By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
This past Saturday, July 29th, members of the Humble Spirit Drum visited the Needham Free Public Library to share their culture and music. Everyone was welcome to come and enjoy the festivities and beautiful music that was shared.
Families and friends gathered within the library sitting in an outer circle formation as members of the Humble Spirit Drum sat in an inner circle formation around the drum. Within this members circle, Jay Singing Spirit Cunningham set up a spirit chair as well. In total there were five members, three men who sat around the drum and two females who stood close by.
The purpose of this visit was to share their traditional songs like that of honor, remembrance, celebration, prayer and warrior. With respect to their traditional ways, they politely asked attendees to refrain from taking photos or videos during honor/memorial songs but mentioned they could do so when other songs were being played.
At the beginning of their performance, members walked around with different artifacts and special mementos from their tribe. All were invited to smell the pleasant scent of sweet grass that had been braided together. Upon smelling the sweet grass, members explained that each of the grasses had different meanings for them. Sweet grass is meant for wisdom, cedar is meant for health, and sage is meant for strength.
Each song that they performed transported you into a different world; everyone was entranced by their ritual actions. One song in particular that they played honored the eagle and its journey.
While not a traditional honor song, this one explored the eagle's journey in how it carries prayers up to the creator. Guests watched in amazement as the members went back and forth from banging on the drum to tapping it on the side. When they were tapping the sides, Jay Singing Spirit Cunningham explained that this represents the eagle at rest through his tiring journey.
This is not the first time that Humble Spirit Drum has visited the library and one can only hope it will not be the last. Sponsored by the Friends of the Needham Public Library, they aim on welcoming these members back again.
For more information about the Humble Spirit Drum group, please visit their Facebook page at www.tiny.cc/humblespiritdrum.
