Native Roots and Rhythms Festival

Showcase for Natives

Native Roots & Rhythms expands, attracting variety of artistsThe night began with an opening prayer by Kiowa powwow singers Sharon and Ralph Zotigh, followed by Indian school students in a spoken word performance.

Then Darren Geffre, Blackfeet, and his four-piece band livened up the still-growing audience with soft rock tunes. Geffre has several albums along with Native American Music Awards nominations to his credit.

Poet, musician, actor and Native rights activist John Trudell and his band Bad Dog took the stage next, preceded by the screening of a trailer from the 2006 documentary "Trudell."

Next to take the stage was Tamara Podemski, Ojibway, a singer originally from Toronto, now based in Los Angeles.

She was followed by Amokura, a Maori troupe from New Zealand comprised of five men and four women garbed in traditional clothing and, in some cases, heavily tattooed in the custom of their people.

Then the headliners took the stage--Navajo comedy duo James & Ernie.