The Drum is the heartbeat of the world – alive and sacred. The different drumbeats signify your feelings and emotions. Respect means to hold the Drum in high regard, and to honor the Drum. Respect means to think with one mind. Respect means being thankful and grateful for creation, and the gift of the Drum and all our spiritual objects.  

All these sacred things should have an honored place in our hearts and should be respected and not abused. The Drum is not a toy. We use the Drum to summon the spirit and Grandfathers to assist us to good health and happiness. Respect means no one under the influence of alcohol or drugs is permitted at the Drum.
  
The most important duty of human beings is to have respect for our Drum. If we have great reverence for the Drum, the Drum in turn will heal and enhance the well-being of your mind, your body and your spirit. The Drum is used to entice you and connect you to good spirits. The Drum is a messenger elevating man’s songs to the spirit world and to the Great Spirit. At the initiating of the Drum, the Drum is given a spiritual name, followed by a feast, prayers, songs and dance.  

There are many forms and procedures to cleanse and protect the Drum. First of all, through tobacco offerings. I will explain a little about the tobacco. Of all plants none was more suitable than tobacco for inducing peace or transforming man’s thoughts and prayers to the four directions, and lifting them to the Great Spirit. Tobacco was an incense, sweet to the taste and fragrant to smell. No other plant was endowed with such qualities. Through immolation, tobacco as a tangible, sensible substance represent the union between man and his God. Tobacco is a messenger just like the Drum. Tobacco is a link that connects you to knowledge, connects you to your Elders, connects you to your spirit in the four directions, and to the Great Spirit and to all elements of Creation. Then there is cedar for smudging, with its clean fragrant smell entices. Sage is for smudging; sage is used to heal the sick. Sweetgrass is used for mending the ill in mind.  

The Elders. The term does not apply to the number of years someone has lived. The title is given to individuals who possess intelligence, knowledge and wisdom on the history, culture, language, beliefs and customs of their people. They are the educators, healers, advisors, consultants, spiritualists, herbalists, mediums and psychics, and some parallel the work of doctors and psychologists.
  
The Native people of North America believe in God whom they call the Great Spirit. Knowing that all gods are in a Spirit form, which is a universal rule of mankind, they feel the presence of the Great Spirit in every object, in every person and in every place, whether it be animate and inanimate.

~Cree Teaching. Author Unknown.

This page courtesy of a druid and witches cauldron