James Edmund Greeley lives on the Warm Springs Reservation in Central Oregon. His ancestry is Warm Springs, Wasco, Nez Perce and Hopi. He plays Native flutes and bone whistles, performing in a wide variety of settings.
Performances
His 2017 cd Before America won Best Traditional Recording at the Native American Music Awards. The songs range from contemporary traditional to those reaching back thousands of years on these lands and in these rivers. For example, no single place in Oregon is arguably more important than Celilo on the Nche’ Wana (Columbia River). The historic falls were flooded by The Dalles dam in 1957, destroying a way of life that had thrived for more than 12,000 years, the center of a vast trading network. Celilo Village remains the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in North America. James reached back and recorded these two songs to begin his album.
Celilo Kup’ (sahaptin): Celilo Falls
Duration: 5:09
Nchi’wana (sahaptin): Big River
Duration: 4:11
Formwela 2 Esperanza Spalding
Duration: 6:11
James’ eagle bone whistle was featured on Esperanza Spalding’s Best Jazz Vocal Grammy-winning Songwrights Apothecary Lab cd in 2021.
In a Landscape
Hunter Noah on CBS This Morning
Duration: 6:14
He has performed in many outdoor settings with Hunter Noack in the classical pianist’s In A Landscape concert series since 2018.
“Native flute music has been here 3,000 years plus. Long ago, the Deity Kokopa (aka Kokopelli) crossed paths with my Hopi Nations in the Southwest of America. His melodies and chants were from various wooden flutes and bone whistles. The rain would fall and bring harvest and fertility among the Hopi people.
“Poof! Here I am on another Tour through the Universe! Today I perform to enlighten and bring back my heritage for all nations and to all my relations.
“I’m also here from the Northwest with the Warm Springs Wasco & Nez Perce Nations – people from today’s Columbia River before the Dalles Dam flooded Celilo Falls in 1957 and the Wild Salmon runs, a way of life for 12,000 years, were taken away. Before the American Dream got here. “I thank my ancestors and what they sacrificed for all of us to be here as one people today! Welcome to a trip back in time as the echoes take you on a ride to infinity & back!” – James Edmund Greeley (source: artist website)
Research: Is Celilo Falls still intact? | Oregon Field Guide – Duration: 16:41
Tribal Information
Hopi Nation
“The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. The reservation occupies part of Coconino and Navajo counties, encompasses more than 1.5 million acres, and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas.
“Since time immemorial the Hopi people have lived in Hopitutskwa and have maintained our sacred covenant with Maasaw, the ancient caretaker of the earth, to live as peaceful and humble farmers respectful of the land and its resources. Over the centuries we have survived as a tribe, and to this day have managed to retain our culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world.
“We invite and encourage you to visit our Hopi lands. However, please be respectful of our laws, culture and way of life. It is our hope that this website will provide current and useful information about the Hopi Tribe.”
Official website: Welcome to the Hopi Tribe
For further research check James Edmund Greeley’s page
