A new CD documenting the Rebirth of the Lakota Siyotanka by the OyateUnderground and Wakinyan Records.

Wanbli WiWohkpe grew up on the streets of Rapid City, South Dakota.

Growing up amidst what was commonly called "The Feud", Wanbli WiWohkpe was caught between two worlds: the wasicu world of academia, and the world of the reality around him.

Wanbli WiWohkpe saw the utter disrespect afforded the Indigenous Male. He was told constantly in school to eschew his kin, and to grab hold of the American Dream.

The youths ultimately became entangled in the system of incarceration. The youths grew into men, and the violence continued and escalated. Knowing something was amiss and unable to articulate what, these men learned to lash out upon others of their kind. A tragic spiral of lateral violence continued unabated until they were all again incarcerated.

Wanbli WiWohkpe went to prison for 1st Degree Manslaughter in 1986. He shot and killed a fellow Lakota Male during a drunken argument.

In the subsequent years, Wanbli WiWohkpe has seen those closest to him as a youth perish. Most escaped their oppression via suicide. None lashed out at the Invader/Occupier in the terrible ways other oppressed Nations do. None went amongst the Invader and exploded. None took the Occupier with them to their death.

Instead, the Indigenous Male implodes.

Our Lives were stolen by the Occupier. Every thing the Invader has is stolen. The Invasion/Occupation continues unchecked, and the Lakota Nation, especially the Lakota Male, remains pauperized.

Inspired when he saw a Lakota Siyotanka fashioned from a gun barrel in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota museum, Wanbli WiWohkpe began crafting Siyotankas made from PVC, PolyVinyl Chloride. He did this as a form of resistance.

Wanbli WiWohkpe asks "haven't you seen a bird's home made from whatever the bird is able to glean from his or her surroundings? I have seen bird's homes that use plastic grocery bags quite freely."

He adds "What matters is not the choice of material, it is an authentic bird's home because a bird built it. It is an authentic bird's song because a bird sings it. It is an authentic bird's life cause a bird LIVES it!"

Through Lakol Wicohan, the Friendly Lifeways of the Lakota Nation, Wanbli WiWohkpe began to see. He began to Live. He began to understand the difference between his Nation and the Occupier. He committed himself to Sundance and Vision Quest, and now after completing 4 years of Sundancing and a 4 day Vision Quest, Wanbli WiWohkpe has made a true Relative with the Siyotanka, the Ancient Lakota Flute.

Wanbli WiWohkpe believes the Siyotanka is part of Lakota Man Power; a component of our Being that has been kept from us.

Wanbli WiWohkpe has learned directly from the Winged and Four Legged just how to play the Siyotanka, and how to Heal.

All Music begins as Wanbli WiWohkpe's breath. Played as a Stream of Being, these Songs are One of a Kind.

OyateUnderground Productions: World Class Representin'.