Born: Warm Springs
Gender or Pronouns:
Tribe(s): Hopi/Warm Springs
Instrument(s): Native flutes, whistles
Role(s): Musician, Songwriter
Years active: 1997 to present
Credited with: 2017 Native American Music Awards Best Traditional Recording for Before America. 2022 Grammy for Esperanza Spalding’s Songwrights Apothecary Lab
Honors & Awards: Not available
Associated with: Esperanza Spalding, Hunter Noack (In a Landscape series 2018 to present)
Discography: Honoring the Supernatural (2006), Before America (2017), Eagle bone whistle on Esperanza Spalding’s Best Jazz Vocal Grammy-winning Songwrights Apothecary Lab CD (2021)
Genre(s): Traditional, Classical, jazz, hip hop, EDM
Artist statement: “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 10,000 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!” (Source: Artist’s website)
Performances
James Edmund Greeley – Native American Flute Music
Central Oregon Community College
Format: Official, Date: 2022, Duration: 1:01:21
Esperanza Spalding & James Edmund Greeley – Formwela 2
Format: Official, Date: 2021, Duration: 6:11
Note: Won 2021 Best Vocal Jazz Gramm
James Edmund Greeley with Hunter Noack – In A Landscape
Format: Official, Date: 2018, Duration: 6:14
Note: On CBS This Morning
James Edmund Greeley – Celilo Kup’ (sahaptin): Celilo Falls
Native Village from 10,000 years ago
Format: Audio, Duration: 5:09
Nchi’wana (Sahaptin): Big River
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:11
Miyu’ux Joseph (Sahaptin): 1875 Pow Chief Joseph
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:22
Nu’sux Waa’sani (Sahaptin): Salmon Feast
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:44
Wiwnu Wass’sani (Sahaptin): Huckleberry Feast
Format: Audio, Duration: 5:46
Atwai (Ichishkin): The One’s That Went On
Format: Audio, Duration: 5:29
Da Wa Nim Tewa (Hopi): The Sun Goes Home
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:40
Tu’wananasavi (Hopi) Center of the Universe
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:58
Wa’luwa (Ichishkin)
Format: Audio, Duration: 5:24
Cultivar (Hopi): Snake Dance
Format: Audio, Duration: 5:04
Kokopelli (Hopi) Humpback Flute Deity of 5000 Years
Format: Audio, Duration: 2:51
Twati (Ichishkin): Shaman
Format: Audio, Duration: 3:44
Hotomkam (Hopi): Orion’s Belt
Format: Audio, Duration: 4:50
Tawtoykya (Hopi): Mesa Verde
Format: Audio, Duration: 3:17
Hakomi (Hopi): Who Are You?
Format: Audio, Duration: 3:46
Yukiuma (Hopi): Hotvilla Chief from Third Mesa
Format: Audio, Duration: 3:52
Kw’ahu (Hopi): Eagle (Messenger to the Creator)
Format: Audio, Duration: 2:25
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.”
The Hopi Tribe’s Official website
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Wasco, Warm Springs, Paiute tribes
Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution (the Supremacy Clause)
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”