An Excerpt from Chapa-De News: November 2024
Article by Aimee Sagan
Communications Manager
Contributer to Chapa-De News
The strong rhythmic beat of mother drum Ishka and the song of the intertribal women who sit around her brings forth one of the best medicines, love.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with drum keeper Sonia Keller LaPointe who shared Ishka’s story, one that started at Chapa-De in the 1990s. A former employee, Kara Lipton Sutter, secured a grant specifically to bring-in a mother drum. Kara worked closely with Kathleen Schmidt and others in Chapa-De’s Cultural Activities Program.
Sonia explained, “a drum maker prays and must be in tune with the materials. They take the life of a tree and an animal and bring them together to make a new life (the drum), and this is medicine.”
The medicine that was brought forth during this drum making process was love, which is the meaning of the name Ishka. The medicine she brings is the ability to bring up things within people and to offer an opportunity to heal while gathered with others.
Originally, the drum was intended for children and to support youth outreach. However, those around Ishka quickly recognized that it was important for the women as mothers to heal and therefore pass that to their children. This is what led Kara to asking Sonia, who was on the Indian Education Team for Auburn School District, the President of the Indian Women’s Auxiliary, and on the Chapa-De Board of Directors at the time, to become the drum keeper. She was very active in the community in promoting wellness. The group that was formed to sit around Ishka was also special. They became the first all-woman intertribal group in our local area to sit around a mother drum. This original group included Rosalind Hussong, Ronnie Smith, Marian Callen, Kathleen Schmidt, Kiomi Bird, Kara Lipton Sutter, and Sonia Keller LaPointe.
Now thirty years later, Sonia says she has learned a lot and now recognizes what a huge honor and responsibility it is to be a drum keeper. As she reflects on the gifts and challenges that came to be during this time, she is proud to have been a part of delivering love and healing to so many people. She takes her responsibility to hold a safe space that is free from ill feelings very seriously. This safe space is important for the drum and those sitting around her being open to what Creator has for us through this medicine.
She also knows a mother drum has a purpose to serve the people. Sonia explained, “there is a reason for every request. It has always been my goal to say yes as often as possible and to bring Ishka’s medicine to those who need her.”
Read more of our November newsletter:
Chapa-De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley | Medical Clinic
PASSIONATE PEOPLE. COMPASSIONATE CARE.
Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
Serving all American Indian, Low Income and Limited Income Community Members
