Joanne Shenandoah

Indigenous vocalist Joanne Shenandoah was a member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, Iroquois Confederacy. Her parents, Maisie Shenandoah, a Clanmother, and the late Clifford Shenandoah, an Onondaga chief and jazz guitarist, loved music and named Joanne "Tek-ya-wha-wha," which means "she sings" in the Oneida language. As a child, Joanne learned all the tribal songs and studied voice, flute, piano, clarinet, guitar, and cello. She drew upon her rich heritage while bringing traditional songs into a contemporary setting. In 1994, Shenandoah sang at the Woodstock Festival a...