Speak/Sing Native™ Artist Archive
Mato Nanji
Yankton Sioux
Born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, the band Indigenous originally consisted of two brothers, Mato Nanji (vocals and guitar) and Pte (bass guitar), along with their sister, Wanbdi (drums, vocals), and their cousin, Horse (percussion).
In 1998, they released their award-winning debut album Things We Do. The title track’s video, directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), won the American Indian Film Festival Award and was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Indigenous’ music caught the attention of blues icon B.B. King, and the young band was invited to play on his annual B.B. King’s Blues Tour in 1999. In 2006, the family band disbanded, and Mato carried on with the Indigenous band name.
Professional Information
Mato Nanji was a member of the critically acclaimed Experience Hendrix Tour 2002 – 2012.
Interviews: “Just Great Blues” from Native American Guitarist Mato Nanji of Indigenous Text only 2010
By Heather Jacks for www.AmericanNoise.com
1998 Things We Do
1999 Blues This Morning EP
1999 Live at Pachyderm Studios
2000 Circle
2003 Indigenous
2005 Long Way Home EP
2006 Chasing the Sun
2008 Broken Lands
2010 The Acoustic Sessions
2012 Indigenous, Featuring Mato Nanji
2013 Vanishing Americans
2014 Time is Coming
2017 Gray Skies
1998 Things We Do
1999 Blues This Morning EP
1999 Live at Pachyderm Studios
2000 Circle
2003 Indigenous
2005 Long Way Home EP
2006 Chasing the Sun
2008 Broken Lands
2010 The Acoustic Sessions
2012 Indigenous, Featuring Mato Nanji
2013 Vanishing Americans
2014 Time is Coming
2017 Gray Skies
Rock, Blues
Musician, songwriter, bandleader
Guitar, Vocals
Video
- Mato Nanji, Levi Platero, Bronson Begay
Red House - JImi Hendrix tribute - Mato Nanji, Levi Platero, Bronson Begay
Venue:
Format: Official
Duration: 9:38
The band name is Indigenous
- Mato Nanji - Indigenous
Hear My Train A-Comin'/Voodoo Child - Mato Nanji - Indigenous
Venue: Dancing Eagle Casino, Laguna Pueblo Reservation, Casa Blanca , New Mexico
Format: Live
Duration: 10:48
- Mato Nanji, Indigenous
Hear My Train A-Comin' - Jimi Hendrix tribute - Mato Nanji, Indigenous
Venue:
Format: Live
Duration: 10:37
- Mato Nanji - Indigenous
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix tribute - Mato Nanji - Indigenous
Venue: La Zona Rosa, Austin TX
Format: Live
Duration: 10:13
- Mato Nanji, Indigenous
Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix tribute - Mato Nanji, Indigenous
Venue: in Chicago
Format: Live
Duration: 6:45
Tribal Information
Yankton Sioux
also known as "Ihanktonwan"
"The Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota is a federally recognized tribe of Yankton Western Dakota people, located in South Dakota. Their Dakota name is Ihaƞktoƞwaƞ Dakota Oyate, meaning "People of the End Village" which comes from the period when the tribe lived at the end of Spirit Lake just north of Mille Lacs Lake.
"Historically, the tribe is known for being the protectors of the sacred Pipestone Quarry for the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota).
"The tribe maintains a free-ranging bison herd. (source: tribal website)