Published on
Wednesday, November 13, at 9: 30 p.m., Cheyenne Flute Player, Joseph Fire Crow will
perform in the Aquinas College Cook Carriage House Moose Cafe in celebration of Native
American History Month. Fire Crow's CHEYENNE NATION received a nomination for the
43rd Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Native American Music Album. His
appearance, sponsored by the Aquinas College Multicultural Department, is free and
open to the public.
Fire Crow was born and spent his early years on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. He was then placed in a foster family in Seattle as part of the Mormon Indian Placement program. Several years later, while attending Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, he reconnected with his heritage through music and the book "Cheyenne Memories" written by his mother's father, John Stands in Timber. After three-and-a-half years of college, he returned to the reservation where it took a number of years for him to be totally accepted. Fire Crow re-integrated into his tribe and became a respected flute-man. Today he shares his music and tribal history through lectures and workshops, which include lessons in flute-making.
It's been said of Fire Crow's playing that when he plays and sings, centuries of his people's heritage -- their pain and suffering, their love and happiness, their pride and accomplishments and most of all, their honor, shine brightly throughout. In 1995, Fire Crow's songs, "Creators Prayer" and "Wind in My Mind" were selected to open and close the best selling album "Tribal Winds: Music From Native American Flutes" on Earthbeat label. Ken Burs also chose some of Fire Crow's music to be included on the soundtrack for his documentary "Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery."
Fire Crow was born and spent his early years on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. He was then placed in a foster family in Seattle as part of the Mormon Indian Placement program. Several years later, while attending Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, he reconnected with his heritage through music and the book "Cheyenne Memories" written by his mother's father, John Stands in Timber. After three-and-a-half years of college, he returned to the reservation where it took a number of years for him to be totally accepted. Fire Crow re-integrated into his tribe and became a respected flute-man. Today he shares his music and tribal history through lectures and workshops, which include lessons in flute-making.
It's been said of Fire Crow's playing that when he plays and sings, centuries of his people's heritage -- their pain and suffering, their love and happiness, their pride and accomplishments and most of all, their honor, shine brightly throughout. In 1995, Fire Crow's songs, "Creators Prayer" and "Wind in My Mind" were selected to open and close the best selling album "Tribal Winds: Music From Native American Flutes" on Earthbeat label. Ken Burs also chose some of Fire Crow's music to be included on the soundtrack for his documentary "Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery."