Dance Drum

Purchased by the collector from the Koksilah reserve prior to 1958. This drum was used in winter spirit dances and ceremonials. The collector noted that "the reason I bought this drum with the skin ruined is that the frames are the expensive part of a drum. They usually tell the true age of a drum as a skin can be replaced any number of times. " He also noted that the method of manufacture had changed from kerfed, steamed and bent, to six-sided and nailed together or square.

ceremonial; music; spirit dancing

Anthropologist William Elmendorf notes that: "The skin drum was a tambourine with single-skin head of uncured deer hide. During the reservation period horsehide came to be preferred for its louder tone. The single head was stretched across a circular frame of wood, usually a vine maple hoop. The head skin covered the side of the wood frame and was held taught by thong lacings. The frame was thin, one to three feet in diameter, three to four inches deep. It was made of a single piece of wood, bent with the aid of hot water (1960:221)."

Drum consisting of a hide stretched over a circular wooden frame. Eight wire spokes radiate to the centre, which is wrapped with cloth to create a handle. Traces of red and white paint on the face of the drum. The hide covering is badly torn in several places.