The Principal Performers of the "VOICES of NATIVE AMERICA Performing Arts Troupe"

Just what is "Voices of Native America"?

Voices of Native America in all of it's various presentations, is a depiction of what our culture was, and what it is today. Many believe that our culture is disappearing; This could not be more untrue. We are still warriors, rather than carrying bows and arrows, we carry briefcases. Our languages are being preserved through school programs, books, and performing arts companies like "Voices". The performance is extremely dynamic, moving from near silent passages to explosive thundering drums. Dancers representing 15 different Nations take the stage, as musicians, storytellers, and vocalists weave their message into the dancer's movements. One audience member commented, "It's like watching the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra meet Garth Brooks".

Our performance is not about denigrating other cultures for misdeeds of the past. Rather, we choose to celebrate the future of our lives, and that of our children's lives. In the words of Douglas Spotted Eagle, "This is an emotional journey. We want the audience to feel some of the same feelings that we as human beings in our culture experience. If we cannot make the audience members move from tearful expressions, to emotional explosions of joy, then we as performers have not done our job well."

The combination of large screen video, pounding drums, jingling dancer's feet, awe-inspiring stories, and a presentation of ancient tradition make for an evening of fantastic edu-tainment.

Voices of Native America is presented in four parts:

We Dance; That our spirits will live on forever, to thank the Creator for this beautiful life, and to celebrate our culture and relationships to all living things.

We Honor Our Children: For they are our future. They carry our ancestors teachings, as we have learned them, and as we have taught them. They must be protected, for one day, they shall protect us. Our families are extended beyond the boundaries of blood.

We Pray: Our means of communicating with our ancestors, our Creator, and the world around us. Even the ceremonies so many people have viewed as 'performances' are simply moving prayers. They are not done for spectation, rather done so that we might continue to live, and protect our families.

We Live! While we cannot go back and change history, we will take from it what we have learned. Despite Wounded Knee, The Trail of Tears, Columbus and Custer, We Are Still Here!! And always shall we be. We have a new weapon to protect our culture, known as education. The battles are now fought in the schools, courtrooms, emergency centers, businesses, governments, and areas of commerce. Traditional values in a contemporary world only serve to better arm our youth, and prepare them for the world ahead of them. And while we are peacemakers when we can be, we are warriors when we must be, and through education our sons and daughters shall carry our heritage forever, making sure that no person on this island shall ever again be put asunder!

what audiences have said about "Voices of Native America" thru e-mail

The above graphic is available to presenters in a postcard format. We provide the digital file, and presenters may duplicate as many as they wish for their mailing lists, donors, and concert attendees. Contact the Voices of Native America representative for details.