Due to her father's military career, she lived in many locations, but she stayed with grandparents during the summer time. She especially spent a great deal of time with her paternal grandfather, James Holy Eagle, who she helped care for until he passed away in 1991. Sonja worked at many jobs, including 12 years for a computer manufacturing company. She is now the main artist and co-owner of Dakota Drum Company in Rapid City, South Dakota, a small business, which employs people mainly from the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Reservations. Sonja is currently working on a video and written biography of her grandfather, James Holy Eagle.
Drum sticks are choke cherry or red willow with brain tanned deer skin.
Because of the way the rawhide is made it is not necessary to apply any oils to the drum head. Quite often a drum does need to be retightened during its life. Use a towel with no color like white or tan. During this time if the towels start to dry out take them off, resaturate them and wrap the drum again. The idea is to resaturate the hide so it can all loosen up.