James Pakootas
(Colville Confederated Tribes)
James is a modern-day story weaver. He is an award-winning vocalist, producer, and filmmaker who cultivates change in the world through the power of words. James comes from people whose future, present and past are expressed through art, song, and movement. As a vocalist who creates conscious hip hop and spoken word poetry, he carries on this tradition. James tells stories - stories that empower, stories that fascinate, and stories that speak truth to our existence.
The core of his content speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, a deep understanding of trauma, and connection; the never-ending pathway back to ourselves and Our Ancestors. Whether performing with his artist collective, creating new bodies of work in music and film, or mentoring teams of multi-generational artists, James influences people to rise above their circumstances and chase dreams worth living.
2019 Native American Music Awards Winner for “Best Rap/Hip Hop Video”
2022 Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”
2022 Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”
‘22/‘23 Notable Performances
June 2023
June 2023
May 2023
May 2023
March 2023
July 2022
July 2022
July 2022
July 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
June 2022
May 2022
May 2022
May 2022
May 2022
May 2022
April 2022
April 2022
STOODIS Indigenous Film Festival (International Debut)
“Empower Our Future” Speaking and Concert Series
“Empower Our Future” Speaking and Concert Series
Administrators of Color Symposium & Expo
Chicago Cultural Center
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Organ Mountains National Monument
King Range Mountains National Monument
The Kennedy Center - “We The Peoples Before”
Bears Ears National Monument
Canyons of The Ancients National Monument
Levitt at The Falls
Red Lake Youth Conference
Jazz Forum
National Museum of Jazz in Harlem
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (4 Shows Sold Out)
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
Blue Desert Tour - Farmington’s Riverfest Celebration
Blue Desert Tour - Sunflower Theatre
Blue Desert Tour - El Morro Theater
Folk Alliance International Official Showcase
Lands Conservation Foundation Summit
Lowdown Tulsa
Outpost Performance Space
Nelson, BC (CAN)
Coulee Dam, WA
Nespelem, WA
Spokane, WA
Chicago, IL
Missoula, MT
Las Cruces, NM
Shelter Cove, CA
Washington DC
Blanding, UT
Dolores, CO
Sioux Falls, SD
Red Lake, MN
Tarrytown, NY
New York, NY
Newark, NJ
New York, NY
Farmington, NM
Cortez, CO
Gallup, NM
Kansas City, MO
Albuquerque, NM
Tulsa, OK
Albuquerque, NM
ACCOLADES
2024
2023
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2021
2020
2019
2019
Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellow
First Peoples Fund “Cultural Capital” Fellow
Artist Trust GAP Awardee
Spokane Arts SAGA Awardee
Spokane Arts “Collaboration Award”
Western Arts Alliance “Native Launchpad” Awardee
Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”
Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”
Tulsa Remote 1-Year Business Residency Awardee
Western Arts Alliance “Advancing Indigenous Performance” Fellow
First People’s Fund “Artist in Business Leadership” Fellow
Native American Music Awards Winner for “Best Rap/Hip Hop Video”
Hawaii
Rapid City, SD
Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Spokane, WA
Portland, OR
Niagara Falls, NY
Niagara Falls, NY
Tulsa, OK
Portland, OR
Rapid City, SD
Niagara Falls, NY
