Duluth, Minnesota – Brulé performing during their holiday performance in Duluth, Minnesota. Photos by Kimberlie R. Hall

by Kimberlie R. Hall

Duluth, Minnesota (NFIC)

On December 2nd I got the opportunity to go see “Red Nativity,” Brulé and the American Indian Rock Opera’s (AIRO) holiday performance at the DEC in Duluth, Minnesota. I must say, I was speechless... what an amazing performance by all. Their holiday concert blends contemporary Native American music with traditional rhythms and dance.

Brulé was joined on stage by traditional Native American dancers from across the country. Native American dances included the eagle dance, hoop dance, men’s fancy dance, women’s fancy shawl, men’s and women’s traditional dance and grass dance. The full Native American cast of musical performance and dancers now make up the expanded group AIRO.

This year’s holiday concert featured songs from five past Brulé albums along with their new holiday music soundtrack Silent Star Night. This is Brulé’s second holiday release. Their first holiday album was One Holy Night.

Paul LaRoche was adopted at birth and only found out about his heritage after the death of both his adoptive parents. Brulé was an inspiration by Paul after he discovered his Lakota heritage in 1993 and returned to the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation to meet his Lakota family.

Current band members include: Paul LaRoche on keyboards, Nicole LaRoche (Paul’s daughter) on flute, Shane LaRoche (Paul’s son) on guitars and Moses Brings Plenty on traditional drums and percussion.

The American Indian Rock Opera consist of dancers: Thirza DeFoe (Hoop dance, fancy shawl and Eagle dance); Lowery Begay (Hoop dance, men’s fancy dance and Eagle dance); Petur Redbird (Men’s traditiional and grass dance); Linda Thompson (Women’s traditional dance); Marla Mahkimetas (Fancy shawl and contemporary dance); Kristé Belt (Contemporary dance); Lewis St. Cyr (Men’s fancy, grass and chicken dance). Special appearances are also by: Jade Summers (Jingle dress dance); Emily Sinclair (Jingle dress dance); and Many Moccasins Dance Troupe (Men’s traditional, grass dance, men’s fancy and chicken dance).

With over a million CDs sold worldwide, Brulé has become one of the top-selling Native American recording artist in the nation. They’ve made such national appearances on the likes of Regis and Kathie Lee, CNN Worldbeat, and QVC just to name a few.

Brulé has garnored such awards as: “Outstanding Musical Achievement Award” by The First Americans in the Arts in 1999; “Group of the Year” and “Best Compilation Recording” for Star People in 2002; “Best Instrumental Recording” for Night Tree in 2003 from the Native American Music Awards. Then, in 2006, the Native American Music Awards again honored Brulé with “Best Compiliation Recording” for their release The Collection, plus the group walked away with “Group of the Year” for its release Tatanka.

On the Net:

www.brulerecords.com