The Dakota Hotain Drummers

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Dakota Hotain drum group was first formed in teh early 1980's singing original Dakota Style word songs. The group has been together for over 2 decades. We would like to acknowledge the original Hotain singers present and those who have passed on to the Spirit World. The next generation continues to sing along with one older generation singer, Kenny Pratt Sr. The drum group consists of singers from the Dakota, Ojibway and Navajo tribes from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, South Dakota and Arizona.

The name "Dakota Ho-ta-in" means "Voices of the Dakota".

The Dakota Hotain Singers are a well known Dakota drum group from Sioux Valley Manitoba, Canada. They've been around for many, many years singing at Pow-wows for the people that enjoy and like hearing the music that is composed by the drum group. The songs are sung for the elders, dancers, and those on the pow-wow trail. If you want to hear something different then slap on DH.

All of the Dakota Hotain Singers would like to thank all of their families and friends along the powwow trail. and the other drum groups for their support and encouragement through out the years traveling along the powwow trail. We'd like to thank all the people that invited us into their homes that have fed us and gave us a place to stay, thanks for your hospitality-Wopida Tanka. We would like to especially acknowledge the Creator for giving us the voices we have to sing for the people throughout Indian Country.

Singers singing this song during Red Earth Powwow 2008 were: Kenny Pratt Sr., Kenny Pratt Jr., Brad Pratt, Nathan Hall, Jamie Hall, Darryl Zephyer, Greg Grey Cloud, Lance Black Feather, Hunter Black Feather, J.T. Seaboy, Alfred Seaboy. Back up ladies, Mary Brown, Melissa Merrick, Mindy Primm.

Rhonda Head

 Is a Mezzo-Soprano from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. She has been studying classical music with Private vocal teachers from Toronto, Ontario; Denver, Colorado; The Pas, Manitoba; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Rhonda also had the opportunity to study with Dramatic Mezzo Soprono - Barbara McAllister in Oklahoma, and world renowned Vocal teacher Richard Armstrong at the Banff Centre for Arts. In 2010, she released her debut CD Kayas, which includes pieces that are recorded in five different languages - Italian, French, Latin, English and Cree. Kayas earned her anomination in the 2011 Indian Summer Music Festival in the Spiritual Category, and won a 2011 Native American Music Award for Best World Recording. Rhonda released her second CD titled Nikumoon in September 2013 which means ‘Sing’ in the Cree Language. All the songs are recorded in the Cree Language. Rhonda successfully auditioned for the cast of Pirates of Penzance and was offered the role of Edith, which was performed in May 2014 to sold out shows for three nights in the town of The Pas, MB. The Flin Flon Community Choir invited Rhonda to perform with them at the Lincoln Centre in NYC for Handel’s Messiah on December 2, 2013 with the prestigious Distinguished Concerts International organization., and was named the number 1 Christmas event to see in the United States. Rhonda is currently organizing the Music is Medicine Camp which will incorporate Mental Health – Suicide Prevention that will take place in her home community of Opaskwayak Cree Nation on August 20 & 21, 2014. Some of the best First Nation, Metis and Native American musicians have agreed to take part in this exciting project. The camp will feature Classical, Country, Hip Hop, and Jazz Genres.