REDROAD
DRUMS and our history.
While living in California, Kenny earned a degree in mechanical drafting, and
worked in a leather mill while developing his skills in drum making and leatherwork.
Maria, a self taught artist, was a preschool director/teacher and also taught
various programs in cultural education, theater and art.
We were both acitve in community volunteer programs, pow wow committees and social
justice issues especially those regarding aboriginal rights.
We had both wanted to have our own business and to devote more time to our artistry,
crafting and creative projects as well as offering products that would honor aboriginal traditions and heritage as well
as educate others about and promote aboriginal culture. We had both agreed that once our daughter was off to college, we would
return to Canada, however In 2000, a family crisis brought us back a little sooner than our original plans.
While living in Canada, we began to make and sell many handcrafted
items along with Kenny's drums and Maria's original artwork which we sold at the Local Farmers Market, pow wows and craft
shows throughout the Maritimes. We Registered our Business, MariKenS Trading Post in 2002. The last two years we have been invited to represent Nova Scotia at various expos and tradeshows that showcase
aboriginal art. Most recently we exhibited at the EastCoast Music Awards held in Sydney NS.
Soon Kenny's reputation as a Drum Maker led folks to suggest
we build an online business. Then galleries and certain buyers asked Maria to paint their drums. And that is the story
of how 2 people dancing along the RedRoad pow wow trail became..........RedRoad Drums!
We love what we do. We meet wonderful people along our journeys, we learn from so many
especially the elders and children with their own distinct insights! In spite of its many challenges, Our business has
brought us many gifts and blessings as We have travelled across the United States and Eastern Canada to unbelievably beautiful
places. Maria has taken quite fondly to NewFoundland which is breathtaking in its pristine vastness and incredibly
friendly people.
In 1995, We talked about starting our own business. Then
we began to visualize it as reality. Today, we have reached that goal. Taking our business to the web makes the process even
more exciting.
