Chad Girardin Drum Maker

We are so honoured and delighted to introduce to you a friend of ours Chad, who makes the most beautiful drums filled with loving intent and a pure connection to Great Spirit. His drums are made with a deep love and respect to the animal with which it is made from and Chad takes great pride and care in honouring the Spirit of the skin and the drum.

“My name is Chad Girardin and I come from the Ukrainian, Irish and Metis Nations. I was born and raised in Canada and was taught about all my cultures from infancy. I am so grateful to have such rich and diverse backgrounds and I do my best to honor them all. One of my goals is to visit all of my motherlands to help me get a deeper connection to my spirit. I strongly believe that you can't know where you're going until you've known where you've been. I believe this to be true to my spirit as well. I know my Granny came from Dublin Ireland so that'd be my next step. Then I'd start searching what connections in the Ukrainian I have.

I have been practicing my Metis culture since I was an infant. I am so honored to be able to practice my culture on a daily basis and teach it to my children and all of the next generations. I have been participating and learning my First Nation ceremonies since I was a child. I'm so grateful for all my teachers and Elders, especially the ones who died fighting to keep these practices alive. My culture has experienced much loss due to residential school and colonization but my people have continued to fight to keep it alive. This is a fight that still continues to this day within me.

There are many times where not even an elder I know has the teachings I'm searching for. Sometimes we have to go on a vision quest to bring back parts of our culture. Recently I have been learning what I can from elders and teaching myself about how we traditionally made drums, rattles and much of our traditional items. My search has brought me to hunting and processing my own hides. I was taught that the more work we put into something the stronger of a spirit it has. So I try to make my drums as traditional and natural as possible. Before I even go out hunting I start paying. Before I make the spiritual items I do ceremony to make sure my spirit is as pure as possible. While I'm making them I'm praying. Once I finish making them I often hold a ceremony for them; I usually do either a pipe, smudge or sweat lodge ceremony to bless them. Then they're ready for their journey to their new keepers (we don't believe we own anything). As we all know chemicals can kill and this is part of our beliefs as well. I try not to use chemicals in any aircraft of my life. For instance, I don't die my hair because my hair is medicine. I treat my hides the same way and I only use traditional teachings and products to process my hides.

When I send them off I teach the new keepers about where the items came from, what their herd was like or what the particular animals behavior was. I do my best to build a connection with mother Earth and all its beings. I even do this while hunting. It's a beautiful thing to see something give its life for you. The closest ceremony I can compare it to is giving birth. It's breathtaking. I often cry every time I take an animal's life! Before making an item for someone I'll often message with them for a bit first to get a feel of what kind of medicine I should incorporate. That way the medicines are stronger for the individual.

I'm only human though and do my best to help. I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this and I wish you many blessings on your journeys. Remember that your only limitations are within you. Creator has blessed us with so many gifts. We just have to practice them. I always tell my children to keep trying if something is hard. Working with spirits is no different.”

Chad makes the most amazing drums and can be contacted at chadgirardin@gmail.com for more information on ordering your own drum. Shipping available worldwide.