I have been drumming and making drums since 1998 and formed Earth Beat Drums in November 1999. My journey started when a Shaman handed me a drum, and so I say that "the drum found me". It changed my life and very quickly became clear to me that I was to share this experience with others. Having no words to explain what I was experiencing at the time, I realized that the best way to communicate about the drum was to put one in someone’s hands and let them have their own experience. This is still the way that I share drumming, providing a hands-on experience, creating a safe circle with people to experience the healing vibration of this primal tool that has been known in all cultures around the world through all time. And so I travel with many drums offering individuals an experience, sometimes becoming a personal inner journey, an opportunity to return to our center, our place of calm and peace and knowing; and sometimes the experience is loud and celebratory with singing and movement; or of course, a combination of all!
I create and teach drummaking to small and large groups and individually. This includes miniature decorative drums 2" in size (good for hanging from a rear view mirror or as a necklace), a small 5" drum with mallet (great for painting artwork on), 10", 13", 15" and 18" hoop drums and mallets using various animal raw hide. I am currently making 13" sweat lodge drums with thick hide that is less quick to take on moisture. For the past eleven years I continue to make personal sacred drums for individuals with artwork on the hoops which reveals what I call the drums story. The hoops I use are maple wood and the branches that I gather when out in nature become the mallets with a stitched leather end.
I have knowledge of the medicine wheel teachings from the Lakota traditions, have lead drum and journey meditations. In June 2009 I experienced my first vision quest in Herschel, SK, sacred Blackfoot territory, led by Elder Art Kaiswatum from Piapot Reserve. This was an amazing and humbling experience.
I married in May 2008. Toni (Antonio) is from Spain and started his journey to Canada almost ten years ago to learn about the First Nations teachings, primarily Cree. Also he has knowledge of the Susquehanna Medicine Wheel, the Mexican Temaskal, and the Hopi Indians teachings, and he is a sweat lodge leader. We are both drawn to natural indigenous “of the earth” teachings; it is this common place of spirituality that brought us together. Toni and I work together when the opportunity arises.
A few of our new plans will involve making our own drum hoops, cloth drum bags and feather cases.
Please have a look at the drum photos and enjoy!
Kellie’s recent work:
I recently left working in non-profit organizations after three and a half years where I worked with a team and directly with at risk youth, co-managing a charity and several non-profit organizations. Some of this time was spent scraping buffalo and elk hides and making drums (you may have seen us at the Sun Dog Fair in 2008 demonstrating drummaking with several of our youth). In wanting to return to my passion, drumming and drummaking, I have now accumulated skills in many other areas such as working with communication and problem solving skills with adults and youth, and have gained the understanding that comes with some of the difficulties our communities face every day. I spent three years working at weekend retreats with eating disorder adults and youth using drumming as a new way to voice, and using communication and various life skills techniques as the center teaches.
In May, 2009 we attended a weekend retreat hosted by the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association where my husband and I offered drumming circles and the decorating of 2" miniature drums with the participants. The rewards were many as these individuals whose life struggles are grand, humbly opened up to this new experience; and we watched people’s eyes become bright and their smiles grow as they drummed and joined in with the singing. This was a very moving and rewarding group of people to work/play with. We are both grateful for this amazing experience.
In the past I have drummed and made drums with school groups - students and teachers conferences, various business and community organizations in Saskatchewan. I traveled for eight weeks with Saskatchewan Cultural Society drumming with some 4,000 students of all ages. Amazing for me was to watch children labeled with various attention deficit disorders take to the drumming which had a calming effect for them. I witnessed one Teachers Aid Assistant come to tears when the young boy she was working with "actually sat still and focused for more than two minutes for the first time ever"....he drummed for an hour. This affirms for me yet again the importance of drumming. The simplicity of finding ones own beat to their own drum, and what that means, is very individual for everyone - it is beyond rules or meeting anyone’s expectations - it just simply is.
To discuss how I could benefit you, your group/ organization with what I have to offer, I can be reached at ebd@shaw.ca or by calling (306) 683-9998.
Many blessings.... Namaste
If you wish to contact Kellie,
Call 306-683-9998 or
Email ebd@shaw.ca.
