Link to my Four Views Project: https://fourviewshist181.jenniferandrella.com/items/show/16
Looking back on my Four Views Project, I really found that after looking into these Native American drums, the history behind them is really interesting. Apologies again for misunderstanding the assignment details, but what I have found on them has shown me the rich culture of Native American instruments. This British military drum is more than just a percussion instrument. It is a piece of history that shows how complicated and many sided the relationships were between European colonial forces and Native American groups. When looked at from different angles, this drum tells a story of cultural trade, adaptation to newer problems, negotiation, and spiritual change. By learning about its past and value, we can get a better sense of just how intricate colonial interactions were and how strong indigenous cultures are. My reflection essay will look into these topics and I have some articles that give some more insight into the military drum and how it affected the Anishinaabe people.
The drum itself is made of wood and has ropes nailed to the sides. The British military drum is a symbol of the cultural trades that happened when Europe was colonized. When European countries invaded and settled in the native areas, they brought a lot of stuff with them, such as military drums. Native American groups, like the Anishinaabe, adopted and changed parts of European military clothing and lifestyles to fit into their own customs with the help of these items. This sharing of cultures wasn’t just one way. Native Americans also took part in trading their goods, choosing European parts that they thought were useful or meaningful. The use of the military drum in indigenous events and even their rituals show this adaptation. Being in both British military bands and Anishinaabe war ceremonies lets us see their interaction with the colonists, where cultural boundaries were constantly being talked over and shifted. “The cultural interest in and the cultural efficacy of the earliest of these European trade goods were consequent correlates of their perceived exotic source, and of their colors and substance, which were perceived and received as analogous to traditional, indigenous substantial metaphors of cultural value”(Hamell, p. 459). Native American tribes would often use European items and symbols in their own ways, giving them new meaning that fit into their culture. The British military drum is a good example of this, the Anishinaabe people using it to show who they were and the strength of their tribe. When the British had presented these drums as a diplomatic offering, they showcased their approach to the native tribes, having more significance than just coming off as being kind. They were deliberate in trying to establish and control power over the natives. Eventually leading to the tribes recognizing these presents as a means for the colonists to “negotiate” power. The Anishinaabe, realizing they could attempt the same, used these diplomatic gifts and trade in order to leverage themselves and build alliances to get into a decent position within the colonists’ structure. “Indian tribal or national leaders were not submissive, slow, docile adversaries, as they are often portrayed. All good leaders in the colonial period, both Indian and European, made calculated and careful decisions based on rational problem-solving skills” (Ian Pajer-Rogers, The Politics of Survival). The drums were used as symbols to communicate, make agreements, and overall display the balance of power and diplomacy between the tribes.
Beyond these uses, it took on a whole new ceremonial and spiritual meaning as its use became more popular in their practicing religion. Its role in Anishinaabe ceremonies is to summon spiritual power and connect to the divine. It’s really remarkable how the Anishinaabe people transformed the drum from a tool of war to this sacred object that represents their cultural identity and beliefs. Additionally serving as another reminder of the tribes ability to change while still holding onto their tradition in the face of the colonists. The symbols seen on the sides of the drum reflect the Anishinaabe’s view of the environment and even the entire universe. Animals, stars, and other natural elements are commonly seen on every piece of equipment they use, it’s a really unique and interesting way they express themselves and their culture. Each drawing carrying books worth of stories behind them, they put a lot of effort into these paintings to respect the nature they rely on.
While I researched this project, I noticed that in context with the rest of Native history, there are noticeable gaps in the amount of information and documentation on these indigenous relics. Even trying to find unbiased information on just this drum was somewhat of a challenge, as a lot of the sources I found were shaped from a colonial perspective. I feel that a lot of indigenous voices are absent or are being limited in mainstream news outlets, as well as written history as a whole. In my research, I tried my best to find sources that attempt to paint a bigger picture of indigenous history, or at the very least, put credit where credit is due. Which I believe allowed me to deeply understand this drum, beyond its surface level historical value as a colonial war tool. “Historians that choose to study history using art and artifacts ask certain questions about a piece they have discovered or are studying. Questions such as what was this used for? What is the symbolism of the design on the object? How was this used?” (Melissa Rood, History through Art p. 5-6). A quote from Melissa Rood’s thesis about the use of art and Native artifacts as educational tools, which I think is very related to this course and topic. Also going on to say, “Art is this gift in its purest form. To study Native American art and artifacts in a history class offers the opportunity to see life as Native Americans saw it. It is an opportunity to travel to a different time, to see society in a different light” (Melissa Rood, History through Art p. 6). This research truly opened my eyes to the importance of preserving and valuing these Native artifacts which let us see into the archive of knowledge that they hold.
Works Cited:
Edmunds, R. David. “Native Americans, New Voices: American Indian History, 1895-1995.” The American Historical Review, vol. 100, no. 3, 1995, pp. 717–40. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2168602. Accessed 2 June 2024.
History through art: A Native American perspective – core. (n.d.-a). https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/233569775.pdf
Indian and European collaboration in colonial North America. (n.d.-b). https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=inquiry_2005