Interviewed conducted by Jenica Schoolcraft, ND correspondent
Jan Michael Looking Wolf is a Kalapuya Native American flute player from Grand Ronde, Oregon. With 39 National Award recognitions, he is considered by many to be the premier native flutists of our time. Looking Wolf performs across the country with his rock band and solo sharing flute songs, tribal stories, and the message of One Heart. He has one son, Shane. He is currently working on a very important project, “The Breakin’ Free Project”-- a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to giving our youth the tools to prevent and avoid alcohol and drug addiction.
Jan Michael Looking Wolf has earned a multitude of impressive awards:
2009 - WINNER - Artist of the Year at the Native American Music Awards
2009 - Best Music Video Nominee NAMMYS 2009 - Recording of the Year Nominee NAMMYS
2009 - Best Instrumental CD Nominee NAMMYS
2009 - Best Flutist Nominee ISMA
2009 - Best Rock Recording Nominee ISMA
2009 - Best Spiritual Recording Nominee ISMA
2009 - Silver Arrow Award Winner
2009 - Best Flute CD Nominee CAMA—just to name last year’s.
Jan has had an interesting life, one that we can all learn from. It has been a life where defeat could have succumbed him, but decidedly became inspiration for him and for the rest of us to benefit. Thank you, Jan Michael Looking Wolf.
Jenica: You are affiliated with “The Breakin’ Free Project”—a drug and alcohol prevention project directed towards Native American youth through the correspondence of native music. After having read your biography “Story of Jan Michael’s Healing from Strokes”, I wondered why not have a project geared towards raising awareness about Protein Enzyme C Deficiency?
JMLW: The genetic disorder that I have is so very rare and affects very few people compared to drug and alcohol addiction. The experience from actually being a paraplegic and in poverty has helped me understand that we all deserve compassion. It is easier to judge those in need than love them.
Click on album to listen to “World Needs”.
Jenica: Why the vested interest in the youth project?
JMLW: Mostly based on our tradition that the children are our future. Going deeper though, drug and alcohol addiction is a major problem now with teens from all cultures in the U.S., and with Native Americans, the per-capita percentage of drug related deaths for teens is much higher than most groups.
Jenica: What can the rest of the nation do to help?
JMLW: As individuals, we can only control what we do on a daily basis. So, we can work to be an example by “Walking the red road” – staying sober and caring about others. Also, you may go to www.lookingwolf.com and visit the non-profit page to support this specific project by purchasing music or making a donation to the 501C3 (applied for).
Jenica: On your website you have story titled “Creator and Owl”. It is a compelling, beautifully written analogy of human kind’s pride, that, we must all know when to ask for help (because in the end not asking for help is truly foolish). How does this story pertain to you? Does it inspire you? Why?
JMLW: The story reminds me to seek humility and not to jump to conclusions. Also, I was a man of great foolish pride, and by grace that has changed in my life. Now, I realize that we are all part of the circle.
Click on album to listen to “Spirit Mountain”.
Jenica: Congratulations on your 2010 Silver Arrow Life Time Achievement Award Recipient! You have earned 37 different awards as a Native American performer. What does it mean to you every time you receive an award? Do the feelings vary for different awards?
JMLW: This journey has been good. The awards are very cool too. I cherish the Native American Music Awards very much because they hold credibility that the world recognizes and they really do make a difference by giving back through their non-profit programs. Of course, the silver Arrow Awards mean a lot as well. Spirit Wind Records has been doing those for over 10 years.
Click on album to listen to “Father Sky”.
Jenica: You’ve traveled a rough path in your life, more than most of us could even fathom, but you’re also very blessed. What compels you to make music? What are you sharing with the rest of the world when you perform?
JMLW: Music is just inside of me. I find inspiration from everything around and inside myself. It’s not like I set out to do it…it just comes. When we perform, I just kind of let the music touch people and follow it’s lead. Mostly, I feel blessed just to be able to do this.
Jenica: Do you have any new projects coming up? If so, what are they?
JMLW: This year it’s the rock CD with the band…for next year, I already recorded a new beautiful solo flute CD. And we are working on some more music videos with Spirit Wind Records.
I personally and NativeDigest would like to thank Jan for his time, contribution and his story. NativeDigest and I will recurrently wish for Jan’s continued success.
Jenica: What advice can you divulge to the struggling youth?
JMLW: Make every day the best you can. Be grateful for having clean water, food, and breath – don’t take things for granted and you’ll be happier than ever thought possible. This includes each other. Try to look inward for strength too. Sometimes, people can let us down and that’s ok. We are after all imperfect.
