This husband and wife duo share their Eastern Woodland Native American culture and music through their flute and drum performances.

 

Windwalker and Spirit Buffalo's music showcases traditional Eastern Woodland drumming and spiritual Native American flute.

 

They share their Mic-Mac, Lenape and Cherokee heritage thru their song and storytelling performances. Their performances are immersed in beauty, harmony and healing. The couples daughter, Anagqus, dances to her parents inspiring music.

 

Their captivating performances have entertained audiences from Maine to Florida as they performed on the Pow Wow circuit for six years. They now entertain and share their culture in New Mexico, their current home.

 

Windwalker, of Lenape, Mic-Mac and Cherokee decent, is the groups flutist and singer. She enthralls the audience with her voice and musical storytelling. She has been around music all of her life. Windwalker is a third generation Native American practitioner. Learning her healing from her Ogoala Souix grandmother. She now passes her knowledge to her daughter, Anagqus. She does healings on people of all cultures. She is a licensed massage therapist. Windwalker is the Lenape Nations Turkey Clan Chief and is of the Fox Clan.

 

Spirit Buffalo, of Mic-Mac and Cherokee heritage, is the groups resolute drum and drum keeper. Spirit Buffalo is a published creative writer and illustrator, which is apparent in his lyrics and music. He has several higher education degrees and pursues knowledge in everyday life, thus adding to his devotion to share his heritage and traditions with his audience.He is a Sundancer and Sundance chief. He is the Lenape Nations 2nd Chief. He is proudly a Vietnam Vet.

 

Anagqus, the couples daughter, is a Cherokee Shawl Dancer. She is learning her matrilineal healing practices from her mother. Her elation for life is apparent in her expressive dance.

 

The group has appeared on-stage with Cherokee singer/songwriter Michael Bucher at the 2009 Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was recently nominated for their CD titled, Lenape Spirits for "Best Traditional Vocals" at the 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards (Milwaukee) and in five categories at the 11th Annual Native American Music Awards (Niagara Falls, NY).and a most recent award at the 2009 NAMA for "Best Gospel and Inspirational'.

 

Wind Spirit Drum’s most recent project includes: "Trail of Tears" Music Video, Produced by: PK Productions LLC | musicseenPROductions; Video release: 2009; Album: Lenape Spirits 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Click to follow link to video”

 

RV: First of all, Osiyo and congratulations on the nomination your CD titled, Lenape Spirits for "Best Traditional Vocals" at the 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards (Milwaukee) and in five categories at the 11th Annual Native American Music Awards (Niagara Falls, NY). Also congratulations on your most recent win at the 2009 NAMA for "Best Gospel and Inspirational'. Could you please explain the source of Wind Spirit Drum's success?

Wind Spirit Drum: Osiyo Raven, and wado for having us on your show; we are honored. Wado, waneshi, wow, our path to success started when we were the “host drum” for the Lenape Nation, and we toured the Pow-Wow circuit from New England to Florida for six years. Also, at that time, we performed at colleges, Nations Gatherings, and most important, we performed at the United Nations in New York City (year 2000) for the clemency of Leonard Pelltier. We were the host drum for the clemency. Our music is traditional in language and in all three tribes. Our success began with our ancestors. Edoal states that, “Our interaction with the audience is one of the main reasons that makes us who we are and in turn we get to teach them our Native language and the heartbeat of the drum”.

 

RV: Wind Spirit drum is unique in that its composition is made up of family members including your daughter Anagqus who dances. How does it feel to be able to share your success with each other as a family?

Wind Spirit Drum: Absolute gratitude in every direction; traditionally, respectfully, and honorably. To see her out there dancing, my heart just dances with her. Her feet is barely touching the ground as she dances for the ancestors. It is so amazing to see her keep up the Native traditions. As we are keeping our Native American traditions in a modern world. We are honored that people have accepted us, and our culture. Anagqus’ dancing is keeping up the traditions, because, we know how difficult modern age creates distractions of the world. I feel nothing but pride when I watch her dance, and she inspires the children from all nations and generations yet to come.

 

RV: This is for Windwalker: (1) I have read where you have been around music all your life. Could you please explain how and when music became a part of your life? (2) Your grandmother was also inspiration in your lessons as a healer. Your grandmother apparently played a strong role in your life. Could you please share with us what your relationship with your grandmother was like?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windwalker: (1) Ever since I was a child, I was brought up with traditional music….jazz, blues, musicals, opera, folk. My father was a head drummer, and my mother loved to sing as a migmaug woman; she could sing everything, all the way to Opera. My sister is a great

pianist, and my brother, who passed, could play many instruments…..Every Friday evening our family would get together and play different songs to the long hours of grandmother moon. (2) My grandmother was my mentor, my best healer-tea leaf reader, and storyteller. She helped raise me as a child, and saw and believed in me for she saw my gift and knew I would be the next medicine person for our nation and secondly, my mom was a young widow of three children. My grandmother raised me in all traditions and wisdom, and she was there to help teach the lessons of life. She taught me to keep the healing's simple in a much faster world. You never forget who you are and how we share the gifts that we have, for to this day, whether I am singing or healing, she is always there with me directing my hands and heart.

 

RV: This is for Edoal: (1) When did your experience with the drums began and I read where you are a creative published writer do you receive the same satisfaction as a published writer as you do when performing? Is there a different level of accomplishment that you receive from each of these gifts (2) who would you say was most influential person in your life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edoal: (1) I started the drum , when I was asked by a Lenape warrior, Clay McCluen , who is fluent in many languages, as he saw my heart as a drummer and warrior. He came over and invited me to be on a Lenape Drum, and he taught me Lenape songs. My wife and I taught him the mic-mac/Cherokee songs. I feel that being a drum performer is a bit more satisfying than the accomplishments as a writer. The writing was to heal myself & the drum is to continue healing myself and others in the audience. Also, to honor our ancestors I feel I have definitely moved on from the discovery of myself to the discovery of others. (2) Finally, the most influential person in my early life was my mother, she is mig-maug. She would tell me the stories of Maine, and of her grandfather the shipbuilder. So, yes it is my mother.

 

RV: This is for Anaggus: (1) What is it like to perform in large crowds, was there a time when you had stage fright? (2) What is the most exciting part for you when performing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anaggus: (1) A little bit nerve wracking, but, fun! My first experience of stage fright was when we were performing at the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, NM, two years ago, for the first time Once I started dancing it was OK, I LOVED it!  (2) The most exciting part of performing is to hear and feel the response of the crowd to the music we are performing.

 

RV: For WindWalker and Edoal: Where did you two meet?

Edoal: Windwalker and I met in Dartmouth, Massachusetts at Windwalker’s friends, Native American store Edoal had won a $5,000 scratch-off lottery ticket and he was shopping in the store. Ironically, I tried on a Zuni ring and I couldn’t get the ring off my finger. Windwalker came over and told me that the ring had just came in to the store, and she had just finished polishing it. The next thing I knew, about 10 days later (she says 14 days, ha), I asked her out for dinner. And now, seventeen years later, I still have the ring, and we are living in New Mexico, near Zuni where the ring from 17 years ago had come from; which completed the circle.

 

RV: What are Wind Spirit Drums current or foreseeable projects?

 

Wind Spirit Drum: In the beginning of the new year, we will be releasing a new traditional music CD, Ancient Winds. And, following not far behind will be two more CD’s. Also, we are in the process of planning a North American and European tour for 2010 - 2011 which will present our new Medicine Show Concert and “interactive” performance and workshops. Also, we hope to have the musical artist and Cherokee singer/songwriter, Michael Bucher on tour with us. Finally, we are continuing to support a charity, co-founded by Windwalker; Blue Sky Charities Group. The charity helps to provide educational opportunities for Native American children, as well as, assistance to our country’s military veterans who have suffered a brain injury. You can learn more about the charity by visiting the website, www.blueskycharity.org.

 

RV: Please add anything here that you would like to share with readers that I haven't asked.

 

Wind Spirit Drum: We are currently seeking sponsors to help our next benefit concert on Saturday, December 26th in Pine Ridge South Dakota. The benefit concert is to sponsor “Coats for Kids” (and other items, such as clothes, blankets….) for the many children on the Pine Ridge Reservation. If you wish to help our charity, financially, please send your donation to:

Blue Sky Charities Group

PO Box 285

Magdalena, Nm 87825

 

Also, you can learn more about us at our website, www.windspiritdrum.com, or visit our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/windspiritdrum. In closing, no matter who you are, be proud of yourself, where you come from and learn to teach the others, believing in yourself and your dreams with complete honor and respect, for the sky is the limit. Never give up, no matter how big the stone is in your path, as it gives you strength and determination, and no one can take that away from you!

 

Waneshi, wado, Raven, it has been a pleasure. Thank you so very much and we hope to see you soon. You will be the first to receive our new CD. Aquanee!

 

RV: I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to Edoal, Windwalker and Anaggus for their sincere kindness. Wind Spirit Drum’s creativity is conveyed through spirit felt inspiration and expression and demonstrated not only through their music but through their hearts. Thank you Edoal, Windwalker and Annagus for providing your peace and time. I would also like to express my thanks to Wind Spirit Drum’s manager, Karla R. LaRive for coordinating and arranging this interview. Thank you Karla for all of your kindness.