Description
In this video, Grayhawk Perkins opens the 2025 Indigenous Forum at Bioneers with humor, heart, and a unique welcome in the Mobilian language. He shares teachings passed down from his grandparents, emphasizing that storytellers are the “walking bibles” of Native Nations and that we must continue to share stories and create new ones. Grayhawk offers powerful lessons through storytelling, like the butterfly who learns to listen. Watch the talk to experience Grayhawk’s wisdom, music, and unforgettable storytelling.
Grayhawk Perkins (Houma/Choctaw/Muscogee) is a celebrated storyteller, musician, and cultural educator from Louisiana, recognized as a Cultural Standard Bearer by the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor. An internationally respected expert on Southeastern Native American history, he has dedicated over 40 years to teaching, performing, and preserving Indigenous knowledge. His work blends blues, jazz, and Native traditions. He is the lead cultural programmer for the Indigenous Stage at the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival. Grayhawk’s newest book revitalizes traditional stories for new generations, completing and reimagining ancestral narratives for today’s world.