Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Native Americans show handmade instruments at music industry convention

A blues band rocks the stage in the Native American Pavilion at the recent NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center. A handmade native drum set is center stage, adding a traditional component to the blues. This is the first time ever that the giant NAMM Convention for music industry professionals has included a pavilion for Native American music and instrument makers.
The walls of the small room are lined with tables showcasing drums, flutes and even electric guitars.
Flute and drum maker – and native flutist – Alex Maldonado breaks out a binder that shows how he makes the hides for his drums at his Arizona home.
"I get it as basically fresh meat, you know," Maldonado says as he points to pictures in the binder. "And I have to put it on a rack and clean it off. That’s washing all the mud off it and, you know, manure and stuff."
Maldonado has been making drums by hand for about 15 years. That’s his set on stage at the NAMM Native American Pavilion.
He started with flute making two decades ago after a surreal experience at a truck stop when he was a truck driver.
"I hear this flute playing in Oregon in a deserted rest area and I stayed there I figured five minutes and it ended up being two hours. And the next thing you know, I was hooked," Maldonado remembers.
He says his brother reminded him that their uncle had taught them how to make flutes as kids.
Maldonado used that childhood knowledge as a jumping off point to build a business selling handmade and hand-painted flutes, drums and gourd shakers at Indian markets.
He says NAMM, which is aimed at mainstream musicians, was a totally different experience.
"A lot of 'wows,' a lot of 'oohhhs.' And, you know, I kind of feel like the guy at a carnival where you come up and you’ve got a pony there to give people pony rides. That’s how it’s been with the drum set and then they look at everything else that I’ve made and they’re really impressed," Maldonado says. "Even though you’ve got a sea of instruments downstairs, you know, they’re coming up here and it’s like a lot of people haven’t really been exposed to native instruments, which to me is kind of surprising because I’ve been doing it most of my life now."
That is the kind of reaction the US Department of Commerce and Small Business Administration were looking for when it teamed up with NAMM to help create this year’s Native American Pavilion.
Don Chapman is Commerce Secretary Gary Locke’s senior advisor on Native American Affairs. Chapman is also a musician and part Native American – and he says it’s no surprise that NAMM included a special section for Native Americans.
"They’re trying to expand, like any organization, trying to expand their constituency," Chapman says. "But also they recognize that Indian gaming has had really strong repercussions across the economy of the United States and with that, there’s a lot of entertainment associated with it. You have stages and you have entertainment going on, then you’ve got people buying professional audio equipment, professional lighting, sound stage, back line equipment and all that, which is what NAMM is all about."
Chapman says bringing Native Americans to NAMM also helps with President Barack Obama's goal to beef up international trade.
"Across the Department of Commerce, we’re all focused on that, especially the International Trade Administration, my office, the Economic Development Administration. We’re very much focused on how we can increase trade," Chapman says. "So bringing, getting tribes and native businesses to be here to meet with international companies to get exposure and be able to sell abroad is first and foremost."
Chapman says the Commerce Department also teamed with NAMM to help set up free instrument repair and technical training online for Native Americans. He says that could lead to jobs in the Native American community.
"When you look at the reservation and the plight of the cycles of desperate situations on reservations that are hard to break, if you have a dream like music, if you’ve got something that can carry you beyond your situation, and a passion, and you can learn those things and possibly develop a career in that kind of market, then it’s a beautiful thing," Chapman says.
This is the first in a two-part series. Next, we’ll take a look at some of the music coming out of the reservations. It may not be what you think.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
According to a grand jury report the contractor took advantage of strained relations and political pressures to “force” the city to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle disputes.
-
Administrators say the bargaining units should be dismissed, or that they have no standing. One campus is going after the federal agency in charge of union activity.
-
The landslide is not connected to the greater Portuguese Bend landslide, city officials said.
-
Nom. Nom. Nom. The event destroyed the internet when it was first announced — and sold out in minutes.
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems.
-
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028.