Brulé renews affiliation with RFD-TV, Sunday Nov. 11th 2018

RFD-TV is the cable TV network dedicated to rural american lifestyles, news and stories.  Brulé created a TV series called Hidden Heritage that presented uplifting stories from across Native America.  90 episodes were broadcast over the RFD-TV network between the years 2012 and 2016.

The series went on hiatus between 2016 and 2018.  Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of RFD-TV, reached out to Brulé this year to produce new Hidden Heritage episodes.  An agreement was reached which included helping the Brulé charity foundation “Following the 7th Direction” and the Reach the Reservation Tour 2019

Brulé will produce a new season of episodes during 2019 for the network.  Travels will take the Brulé production crew to impoverished Indian reservation of ND, SD and MN where they will perform for tribal youth of reservation schools and meet tribal elders and entrepreneurs. 

You can follow the progress on the Brulé website.  If you have an idea for individuals that have an interesting Native American story or theme, please contact Brulé at https://brulerecords.com/contact  New Hidden Heritage episodes should premier on the RFD-TV network beginning fall of 2019.  Reach the Reservation tour is make possible entirely through donation from supporters like you.  

Please consider a donation to Following the 7th direction TODAY!

Rosebud sioux tribe coat drive 2018

Our coat drive this year for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in S. Dakota went extremely well. Our giveaway was held at the Sente Gleska University on Nov. 9th, 2018, and over 600 people showed up!!!! Sente Gleska is named after a very brave Lakota Sioux named Spotted Tail.  A huge thank you goes out to Cindy DuBray, director of the Community Services Program for the tribe, who was a tremendous help this year along with the staff at the University and to the guys from the community that helped us unload our trailers another huge hug.   This year we were able to take two trailers full of over 10,000 coats, jackets, assorted items of clothing and toys to the reservation. We had over 55 banquet size tables heaping with stuff and people were allowed to take as much as they wanted and almost everything was gone within 4 hours!!!!   Thank you to all the schools and business that collected items for us and to all the volunteers who generously helped make this drive possible.  

Wopila ("Thank You") and may God Bless all of you. Charlie Smith, Kathy Baundendistel,  Debbie & Jim Wallenberg, Kathy & Paul LaRoche, Tom & Alice Lounges, Wolf Creek Habitat and last but not least our drivers Terry and Arron.

Letter from City of Marion, Monday Aug. 27th, 2018

Hello Brule Crew,

I hope you all had safe travels back home yesterday! I just wanted to reach out to you and hope you will share with the rest of the group, but thank you again for working with us and bringing all the talent of the group here to little ol’ Marion, Iowa. All of the members in group with nothing but a joy to interact and work with. Everyone was so polite and easy going and it just made the day/night that much more enjoyable!

We heard nothing but good things from people before the show and you guys not only reinforced that with the performance, but went above and beyond expectations. From the dancing, to the instrumentation and flute playing, to Paul’s storytelling, it was just a special night for many people in attendance and one that will be remembered here in Marion. I know you had a fair share of pre-existing fans here in attendance, but I think it’s safe to say you gained A LOT of new fans here in Eastern Iowa as well (myself included).

I’m so glad Gaylord Hauschildt mentioned you guys in a brief conversation a couple years ago, and I’m even more happy that followed up with that recommendation and that you guys were willing and able to work with us and give us the opportunity to bring you into our community. I truly feel bad for those that missed the performance or choose to do something else for entertainment on Saturday night because they missed their chance to see something special in their own backyard. I had some people tell me before the show it was hard to put your performance into words or describe it…and I have to admit, they were right. To explain it to people vs. witness it in person were two very different things. I’m happy I got to experience it in person, because it was much more than just a concert or show or performance…it was an EXPERIENCE!

From all of us here in Marion, thank you again! We hope to have you back in the future!

Thanks,

Tony Ireland

Recreation Supervisor  |  Parks and Recreation

4500 N Tenth Street | Marion, Iowa 52302

p 319-447-3590  |  c 319-538-4700

tireland@cityofmarion.org

Brulé Returns from Saudi Arabia Tour Monday, May 7, 2018 

Brulé was invited to visit and perform by the Saudi Arabian Embassy with assistance from the US Embassy, US Consulate General and American Voices.  The group was hosted by the Saudi General Culture Authority and performances were programmed by the Arabian Centers.   The tour ran from April 8th through the 21st, 2018 and included performances and workshops in the Saudi Arabia Cities of Riyadh and Jeddah.

Performance venues included Al Faisal University Theater and Arabian Centers Al Hamra Mall (indoor), US Consulate General Marine Garden (outdoor), workshops were held at Nafisa Al Faisalia Charitable Society Training Center for Folkloric Arts and Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts.  The tour also included visits to Dirah Souq Najd Downtown Village, Almasmak historical Palace, Riyadh National Museum and historical old Jeddah.

The Brule Saudi Arabia tour cast included Paul LaRoche (keyboards), Nicole LaRoche (flute), Shane LaRoche (drums), Vlasis (guitars), Jade Summers (dancer), Petur Redbird (dancer), Theresa St Syr (dancer), Garan Coons (dancer), and Simon Washee (dance).  For more tour info  www.brulerecords.com  

Brulé was joined on the tour by visual artists Growing Thunder including Ms. Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Ms. Juanita Marie Fogerty and Ms. Joycelyn Rae Fogerty.    

The tour was presented through entertainment agency American Voices. AV is a nonprofit organization that has been conducting cross-cultural engagement with audiences in over 110 nations worldwide since 1993.  The American Voices tour manager was Spencer Dunlap.  

Serving as a cultural bridge, American Voices has introduced American music and culture the world over, showcasing a wide variety of genres ranging from jazz to classical symphony to hip hop in counties including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Lebanon. www.americanvoices.org 

Additional Brulé Saudi Arabia tour support personnel:

Robyn Yeager, Cultural Affairs Officer

Jennifer Hall Godfrey, Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy Riyadh

Kyle Cassily, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer

Sara Elhilo, Cultural Programs Coordinator

Anne Shue, Grants and Contracting Officer Representative

Kevin Mayner, Cultural Affairs Officer

Consul General Matthias J. Mitman

Lynn Longhauser, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer

Eng.Naif S ALGhamdi, Communication Sponsorship and Support Manager 

Ali Al Ghadban, Seinor Cultural Affairs Advisor

Sabah Jama, Cultural Assistant

Amal Gazey, Education Advisor

Dr. Mubarak Alkhatnai, Tour Translator for Brulé

Motor pool, procurement and contracting, travel, general services and financial services in Riyadh and Jeddah

Joe Adam, tour Audio Engineer for Brulé

Henry the Sound Guy, backline equipment in Saudi Arabia

Kathy Summers, Brulé manager and Saudi Arabia Tour Administrator

Brulé Brings BruléTV to Website Sunday, Oct.22, 2017

Brulé TV is a video streaming service for the "Hidden Heritage" series, Brulé concerts, behind the scenes videos, and the Brulé video vault (20-year archives).  The service was previously available for a monthly subscription fee of $8.99 for access to all Brulé TV videos and options to purchase individual episodes/videos from $0.99 to $4.99. Material is suitable for all viewers. Due to upcoming changes to our website Brulé TV will soon be available as a free service to our loyal website viewers.   Watch for FREE Brulé TV and check it out!

Brulé TV is an innovative internet video streaming service built by Brulé and hosted on the popular Vimeo platform.  The flagship series "Hidden Heritage" was produced by Brulé and launched in 2010 on RFD-TV, a cable TV network dedicated to rural America.

The original 70 Hidden Heritage episodes featured positive stories from across Native America.  Show content includes: conversations with the elders, successful Native American entrepreneurs, traditional stories and legends, modern Tribal living, and featured artists and performers.  

Positive Native American TV program content is unique in that most documentaries concentrate on culture hardships and trauma.  Hidden Heritage is written, filmed, directed, edited, and produced, within the culture by enrolled tribal members of the Brulé film production team. 

The culture now has one more voice in the independent film industry.  Brulé TV will offer the full "Hidden Heritage" existing series, over 70 episodes, and include new episodes as well.  Additional Brulé TV programs will include: The Brulé Concert Series, Live from Paul’s Place (a series of intimate concerts with Brulé and friends filmed on location at the Brulé studio), Trails and Tales (a behind the scenes reality series that follows Brulé on tour), and The Brulé Video Vault (vintage Brulé video footage from the past 20 years). Watch BruléTV!

Press Release: Monday, Jan 16th, 2017

Brulé to Release 21st CD "Best f Brulé Vol 1".

Best of Brulé (Vol 1) is a collection of 15 songs that would best be described as “classics” from the early Brulé catalog. This is Brulé’s 21st release in as many years. Best of Brulé captures that early Native American spirit that pioneered the way for what has become known in the music industry as American Indian soul (contemporary Native American music).

Best of Brulé includes all the “hits” from the first 8 CD’s and is sure to become a standard for the Brulé audience.  This CD also feature “Dakota Rainstorm”, the groups first vocal release which is an autobiographical musical version of the Brulé story.  The song has gained popularity over the years.  Watch Video!

The CD will be available to purchase at the groups appearance at the Colorado Indian Market, Jan 20th, on this website starting Jan 20th and at various retail location across the country.    

Press Release: Monday, Dec 5th, 2016

Pioneer Public Television to broadcast Brulé Holiday Concert with Worthington Symphony Orchestra.

The concert was filmed Nov. 24th, 2015 at the Worthington Memorial Auditorium and will be broadcast Sat. Nov. 26th, 6:30PM and Sat. Dec 3rd, 8PM by Pioneer Public Television based in Appleton, MN.  The 90 min special broadcast is part of the Pioneer Public Television annual pledge drive fundraising campaign.  To watch the concert on various PBS Network channels, check these links.  3rd broadcast just added (Tuesday Dec 6th, 7:00PM) 

http://www.pioneer.org/viewing-area.html  
http://www.pioneer.org/cable--satellite-viewing.html
http://www.pioneer.org/

The Nov/Dec 2016 broadcasts will primarily include the South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin area. If you are outside of this viewing area and would like to see the program broadcast in your area, you can help us expand the number of PBS broadcast affiliates by contacting your local PBS affiliate or contacting our host affiliate (pioneer public television) at: Nicole Zempel at (320) 212-3945 or e-mail nzemple@pioneer.org.    

Additional concert information:

The Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra and multi-award winning Native American performance group, “BRULÉ”, are proud to announce their collaboration for the Symphony’s “Holiday Concert” November 24, 2015” at the historic Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center.

“This is a very special collaboration for us” said Kathy (Frisch) Summers, manager for Brulé, Worthington is where both Paul Summers (LaRoche) & I grew up as well as our children for most of their years.  “Beth Habicht, WASO Music Librarian and 2^nd Violinist, holds a special place in my heart as she was the orchestra teacher during my junior & senior high school years in orchestra in the 70s”.  Paul’s dream of performing with symphonies become a realty in 2008 when the Sioux City Symphony performed with BRULÉ and again in 2011.

Symphonic charts were created by Jeremy Hegg of Sioux Falls, SD based on Brulé’s award winning music.  With the artistry of the Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra, this is a must see concert for all.

The repertoire includes Silents Start Night, Shelter from the Storm, Creator’s Prayer, Listen to the Silence, Ancestor’s Cry, when warriors rest, Canon of Life, Orange Fire Rising, Silent Grace, Song of the Bells, Maka Canté, O Holy Night, Star People.  The performance called “Red Nativity” was commissioned by the Sioux City Symphony for Brulé.  

Conductor Dr Christopher Stanichar celebrates his 6th year as the music director of the worthingtonArea Symphony Orchestra since it was founded in 2010.  Christopher is an active director, composer, and educator.  He is a popular conductor, having directed some of the finest orchestras in Europe, russia, Mexico, and the US.   

The concert was an emotional reunion for Brulé and worthington Symphony Orchestra.  it marked a 60 year reunion with their hometown and 40 year reunion with the Worthington Symphony orchestra and director Beth Habicht

Paul and Kathy went on to have two children, Son Shane and Daughter Nicole.  After the loss of both of Paul Parents in 1987, Kathy discovered Paul’s adoption papers and began a secret search for Paul’s biological family.  The search culminated 5 years later when Paul was reunited with his biological family living on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation in central SD.  Neither had known the other had existed all this years.  The life changing discovery and reunion eventually led to the formation of the Native American music and dance group Brulé which included Paul Kathy, Shane, Nicole, and many other family members and friends. 

The performance cast for the Worthington Holiday Concert included: Paul LaRoche, Nicole LaRoche, Shane Summers, Vlasis Pergakis, Rene Avila, Garan Coons, Chris Estes, Bruce Neconie, Hunter Reed, Lauren Reed, Michelle Reed, Theresa St. Syr, Avery Summers, Haley Summers, Jade Summers, Larry Yazzie.  Sound engineer Joe Adam, Backstage Manager Christal Moose, Brulé manager Kathy summers.      

Please support your local PBS affiliate and groups like Brulé by watching the Pioneer public television broadcast of the holiday concert and making a pledge in any amount.