Indigenous Drum Making Retreat
Dates TBA
Drum making, stories, song and sharing with Indigenous Elders Vern and Mumsie from In-SHUCK-ch Nation.
Vern and Mumsie have been guides, family, and friends to many people in our circle.
It’s an honour to have them on the land.
This very special retreat will include…
Make your own drum
Learn the Women’s Warrior song (a song that’s culturally appropriate for anyone to use)
Learn, share, and connect as Vern & Mumsie tell you about their lives and share their wisdom
The spa – giant wine barrel saunas, outdoor showers, cold plunge baths and relaxation areas – an off-grid hydrotherapy experience
All meals included – beyond organic, local, wholefood, and curated with good intention – served at the long table in great company
Reconnect with the land with sunrise or sunset hikes
Make new lifelong friends and become a part of the Azhen community
Limited luxury wall tent accommodations are available for an upgrade.
Or choose to camp (standard).
All pricing is sliding scale with payment plan options to help make this as accessible and easeful as possible.
Scroll down for pricing and registration.
What People Feel…
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What A Drum Making Retreat Looks Like…
A Community That Lasts Long After You Leave…
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More Details
Location
Azhen is located in Rock Creek, BC, Canada.
Just 40 minutes East of Osoyoos, and 2 hours South of Kelowna.
Since this is sacred land, out of respect for our space, we do not accept walk-ins.
You will receive specific directions after booking a retreat or stay.
The road in is government maintained year-round and is accessible with all vehicle types.
Drum Specs
You receive your own 16“ circular hand drum. Other sizes are available for kids, kids are welcome!
Drum frames are made of white ash that’s steamed into a circle, meaning they are one piece.
Other frames can have multiple pieces glued together that result in more breakage and warping if they’re brought into a sweat lodge for example.
These are deep frames for a good sound.
We are aiming to get buffalo hide for these drums. This may change depending on supply, but we’re pretty confident they will be buffalo.
You will be creating your own drum stick too.
For the additional cost of materials you can choose to create your own leather drum bag too.
All materials are consciously provided by Indigenous peoples in Canada.
This takes about 4 hours depending how fast you are.
The hide is its natural colour, and you can choose to paint it if you wish.
Schedule
Arrive Friday evening at your leisure, get acquainted with the space, give your offering, and spend time with Vern & Mumsie and good people with good food. A meal will be served.
Wake up Saturday to a beautiful breakfast at the long table and then begin making your drum!
While your drum dries, sit in a circle with Elders Vern & Mumsie for a powerful sharing circle and hear their stories. Lunch will be served.
Watch the sunset at the lookout and hit the hydrotherapy spa before a long table feast dinner.
Finish your drum on Sunday and learn the Women’s Warrior song while in circle with the Elders.
A grand brunch will available all-day Sunday until you depart Sunday afternoon.
Feel free to stick around and enjoy the space for a little longer.
Bathrooms, Power & Wifi Amenities
Toilets are pretty fancy and offer similar comfort to a regular on-grid home, with the most modern incineration toilet available.
It gives back to the land and soil in the form of compost.
Showers are currently all outdoor, but indoor showers are coming soon.
Power is available in the common area where the kitchen, lounge, and dining are. It is available for you to charge devices or whatever else you may need.
There is no power in the wall tents for plugging things in, but there are solar powered lights.
Wifi is available with Startlink satellite internet. It is high speed – faster than most regular city wifi. Hold video calls or take a meeting just like at home.
Cell service is not available in the main developed area but if you walk up a hill you’ll get full bars. In the meantime, you can use the Wifi.
Food Preferences
Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and most food needs are accounted for. Let us know any specific needs after registration.
Produce and ingredients are beyond organic from local farms where we know the owners. Food is curated consciously.
Simple, yet elegant and delicious. See our Food Philosophy for more photos of meals guests rave about.
What To Bring
You will receive all these details with more information and clarity in an email after registration. We have you covered!
Offerings for the Elders and for the land is a cultural custom (we’ll provide more insight on this)
Good footwear
Warm clothes and extra blankets are always a good idea
Towel, optional bathing suit, and slip-on footwear for the spa is nice
Flashlight or lantern
Your family! Kids are very welcome and encouraged to join.
Dogs are allowed but please consider this is an operating farm with farm dogs, animals, and machinery. If that’s fine with you, we’ll send more details after registration.