Step into the rhythmic heartbeat of tradition with a recent addition to our collection—a handcrafted drum by Pete Yellowjohn, a revered Traditional Elder, Bundle Keeper, and Medicine Man of the Shoshone Bannock Tribe. Crafted with meticulous care and adorned with symbols of ancestral reverence, this drum stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Indigenous craftsmanship.
Fashioned from stretched buffalo hide, the drum’s surface is adorned with masterfully hand-painted images of the local fauna—a mountain lion and bear—entwined amidst vibrant depictions of native flora. Each stroke of Yellowjohn’s brush tells a story of kinship with the land and its inhabitants, echoing the spiritual connection deeply rooted in Shoshone Bannock culture. Complementing the beautiful paintings on the buffalo hide, the drumstick is a work of art in itself—a slender willow branch wrapped in supple deer hide, embellished with brass tacks.
But more than an object of beauty, this handcrafted drum and its accompanying stick serve as custodians of tradition, embodying sacred knowledge that is passed down through generations. In the hands of Yellowjohn and his predecessors, the art of drum-making transcends mere craftsmanship—it becomes a sacred act of remembrance, a vessel for preserving cultural heritage in a rapidly changing world.
As you view this masterpiece of Indigenous artistry, imagine its rhythmic pulse transporting you across time and space, inviting you to listen not just with your ears, but with your heart—to the echoes of the past, the whispers of the ancestors, and the timeless melody of tradition.
From the Pete Yellowjohn Collection (2023.15.01), Wood River Museum of History and Culture.
