Composed and performed by Keith Bear (flute) and accompanied by Jovino Santos Neto (keyboards), this joyful song was inspired by Keith's aunt Juliette who "always had a houseful of children."

Walking On The Water

Joseph Fire Crow said he wrote this song as a recognition of the harmony of all things - Makoché - meaning the circle is complete and all things on the earth are in their place.

Circle Dance

This song comes from the Grammy nominated release "Veterans Songs" by Lakota Thunder. Also known as the "Long Hair Fight Song", it dates to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The lyrics say:
I cherish the Lakota ways
So I participated in the Long Hair fight
He had no respect for the Black Hills
So I rubbed him out

Pehin Hanska Okicize Olowan

Anishinaabe singer/songwriter Annie Humphrey's insightful songs have an extra edge...a stronger for surviving aspect that is the foundation of her style. Spirit Horses is from Annie's Makoché debut "The Heron Smiled". On this track she is joined by the late John Trudell. 
Winner Best Female Artist, NAMMY Awards 2001 Best Folk/Country Artist, NAMMY Awards 2001. 
Nominee Best Native American Album 2000, New Age Voice Awards 2001

Spirit Horses

From Andrew Vasquez - from his award winning release  "Wind River", named the Best Contemporary Native American Album by New Age Voice. Andrew also received a NAMMY nomination for Flutist of the Year.

Across The River

From Annie Humphrey's 2nd Makoche release, this song was featured in the 2003 film directed by Chris Eyre. The song title was liked so much they used it as the title of the film. Written by Annie, the song features lyrics by her good friend John Trudell

Edge Of America

From the CD of the same name, this track features Jovino Santos on piano, Gary Stroutsos on traditional native flute and Walter Gray on cello. The People of the Willows CD features both traditional Mandan-Hidatsa songs along with modern interpretations inspired by what Jovino described as "the richness of their music...deeply connected to all creation."

People Of The Willows

In 1998, Producer David Swenson traveled from the Dakotas to the coast of Oregon carrying recording equipment in order to recreate, as best he could, the sounds and music heard by the men of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This included songs of Native America, the sounds of nature and the fiddle music of the explorers.  When the Expedition returned to the Dakotas on their journey home,  the Mandan people welcomed them with celebrations and great feasting. This song is an imagination of what the music of that event might have sounded like. It features the Second Generation Mandaree Singers, John Owen Lardinois on fiddle, Keith Bear of traditional Mandan wooden flute, Deirdre Fay on tin whistle and David Swenson on percussion. It was recorded during a beautiful fall evening on the banks up the upper Missouri near New Town, North Dakota.

The Return

Kevin Locke passed away in 2022, and this track is from his final Makoché release. For nearly 40 years, Kevin performed in over 90 different countries to literally hundreds of thousands of people. While perhaps best known as a preeminent player of the Indigenous Northern Plains flute and traditional storyteller, he was above all else a teacher. The magnitude of his loss cannot be measured.

Open Circle

The title track from the second release by the Grammy Nominated traditional drum group, Lakota Thunder. The translation of the lyrics reads: 
The Lakota way is a rich way of life
I wanted to be a white man
But it wasn't for me

Way Of Life

The Plainsmen, is known bt various names including "Hell on the Potomac" and "Georgia Boys". This version was shared by a Texas fiddler who called it "Jack Tar", but whatever the name, it is certainly a memorable tune. Cuts from "Cowboy Legacy" appear in a number of Ken Burn's documentary films.

The Plainsmen

When we first started recording John Owen Lardinois, aka as "Fiddling' Johnny", he was only 13 years old, and the word "prodigy" was often used. Joined by Peter Ostroushko on mandolin, this is one of our favorite tracks from his debut CD.

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