About a dozen people were in a traditional drum making class at room 069 today ant NVIT the first nations administrated public , community college at 4155 Belshaw Avenue here in Merritt , starting with a bannock lunch the process takes about 2 hours to stretch raw hide over wooden rings. Deer skin is also used to make rattles of raw hide to go with drummers.

A drum stick is also made from a willow stick , ” medicine” ” willow has healing ” and a sowed skin covered foam pad. A participant said also that sand was used  before balloons were available to stitch wet rawhide over for  the rattle.

When asked Amy Strayer said it was her first one and tradition holds that she give it away. Her drum was drying and she had not yet decided who to give it to.

First nations people often sing ad drum their introductions to a meeting.

Today in history: April 16th 1881

Bat Masterson fights his last gun battle in Dodge city.

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