Boozhoo! Greetings! Hello!
Biindigen! Welcome. It has been some years since I've blogged. Many great things have happened since darrenthompson.net was last published. An album has been released ("The Song of Flower"), an overseas tour occurred, my family has grown, and new horizons continue to surface. I have thought long and hard about what I should communicate, what I want to accomplish, and what to share with the world through my music. First, I'd like to say that I am deeply honored and humbled that I have the privilege to share my cultural heritage and talent with the world. It took a lot of years to accept that I have a "talent". For years I looked at what I did as sort of a hobby and something I would grow out of. I started playing and performing almost ten years ago while an undergraduate at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin because I was bored. I spent most of my upbringing in athletics so flute playing was sort of a "no-no" in the social circles I was accustomed to being around. Nonetheless, I've accepted that I can do something and I'm going all in.
Music has blessed me with many opportunities and experiences I never thought possible. It has opened doors and given me the experience and passion to participate in discussions that change communities. It has introduced me to some amazingly talented people and taken me to awe-inspiring communities. My music allows me to share the rich history and culture of my people - the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation - as well as the plight that many other American Indian communities face to this day. We share a tragic history of great loss in all ways the term is defined. Centuries of misplacement and oppression. It is a part of our history. It is a part of our identity. And it is extremely difficult to communicate our history for countless reasons and most times it is unspoken of. However, my music has blessed with me with many opportunities to build relationships and bring truth to light. I am always humbled by the reaction of not only Native people, but non as well.
I am proud to say that we are making a strong comeback. Day by day we are reclaiming our heritage and our identity. Because we are such a small population it's a powerful force to share the culture of American Indian heritage with the world. The struggles American Indian people and communities face are ongoing and I will always be dedicated to them. There are many inspiring communities and people who are dedicated to the revival of our culture and our communities - thank you, you inspire me!
2014 is bound to be an exciting year.
I am in the studio working on my second album, "Red Notes". Red Notes is an idea I have had for years. Red Notes is going to be a unique recording where I'm using historical instruments that are very different than the style of flutes we have grown accustomed to hearing. It took me years to get my hands on instruments that date back hundreds of years. What's even more significant is that it was even more difficult to teach myself how to play them as well as make songs. Remember, we lost a lot. I have always been inspired by our past and I want to dedicate my second album to that past. I have spent years both researching old documents and special archives throughout the Great Lakes area seeking any materials that relate to the American Indian flute and its music. It has given me many ideas and blessed me with the energy I need to record.
I am excited to announce that I will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Native American Flute Journeys Retreat and Workshop in my hometown of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin at Dillman's Bay Resort. It's a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about the Native American flute in the environment I was born and raised in, the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Reservation. I am always excited to return home, to visit family, to bring my children to experience their ancestral homeland, and to find that energy we all need in places that speak to us. I will be hosting with the legendary Frank "Anakwad" Montano from the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe and I am beyond honored. He mentioned to let people know he's turning 73 this coming year! For more information about the workshop such as the schedule, pricing, please visit my WORKSHOPS page.
I'm also partnering with Native American Tourism of Wisconsin, a Governor appointed council dedicated to driving tourism in Wisconsin's Indian communities. There are some great ideas in the mix and are still in planning. I'll announce more information when it becomes available.
Lastly I'd like to say miigwetch! Thank you for visiting DarrenThompson.net. I am honored that you have taken the time to learn a little about about me, about what I do, and hopefully enjoyed some of my music.
Baamaapii (Until next time),
Darren Thompson
Biindigen! Welcome. It has been some years since I've blogged. Many great things have happened since darrenthompson.net was last published. An album has been released ("The Song of Flower"), an overseas tour occurred, my family has grown, and new horizons continue to surface. I have thought long and hard about what I should communicate, what I want to accomplish, and what to share with the world through my music. First, I'd like to say that I am deeply honored and humbled that I have the privilege to share my cultural heritage and talent with the world. It took a lot of years to accept that I have a "talent". For years I looked at what I did as sort of a hobby and something I would grow out of. I started playing and performing almost ten years ago while an undergraduate at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin because I was bored. I spent most of my upbringing in athletics so flute playing was sort of a "no-no" in the social circles I was accustomed to being around. Nonetheless, I've accepted that I can do something and I'm going all in.
Music has blessed me with many opportunities and experiences I never thought possible. It has opened doors and given me the experience and passion to participate in discussions that change communities. It has introduced me to some amazingly talented people and taken me to awe-inspiring communities. My music allows me to share the rich history and culture of my people - the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation - as well as the plight that many other American Indian communities face to this day. We share a tragic history of great loss in all ways the term is defined. Centuries of misplacement and oppression. It is a part of our history. It is a part of our identity. And it is extremely difficult to communicate our history for countless reasons and most times it is unspoken of. However, my music has blessed with me with many opportunities to build relationships and bring truth to light. I am always humbled by the reaction of not only Native people, but non as well.
I am proud to say that we are making a strong comeback. Day by day we are reclaiming our heritage and our identity. Because we are such a small population it's a powerful force to share the culture of American Indian heritage with the world. The struggles American Indian people and communities face are ongoing and I will always be dedicated to them. There are many inspiring communities and people who are dedicated to the revival of our culture and our communities - thank you, you inspire me!
2014 is bound to be an exciting year.
I am in the studio working on my second album, "Red Notes". Red Notes is an idea I have had for years. Red Notes is going to be a unique recording where I'm using historical instruments that are very different than the style of flutes we have grown accustomed to hearing. It took me years to get my hands on instruments that date back hundreds of years. What's even more significant is that it was even more difficult to teach myself how to play them as well as make songs. Remember, we lost a lot. I have always been inspired by our past and I want to dedicate my second album to that past. I have spent years both researching old documents and special archives throughout the Great Lakes area seeking any materials that relate to the American Indian flute and its music. It has given me many ideas and blessed me with the energy I need to record.
I am excited to announce that I will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Native American Flute Journeys Retreat and Workshop in my hometown of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin at Dillman's Bay Resort. It's a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn about the Native American flute in the environment I was born and raised in, the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Reservation. I am always excited to return home, to visit family, to bring my children to experience their ancestral homeland, and to find that energy we all need in places that speak to us. I will be hosting with the legendary Frank "Anakwad" Montano from the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe and I am beyond honored. He mentioned to let people know he's turning 73 this coming year! For more information about the workshop such as the schedule, pricing, please visit my WORKSHOPS page.
I'm also partnering with Native American Tourism of Wisconsin, a Governor appointed council dedicated to driving tourism in Wisconsin's Indian communities. There are some great ideas in the mix and are still in planning. I'll announce more information when it becomes available.
Lastly I'd like to say miigwetch! Thank you for visiting DarrenThompson.net. I am honored that you have taken the time to learn a little about about me, about what I do, and hopefully enjoyed some of my music.
Baamaapii (Until next time),
Darren Thompson