Ancient Voices A Museum to honor the least known people in North America, the Original Tribal Women

Jackie Bird
Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota,

Singer, hoop dance performer, inspirational speaker, fancy shawl dancer, designer, and artist.

Jackie Bird Mixes traditional native sounds with a retro 80's rock feel and Native American blues rock. She calls it 'Indian Blues Rock' and by combining English lyrics and Indian vocal traditions with rock drums, keyboards, guitar and native instruments Jackie creates this unique style.

Jackie who was born in 1966, is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, currently living in Bushnell, South Dakota. Her mother is JoAnne Bird, (Dakota) the renowned artist, and her father is Gordon Bird, (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arickara ) a musician. Jackie has been performing alongside of her sisters and parents in the family group Featherstone now BIRD! since she was a child. Her own daughters also performed in the same group when they were little. I remember the first time I saw the Birds performing back in 1990, how cute Jackie's daughters were performing a hoop dance alongside her. They are now grown and her daughter Randi is still performing.

Everything Jackie does emerges from a deep love for her culture and people and also because of a deep respect for the Creator. She is deeply spiritual, and is a great role model for young women. As well as the performing Jackie designs and makes her owl line of shawls, these are created with spiritual and traditional natural elements using beadwork, ribbons and feathers. Both her mother and her late grandmother, Pansy, played an important role in teaching her about the value of family, and walking "the good road." She feels that she has been given a responsibility by her Creator to be an example for youth. As she continues to spend time with elders, learning from their wisdom and experiences, Jackie honors them and her family by sharing their values and teachings with all the people she meets. Her positive message brings joy to all ages as she shares the beauty of her Native American culture in an expression of love and respect for the whole world.

She has performed in many places of the world, including Europe. In all of her performances, Jackie has been praised for her ability to get her audience involved with her contemporary and traditional music, songs and dances.

Jackie at home

Because Jackie has the gift of bringing happiness and joy to people's faces, she has received names from several tribes. She was once honored by a Montana Crow tribal member after a performance by being given a Crow name, which translated means "One Who Makes the People Smile."  The Blackfeet people, named her “Blue Sparrow Woman”, because the sparrow has the ability to lift up people’s souls. Her Mandan/Hidatsa name is “Corn Woman.”  It was passed down to her from her grandmother Pansy Parshall whose mother had the same name.  It must be very special to Jackie that her grandmother favored her with her name and her great-grandmother’s name. Jackie's album 'Lady' is dedicated to her grandmother. I was with her when she recorded the album, and her grandmother is recognised in a very special way on the album. She was spoken about a lot during the recording sessions. I felt very honoured to be there with her and her family at that special time.

One time she was asked to perform on the Rosebud Reservation, so she drove all night to get there. Despite being tired from the long drive, she performed for the children. An elder gave her an eagle feather, a Pendleton blanket, and some tobacco. “As soon as I received the eagle feather and tobacco, I felt revived, and my energy was restored,” she said. To Jackie these rewards are more valuable than the standard gifts of money and recognition.

Jackie performing the Hoop Dance

Hoop Dancing has a different meaning for every tribe, but for Jackie Bird the dance is for healing. The hoops stand for the circle of life and in her performance she uses them to explain the story of creation.

Jackie also has a puppet that she uses to tell stories of traditions that are being forgotten, her puppet is named 'Wild Flower'

Jackie showing some of her hand made traditional designed shawls

This remarkable young woman shares a deeply spiritual message of respect, love, energy and joy through her music, dancing and artistry as she honors her culture with her many gifts. She walks cautiously in this life and world because she is acutely aware of her responsibility to the people

See a short video of Jackie performing HERE