Greetings and Aquay! My name is Larry Spotted Crow Mann , Drum keeper of the
Quabbin Lake Singers, who are all members of the Historical Nipmuc Tribe of
Massachusetts. We are a northern style family drum group consisting of my
children, wife and cousins, we are an Accomplished Drum group having the
youngest Native American lead singer around ! He is now 13, but has been
singing since 4 years old, his powerful voice has shocked and amazed Pow Wow
goers thought the United States and Canada. Holding close to our Culture we
sing in our Traditional Nipmuc language. We sing in a host of styles to
accommodate the style of dance, such as Round Dance, Crow Hop, Fancy Shawl,
Eastern straight ect. Our Drum has become a popular and well respected
group on the Pow Wow trail, the Boys recorded their first CD six years ago
entitled “Young Hearts old Traditions” and are presently working on a new
one. We think our young singers would make a great addition to your
Gathering. List of events include: National Congress of the American Indian
conference at the Mohegan Sun Arena, World Children's Day held at Conn.
College sponsored by the United Nations, Mashantucket Museum and Research
Center, Mohegan Wigwam pow wow (honored Drum every year), Jerry Lewis
Telethon, Massachusetts College of Art, University MASS, University CONN,
Harvard College , Holy Cross College, Smithsonian Museum of the American
Indian Washington D.C., Awkesasne Reserve Ontario, Boston Children's
Museum, Springfield Science Museum, Peabody Museum New Haven, Quinten
Gathering- Lebanon PA., "Diversity Day" at the State Capital of CT,
MT.Wachusett College, Including Native Presentations for the Ameskeog Fish
Hatchery N.H. Black Stone Valley Boys and Girls Club, Loker Elementary
School Wayland Ma., Grafton Elementary School, Redford University Virginia, 
First Nations Feastival  in Quebec and many more!! If you wish to have our
Drum Group at your Pow wow or Event email us  at:

crowshield@hotmail.com
                                            

                           

 

 

   Nipmuc Legend of the Drum©   
Back in the beginning of creation, the Nipmuc Men were always fighting among each other and constantly arguing, they lacked harmony and balance.  The Nipmuc Woman got fed up and told their men, “If you don’t stop all this fighting with each other we will leave!” Well the Men didn’t stop fighting and the woman did as they said. All the woman left and they told the men, “We will not come back until  you find peace and harmony.”  So the men  became sad that the all the woman left but did not know how to stop fighting . So they all set off to the woods and prayed and prayed to Manitoo , and said “ Oh Manitoo please help us , help us to find harmony!” The Men prayed and fasted for days and days, finally after some time had past,  out of nowhere a great storm came; wind, rain and mighty  thunder.  The sky darkened and grey mist came over the forest.  A lighting bolt hit a huge Oak Tree next to them , knocking the tree down  near  the bottom and then another lighting bolt hit the inside, making a whole in the part that was left . Then suddenly out of the mist a glowing white object appeared, as it got closer it was a huge white Deer, and the Deer crossed paths with one of the men and said, “I understand you have great trouble among you, I will now leave something to bring you peace and harmony, but you must always show it respect and honor and let your heart guide you”. In that moment the Deer went inside the log, when the man ran over to it,  all he saw was the beautiful white hide of the Deer left behind. As the other men ran around to see what was going on he told them what happened and then said. The Spirit is in the tree! He then wrapped the skin around the tree over the opening and it was said they could still here the heart beat of the Deer inside. Then the man said a prayer and placed tobacco over it and picked up one of the broken sticks around him and said. “I will follow my heart”. He then began tapping on the hide and singing an Honor Song, then another man grabbed a stick and began to sing with him, soon all the men were singing together in harmony and balance. They knew Creator had given them something Sacred. The Heart Beat of the Earth they called it.So they went back to the Village and when the woman saw that they were at peace and  harmony they stayed, but they gave the men a   stern warning. The woman said “Creator has giving you something precious and Sacred, so we will watch over  the Drum  to ensure you Honor this Gift”. So even today Woman stand around the Drum as the protectors of our Sacred Drum