for the primary family, but not always.

Different types of songs are sung for different events—Grand Entries, dance contests and honoring ceremonies.

In recent years, drum groups have begun to win Grammy’s for their recordings in the new Native American music category.

 

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The Sioux Drum

The Sioux drum is not just a musical instrument. To the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people, it holds great cultural and symbolic power.

They believe the drum has a life of its own, as well as its own powerful spirit. The drum is the heartbeat of the Indian Nation. It carries the heartbeat of Mother Earth and calls the spirits and nations together.