Drum Making Gallery
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During the course of the school year Nuniwarmiut Schools sponsors a cultural week every month for its students. Elders are invited to provide guidance to our students in this process. During the first weeks of December 2005 the boys and their mentors were very busy making dance drums.

These drums are actually smaller than the original Nuniwarmiut design. The problem we faced during our past trips outside of Mekoryuk with the enormous drums is that it required much airplane space. Twin otters and Navajos are commuter airplanes that provide services for the villages surrounding our hub town of Bethel. Often there is not much baggage space to accomodate the larger drums on these airplanes.

 


All photos taken December 7 and 10, 2005 by Robert Drozda, ©2005

Fitting the fabric drumskin Attaching the skin. Tightening the cord. Tighter. Really tight.
         
Clamping the cord for tying. Setting the clamp. Cutting the excess skin. Applying finish. Applying finish.
         
Applying finish. Applying finish. Applying finish. Applying finish. Applying finish.
Applying finish. Applying finish. Checking for little holes. More finish Having some fun too.
         
Nakaar tests a drum. Killer whale design
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Nakaar paints salmon.
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Lurtussiikar paints sculpin.
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Canirralzria sketches design.
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Canirralzria paints design.
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(Not linked yet) (Not linked yet) (Not linked yet) A finished drum(Not linked yet)
         
   
Outside the village is quiet except for... (Not linked yet) The children playing after school.
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