HUNDREDS of people trekked to Pen Elm near Norton Fitzwarren to greet Alaska’s sacred 2.2-metre Grandmother Drum and the White Eagle Medicine Woman on their spiritual world tour.
John Bird, Rainbow Valley Retreat founder and healer, had just six weeks to arrange the ceremonial weekend when he got the call from White Eagle.
Needless to say, John, who "honours the Native American ways", was awed by the visit.
"She was inspired by Great Spirit to make this drum, which is over two meters wide and inlaid with crystals, and to tour it around the world. We – Pen Elm, which is an Iron Age fort – were chosen as the starting place of the European tour."
"It was an amazing time, with the sun shining as people came in. A lot of people were interested in it, but we also had standard drumming groups come up.
"I was very honoured to be chosen. It was a real honour that they came to Somerset and Taunton when they could've gone anywhere in the UK.”
Visitors took it in turns to play the drum for a total of five and a half hours.
The Grandmother Drum Ensemble hopes to return to Taunton in November.
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