This elk rawhide drum was
designed, hand painted, and made by Tlingit artist Garrett Jackson.
This drum is 15 1/2 inches across ( at the flat sides), and 2
inches deep, the hoop (also made by Garrett), is made of western
red cedar. It has a very nice, even, loud tone when struck. The
drum comes with the raven handled beater shown in the photos.
The beater (also made by Garrett) is 18 1/4 inches long. It is
carved from Alaskan yellow cedar with deer leather on the padded
tip held with elk rawhide. The design on the drum and the beater
is of a raven (yeil). It is signed and dated on the inside of
the hoop. Garrett has sold wooden art objects at museums and
galleries since 1990 under the name "Jackson Art Originals".
Garrett was born in southeast Alaska and is of the "Hootznoowoo"
Tlingit tribe.
Raven is a dynamic character
and a prominent figure within the accounts of the aboriginal
people of the Northwest Coast although his prominence does diminish
from north to south. Despite the differing roles this creature
plays within First Nation worldviews; Raven is admired universally
for his intelligence, inquisitiveness and creativity and as a
result appears more often within the works of indigenous artists
than any other character of their oral traditions. A long, blunt
tipped beak, folded wings, and black coloration characterize
raven.
