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0:00/3:20
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In the Clouds 5:110:00/5:11
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Lakota Courting Song 3:280:00/3:28
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Sweet Spirit 3:380:00/3:38
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Rise 2:380:00/2:38
Short Bio
Darren Thompson (Ojibwe/Tohono O'odham) is a Native American flute player, activist and educator from the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Reservation in Northern Wisconsin. A frequent performer and public speaker, his commentary on American Indian cultural identity as well as his reviews of his music has been included in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, and numerous media throughout the world. He is a contributing writer to Native Peoples Magazine, Native News Online and a communications advisor for a number of American Indian organizations. In 2014, Darren's dedication to the American Indian voice and frequent performance schedule earned him a spot as Master of Ceremonies of the World Flute Society's Inaugural Convention, a world-wide organization that celebrates the World's Flute traditions, as well as on the production of the upcoming feature film Neither Wolf Nor Dog directed by Stephen Lewis Simpson, a film set on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Click for Long Bio
Highlights
2017 Honors
Opener, Gathering of Nations Powwow, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Featured Production, Native American Music, Magic and Dance, Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, Wisconsin
Opener, Grand Opening of the Waawaaganing Living and Cultural Arts Center, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Keynote Presentation, Darren Thompson Presents at UW-Fond du Lac, University of Wisconsin - Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Organizer, Inaugural Standing Rock Film Festival, Ft. Yates, North Dakota
Keynote Presentation, Indian Youth of North America, Sioux City, Iowa
Headliner, Crazy Horse Memorial, Crazy Horse, South Dakota
2016 Honors
Nominee, Native American Music Awards, New York, New York
Headliner, American Indian Alaskan Native Tourism Association's Annual Conference, Tulalip, Washington
Opener, Gathering of Nations Powwow, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Artist of the Month, One World Music, London, England
Album of the Week, Wisconsin Public Radio, Madison, Wisconsin
Artist in Business Leadership Award, First Peoples Fund, Rapid City, South Dakota
Headliner, Crazy Horse Memorial, Crazy Horse, South Dakota
Opener, Brule Summer Concert Series, High Country Guest Ranch, Hill City, South Dakota
Featured Artist, Holidays at the Heard, The Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
2015 Honors
Headliner, Grand Opening, Sage & Silver Americana Gallery & Boutique, Rapid City, South Dakota
Headliner, Black Hills Film Festival, The Alex Johnson Hotel, Rapid City, South Dakota
Headliner, World Water Benefit Concert, The Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City, South Dakota
Keynote Presentation, Michigan Indian Education Council's Annual Conference, Battle Creek, Michigan
Master of Ceremonies, Waswagoning Cultural and Living Arts Center Benefit Concert, Minocqua, Wisconsin
Artist-in-Residence, Crazy Horse National Memorial, Custer, South Dakota
2014 Honors
Master of Ceremonies, World Flute Society's Inaugural Convention, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Master of Ceremonies, Waswagoning Cultural and Living Arts Center Benefit Concert, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Guest Performance, Native American Night, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Guest Performance, Wisconsin Governors Council on Tourism, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Headline Performance, Native American Tourism of Wisconsin's Annual Conference, Oneida, Wisconsin
Guest Performance, Crazy Horse National Monument, Custer, South Dakota
Guest Performance, Anishinaabemowin-Teg's Annual Conference, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Headline Performance, Lincoln Park Conservatory's Glass House Gala, Sofitel Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
Booking
Press
- Listen here: Native Trailblazers Radio, January 27, 2017
Sioux City Journal: NMM Live! - Darren Thompson-Native American Flute
- Read more here: Sioux City Journal, October 13, 2016
Indian Country Today: "Influencing Ozzy Osbourne: Native Flute Player Darren Thompson"
- Read more here: Indian Country Today Feature, May 18, 2016
Native Sun News: "Indian Flute Player Keeps Busy Summer Schedule"
- Read more here: Native Sun News Feature, March 30, 2016
KOTA TV: Kids Passion for Music Continues to Blossom
- Watch here: KOTA Nighty News, February 15, 2016
KEVN: Kids Learn About Native American Music
- Watch here: KEVN Nightly News, February 15, 2016
Powwows.com
Powwows.com: See Why This Ojibwe Flute Player is Having the Best Year
- Read more here: Powwows.com, February 15, 2016
KEVN, Black Hills Fox: Darren Thompson Feature
- Watch here: KEVN Special Feature, February 9, 2016
- Read more: Powwows.com, November 8, 2015
Keloland Television: Crazy Horse Hosts 25th Native American Day
- Watch here: Keloland News, October 12, 2015
Rapid City Journal: Between Earth and Sky is Best Listened to Under the Stars
- Read more here: Rapid City Journal, October 8, 2015
Powwows.com: Ojibwe Flute Player Selected as Crazy Horse Memorial's Artist in Residence
- Read more here: Powwows.com, August 30, 2015
Rapid City Journal: Preserving Native History Through Music
- Read more here: Black Hills To Go, August 13, 2015
The Lakeland Times: Native American Flute Player to be Artist-in-Residence at Crazy Horse
- Read more here: The Lakeland Times Living North, August 7, 2015
Native News Online: Native American Flute Player Announces CD Release Event
- Read more at Native News Online, June 30, 2015
Wisconsin Public Radio: Big Top Chautauqua Expands Native American Programming
- Read more at Wisconsin Public Radio, June 16, 2015
Native Sun News: Moviemakers Laud Dave Bald Eagle at Black Hills Film Festival
- Read more at Indianz.com, May 20, 2015
Powwows.com: "Beautiful and comforting sounds"
- Read more at Powwows.com, May 11, 2015
Native News Online: "Native Owned Business in Downtown Rapid City Announces Grand Opening"
- Read more at Native News Online, May 1, 2015
Indian Country Today Special Feature: "Ojibwe Flutist Creates Musical Retreat, Draws Tourists to Indian Country Gem" - Read more at Indian Country Today, April 2015
News From Indian Country Front Page Feature: "Annual Native American flute retreat continues to attract visitors to Indian Country"
- Read more at News from Indian Country, April 24, 2015
Native News Online Feature: "Native American Flute Workshop Attracts Visitors to Indian Country:
- Read more at Native News Online, April 9, 2015
"A cultural icon for the State of Wisconsin." Travel Wisconsin, April 2015
"World Water Day to Feature Music & Message," Rapid City Journal, March 19, 2015
"Musician and champion of causes," Native Sun News, March 4, 2015
"Formidable Flute: Darren Thompson Moves Forward," Powwows.com, August 11, 2014
"Setting the Tone: Darren Thompson Hosts as Master of Ceremonies of World Flute Society Gathering," Volume One Magazine, July 10, 2014
"Darren Thompson is a great amongst the current landscape of those incorporating the beauty of Song and Life in a way that makes them accessible to many," The Examiner, March 19, 2014
Community Activism
"Star-Studded Black Hills Unity Concert to Focus on the Sacred," Indian Country Today Media Network, August 20, 2015
"Musicians Pledge to Protest Uranium Mining in the Black Hills," Rapid City Journal, March 12, 2015
Fight, Conquer, Thrive Guest Blog Entry, 2014
"Treaty Rights Statement from Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe," The Political Environment, April 4, 2013
"Darren Thompson is a very magnetic speaker of his generation." Sacred Circle, May 1, 2006
"New Look at Old Religion," Marquette Tribune, November 17, 2005
"Month Aims to Break American Indian Stereotypes," Marquette Tribune, October 25, 2005
"Students Express Shock at Mascot Choice," Marquette Tribune, May 5, 2005
Marquette University Won't Revive 'Warriors' Name," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 5, 2005
"Scalping the Indians: The Use of Honor and American Indian Mascots, " University of Notre Dame, April 27, 2005
"Lack of Diversity Requires Action," Marquette Wire, February 24, 2005