Award winning Native American recording artist and cultural speaker J.J. Kent visits UNE campuses

J. J. Kent, an internationally known Native American cultural speaker, singer, songwriter, and NAMMY-Award winning Flutist of the Year, will be bringing his multi-media presentation on the Oglala Lakota Nation (also known as Sioux) to the University of New England on April 17th and 18th.  He will conclude his presentation with a performance on the traditional Northern Plains flute, also known as a Native American courting flute.

Kent, whose Lakota name is Wicasa Ho' Waste', or "Good Voice Man," spent years living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.  He began receiving instruction in Lakota ways from traditional elders, including his grandfather, as a young boy, and he was taught how to play the courting flute by uncles and other elders at the age of ten.

A gifted storyteller in the ancient ways of the Lakota, Kent performs at universities, libraries, schools and festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada.  His presentation consists of a professional and artist-illustrated PowerPoint, which serves as a backdrop to his story-telling.  Kent covers such topics as the diversity of Native American tribes, the significance of the buffalo, the Plains tipi, the oral tradition of story-telling, and, of course, the courting flute.

The presentation also includes a short video that captures the majesty of the Plains and includes footage of a lightning storm, running buffalo, and pictures of warriors.  Kent, himself, performs a war dance on stage, and throughout and following the presentation he performs flute music.

This event is sponsored by the Provost's Office at UNE.  Kent's presentations will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Campus Center on UNE's Biddeford campus on Tuesday, April 17th, 12:00-1:00 p.m. and in the Wing Lounge, Alexander Hall on the Portland campus on Wednesday, April 18th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.  The presentations are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served.  For more information on J.J. Kent, view his website at www.jjkent.net.
 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.