Nataanii Means, last night at the Lied Center (photos)

Nataanii Means

The Lied Center

Friday, April 5

To kick off the KU Powwow & Indigenous Cultures Festival, Oglala Lakota/Omaha/Navajo hip-hop artist Nataanii Means performed a set on the Lied Center stage on Friday night. The son of activist Russell Means, the rapper’s set was comprised of a nearly complete run-through of his most recent album, Balance. The entire audience was seated onstage with Means, and the intimate setting made for an excellent set.

Means’ music reflects his upbringing on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona, as well as life as the son of an activist. The lyrics were poignant and looked at the struggle of Native peoples, as well as Means’ own difficulties with the world around him and in his own head. Cuts like Balance‘s title track, “Roses,” and “Eagle Feathers” were especially resonant.

The musician’s work in protesting injustice was mirrored by the speakers he invited up on stage to speak about their work as protectors against projects like the Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope.

For the last two songs of his set, Means exhorted the audience to get up and come close to the stage, and the crowd of 100 or so gathered to shout lyrics back, raise hands, and dance. While Means thanked everyone, the sound of a baby laughing with joy as it toddled through the crowd could be heard. I can’t think of a better summation.

All photos by Nick Spacek