Native American Drummers

As one of several thousand spectators at Spokane’s Riverfront Park Powwow a few years ago, I was lucky enough to snap a photo of this remarkable group of Native American drummers. The men struck the drums in unison with covered mallets blending their voices with the beating of the drum to create the song. It’s been said that the drumbeat carries the heartbeat of the Indian nation and Mother Earth calling the spirits and nations together. It was a very moving and inspirational experience for me, one that I wanted to recreate in watercolor. The history of this event, and the significance of gathering at the Spokane River, goes back generations. It has been a sacred tradition for many of the tribes around the Northwest to gather at the river because it gives life, love, hope, and a sense of revitalization. During past years, Riverfront Park has been home to this event and it has become a tradition for people of all nations to gather and celebrate those gifts the river provides and to crea