1953] 



RITZENTHALER, CHIPPEWA HEALTH 



187 



FIG. 3 — Drums at Dance Ring. 



a small number (there are three at present) of sacred drums. These are 

 made of wooden washtubs covered with calf hide and highly and symbolically 

 decorated with paint, beadwork, and other trappings (Fig. 3). The drum is 

 theoretically owned by two individuals (although some of the drums today 

 have but one owner) and the members are spoken of as belonging to a 

 certain drum. Each member has a special place at the dance ring or around 

 the drum, and specific duties such as speaker, singer, drum heater, pipe 

 tender, etc. Women can belong to a drum, but have no specific duties. They 

 accompany the singing with humming and join in the dancing. While small, 

 home meetings are held for a drum at various times throughout the year, 

 the main ceremony is (ideally) a four-day event held twice a year, usually 

 following the Midewiwin, and all the drums in the band are assembled. 

 These are held in a special lodge or outdoor ring (Fig. 4). At the ceremony 

 the speakers thank the people for coming, thank the drum spirit for 

 helping the people, and preach such virtues as good moral conduct, and 

 helping ones fellow man. The major portion of the ceremony is taken up 

 with singing and dancing. Dancing is an individual afi^air and done in the 

 same spot. The singing and dmmming is done only by assigned members 

 seated around the drum in the center of the ring. The singers have to 



