Arctic Saami Style

The Saami Shaman Drum Kobdas(drum) is a sacred map. It contains drawings of people and the spirit gods and goddesses of Nature often centered around a symbol of the sun. They are used by the shaman (male and female alike) to awaken other levels of reality to guide families in their daily life, find the right path during migrations, locate things which are missing, heal diseases and help the community in times of crisis. They can also foresee the future and give guidance.

The drums are usually made of reindeer rawhide stretched on a birch frame. The shaman will hold the drum horizontally and place a piece of bone or a brass ring on the drum. While singing joik(Saami singing) and beating the drum with a reindeer antler, the bone moves on the drum face. When the song is done the placement of the bone on the drawings allows the Shaman to interpret its meaning. Our necklaces and pins are made in the style of this sacred drum.