Spirit of the Drum

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. - Bishop James Swanson joined others in pow wow drumming during the Native American Ministry Team's "The Gathering" on Sept. 24. The seventh annual event at Coker Creek Village attracted about 125 participants.

Swanson delivered the opening devotions, speaking on God's creation of the world and how the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in southern Louisiana may have been aggravated by human destruction of natural wetlands.

The Rev. Bobby Barton, pastor at Oliver Springs UMC, joined Swanson, John Cox, and Emerson Begay in learning pow wow drumming and the important place of the drum in Native American culture. Begay, a Navajo from New Mexico, spoke of how the "spirit of the drum" helped him break away from drug and alcohol abuse.

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