Music has been an important part of the cultures of Latin America for many years. It plays an important role in celebrations and festivals, and is an integral part of everyday life. One instrument that has been used for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years is the whistle. Whistles are typically made of fired clay and each whistle produces a unique sound depending on the thickness of the ceramic, the type of clay used and the size of the whistle. Some whistles are shaped by hand, and others are mass produced from a mold. The Simon Fraser University Museum's collection includes a variety of whistle sizes and shapes that produce sounds ranging from deep and clear to high and piercing. Whistles may have also had ceremonial significance for the Mayan people. They are prevalent in Mayan ceremonial centers, and have also been found in tombs, suggesting that some of the more elaborate whistles were high-status prestige items.