NEW: Join the Kevin Locke Circle of Friends! For the most up-to-date info on Kevin and special offers.
Hello, my Lakota name is Tokaheya Inajin (meaning "The First to Arise"), a member of the Lakota Tribe of the Great Plains , and I perform throughout the world as a Hoop Dancer, a player of the indigenous Northern Plains flute, a traditional storyteller, and also serve as a cultural ambassador and educator as often as I can.
My early education came from my immediate family and community, but from my extended family in every part of the world I learned many lessons in global citizenship and how we all can draw from our individual heritage to create a vibrant, evolving global civilization to embrace and celebrate our collective heritage.
I was very proud to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for being a pivotal force in the now powerful revival of the indigenous flute tradition, which teetered on the brink of extinction in the latter half of the 20th century. My other special focus is on the Hoop Dance, performed with 5 to 28 different brightly colored hoops, representing the circle of life and connectedness of all people.
What I try to do is convey this universality of human spirit through my stories, music, humor, dances, workshops, and lectures. I get the most joy from working with children on reservations and in schools to do my part to ensure the survival and growth of indigenous culture.
Also very important to me are the Ba’hai, and I attend their firesides and functions around the country and the world whenever I can. It is always a pleasure to meet others who share a dedication to harmony.
I am traveling and performing all year long; see my tour schedule , there’s a good chance I’ll be in your area soon. If not, contact Ixtlan Artists if you’d like me to perform at your school or venue.
