Grey Eagle Drum Project (Community & Youth)

Hello, my name is Sandi (Star Woman.) I am enrolled in White Earth Nation, my Dad was from Red Lake. And I am a descendant of the Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux. I am inviting you to support Sweet Medicine, An Indigenous Healing Journey (we are not yet a Non-Profit) in the rebuilding of a community & youth Drum. Singers & Elders have agreed to come back together, to repair Gray Eagle Drum to teach singers, old songs, stories & protocol in the Fargo/Moorhead area. Sweet Mecine's role is to organize & gather the people together, in a good way.

In the early 1990s, the Native American Coalition was located in the former Fire Station, on Main Avenue in South Fargo, ND.   Programs came together, as a result of the dedication of the late Gladys Ray and others, going house to house collecting information from Native American families, to bring the community members and program together, in one place. Programs included Native American Outreach, Good Medicine, Fargo Indian Education, Native American Ministry, a Native American Journalist. Red Road to Recovery Group and Red Rivers singers met weekly.

One spring a respected Veteran of the White Earth Nation, brought in 2 moose hides.  It didn't take long for people to begin to work together, framing and scraping the hides, to build a community Drum, under the guidance of Veteran, Joe Circle Bear, while local singers and drums, respectfully, such as the Red River Drum, Pretty Lodge, the Red Nation Drum would practice, bringing a sense of peace, pride and belonging to the center. Later, Red Nation Drum singers would teach All Nations Youth, and assisted in bringing youth (singers & dancers) to local events & powwows, having a lasting and positive impact on our youth and families.

One of the young students, who never missed a chance to sing, began at approximately 6 years of age. D.B. says, “I’ve learned a lot.  I learned about respect and responsibility. It is a good way of life.” Throughout the years, he has continued to help out, teaching his sons, and family members and singing at community events, such as powwows, picnics, honorings, birthdays, weddings, community walks, memorials and celebrations of life.

Later, and mysteriously, Gray Eagle Drum ended up in South Dakota. Some of the boys that lived in SD and helped to make the drum heard Gray Eagle Drum, over the microphone, at the Tiospa Zina - Elementary School, at Old Agency, SD.  Gray Eagle was being used to start the school day!

Time went by, and I asked about Gray Eagle, sadly, they said it was under the stage and had a hole in. So, we went to get the drum and brought it back to Fargo.

So now nearly 30 years later, we would like to repair Gray Eagle, and welcome her back into the community. Joe Circle Bear and other local singers, have agreed come back together, to rebuild the Drum. They will teach Drum protocol, songs, ceremony and stories while bringing healing and excitement back into our community.

Please consider making a donation to support this Healing Journey & Rebuilding of the Gray Eagle Drum. Our goal is to raise $2500 for supplies and to bring our Elders and youth together, to be a part of this Healing Journey, respectfully. Sandra Berlin (Star Woman)