Art of the Story Festival: Kevin Locke

Kevin Locke (Tokaheya Inajin in Lakota translation “First to Rise”) is a world famous visionary Native American Hoop Dancer and preeminent player of the Indigenous Northern Plains flute. He is a NEA Heritage Award Fellow and Cultural World Ambassador from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.

Kevin is Lakota and Anishnabe. His instructions were received from his immediate family and community and from extended family in every part of the world. He has learned many lessons in global citizenship and how we each draw from the richness of our individual heritages.

His role in life is to entertain, educate, engage, and empower the minds of both youth and adults in the North American Indian cultural arts and history of Native Americans. His special joy is working with children on the reservations to ensure the survival and growth of indigenous culture.

Having performed in over 90 countries around the world, he has made appearances to over 1 million students and guests in over 10,000 schools and events in the last 35 years. Kevin’s goal is to inspire youth in reaching greatness and uniting the world in oneness. Kevin has recorded twelve albums of music and stories, most recently The First Flute, Open Circle, Keepers of the Dream, and Dream Catcher. Find out more at kevinlocke.com.