Meet Yellowbear (yb) Nakota | Traditional Sioux singer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yellowbear (yb) Nakota and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yellowbear (YB) Nakota, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from treaty six territory Paul’s first nation, also known as Paul band and Alberta Canada. Well I grew up fighting the effects of Intergenerational trauma. My grandma was a residential school Survivor my mother day, school and us. We got the end of day school so we all have this type of abuse And trauma living inside of our body, this compressed energy and most of my people in my family. You know suffer with addictions because we have so much negative pressed energy in our body and we don’t know how to let that out because it’s generations of generations. I grew up in foster care. I grew up in group homes, the juvenile hall to provincial jails, and then to federal , or I connected with a drum through the power of the drum made me who I am today when I got out of jail I continue to walk what we call the red road has a beautiful road of sobriety and healing. It’s what most of us all want, but we don’t know how to get there , I mean some are to lost to even think that healing is possible so I showed that in my music I show my people we can make it out of the streets we can heal addiction ran into my family runs in my family until I ran into me and I try to show my sons I never got shown through the power of our ceremony and drum took me all across Canada making my way to US where I’m getting greeted with all this love Fresno, California Los Angeles, Las Vegas. Everybody knew me there and they always greeted me and tell me about how my songs helped them , and I always make sure to tell people I am just a vessel for the creator. I have no special powers healing powers. Creator tells me to sing the drum and you feel connected. That’s the creator working through me to connect with you. He’s the one with all the power , not sure I get to walk it all all the healing feeling is from the creator. I’m just the vessel.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well, I’m at traditional singer and I go to many communities singing sharing my medicine which is our traditional way of singing and uplifting our young people. Our warriors are next generation work that I do professionally I’m a consultant cultural support at a HIV eight foundation and I smudge and sing for the clients there. Which is creators work for helping them just to be happy for another day of life

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I will say most likely at home with all my sons because I feel most connected with all my kids and just being there they can’t be a little wild, but it’s so weird to see you. Do you know what I mean by that like little you and changing the things that you never got to do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First I want to say ( ishnish ) thank you Adé Waka The creator of all things. For allowing me to do this work

I wanna thank my mom for always being there for raising me the way she did and my grandma showing me how to be strong.

And also, I met a lot of friends and family that I call my family who help me on this journey believe me when I didn’t even believe in myself so I was want to say I know you and I thank you

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ybnakota/profilecard/?igsh=YXZocHgwMHE3MDY4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yellowbear.nakota?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ybnakota?si=o0fdHsw0SssKIHxr

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ybnak0ta?_t=8r89icMz7Zt&_r=1

https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/yb-nakota/1744777233

Image Credits
YB Nakota