John Two-Hawks - Personal Background
Early Life....
John Two-Hawks is the first-born child of a young, soft spoken father and a spirited teenage mother, both of mixed ancestry who died in their early 50s as a result of substance abuse. Two-Hawks' parents were lovers of music, and encouraged him very early in his life to explore his musical gifts. He began playing the guitar and singing at age 5. Both of John’s grandfathers were remarkable musicians who played dozens of different kinds of instruments, so he comes by his musical talents naturally.
John’s parents divorced when he was 6, and thus began nearly 15 years of terrible upheaval. Over that period, John and his siblings endured one form of suffering after the next, including terrible child abuse of every kind from a step-mother. The alcoholism and drug addiction his dad and mom struggled with made matters even worse. And yet, through it all, he held on tightly to the music he had inside, always believing that one day it would set him free. But first he would have to heal what had been broken....
John Two-Hawks is the first-born child of a young, soft spoken father and a spirited teenage mother, both of mixed ancestry who died in their early 50s as a result of substance abuse. Two-Hawks' parents were lovers of music, and encouraged him very early in his life to explore his musical gifts. He began playing the guitar and singing at age 5. Both of John’s grandfathers were remarkable musicians who played dozens of different kinds of instruments, so he comes by his musical talents naturally.
John’s parents divorced when he was 6, and thus began nearly 15 years of terrible upheaval. Over that period, John and his siblings endured one form of suffering after the next, including terrible child abuse of every kind from a step-mother. The alcoholism and drug addiction his dad and mom struggled with made matters even worse. And yet, through it all, he held on tightly to the music he had inside, always believing that one day it would set him free. But first he would have to heal what had been broken....
The Journey from Trauma to Healing
Re-connection.... Names and Identity....
John Two-Hawks is a person of Lakota, French, Anishinabe and Irish descent, and he honors all those bloodlines, though he is most immersed in the Lakota and Irish culture. Like many Native people of mixed ancestry, John is not enrolled. And though his personal identity was well established long ago, it wasn't until he received his Lakota name (Siyotanka) on the Pine Ridge reservation after participating as a rider in the Chief Bigfoot Memorial Ride that he finally felt fully connected to the Oglala Lakota community. As John was given his name that evening, he was told that he belonged and was part of the community. For someone who grew up far away from Lakota land, that entire experience was a long awaited moment of inclusion. John is humbled, honored, happy and thankful to have deep connections with the friends, hunka relatives and good people who know him there. John is also very proud to be Irish, and he has spent a lot of time in Ireland connecting to his lineage, the land and the people there. And so his identity as a human being is deeper than all these facets, and is not summed up by any one of the bloodlines he descends from. He is an empath, a contemplative and reflective person who has always tried to be compassionate, kind and understanding. He genuinely cares about helping people. This is the identity that matters most to John.
Re-connection.... Names and Identity....
John Two-Hawks is a person of Lakota, French, Anishinabe and Irish descent, and he honors all those bloodlines, though he is most immersed in the Lakota and Irish culture. Like many Native people of mixed ancestry, John is not enrolled. And though his personal identity was well established long ago, it wasn't until he received his Lakota name (Siyotanka) on the Pine Ridge reservation after participating as a rider in the Chief Bigfoot Memorial Ride that he finally felt fully connected to the Oglala Lakota community. As John was given his name that evening, he was told that he belonged and was part of the community. For someone who grew up far away from Lakota land, that entire experience was a long awaited moment of inclusion. John is humbled, honored, happy and thankful to have deep connections with the friends, hunka relatives and good people who know him there. John is also very proud to be Irish, and he has spent a lot of time in Ireland connecting to his lineage, the land and the people there. And so his identity as a human being is deeper than all these facets, and is not summed up by any one of the bloodlines he descends from. He is an empath, a contemplative and reflective person who has always tried to be compassionate, kind and understanding. He genuinely cares about helping people. This is the identity that matters most to John.
Taking It Back....
John's journey to healing and re-connection is rife with the familial legacy of confusing, winding and convoluted paths of forced assimilation, hidden heritage, mixed marriages, family secrets, infidelities and broken homes which are too often the reality of Native people with mixed ancestry. Paper does not always tell the whole story. John's surname, Two-Hawks, is tied to a maternal ancestor, thus it is not the surname he was born with, but it is a family name which he took back legally as a young man, and he has been humbled and honored to carry it on throughout his entire adult life. That difficult and courageous act was an assertion of restoration, a proclamation of healing, and a denouncement of personal and historical trauma. In short, it was the beginning of taking back so much that had been stolen, and healing so much that had been broken.
Throughout his youth and up to the present, Two-Hawks patiently waited and quietly listened and learned old ways, songs and traditions, and he holds those things closest to his heart. In the end, John is just who he is - the sum of all his parts and experiences... nothing more, nothing less. And he has never tried to be anything more or less than he is; just a human being doing his best to live a life that is positive, helpful and purposeful.
Speaking Up and Speaking Out....
It was in his mid-twenties that his activism and public speaking began, as he was asked to speak on Native contemporary and historical culture at universities and schools, working to educate students, breaking stereotypes and correcting misinformation about Indigenous people. John spoke publicly about the 'Indian mascot' issue, and sat on community discussion panels with prominent Native leaders at public schools to address it. The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media even wrote a letter in the 1990s commending him for his work on that issue.
John's journey to healing and re-connection is rife with the familial legacy of confusing, winding and convoluted paths of forced assimilation, hidden heritage, mixed marriages, family secrets, infidelities and broken homes which are too often the reality of Native people with mixed ancestry. Paper does not always tell the whole story. John's surname, Two-Hawks, is tied to a maternal ancestor, thus it is not the surname he was born with, but it is a family name which he took back legally as a young man, and he has been humbled and honored to carry it on throughout his entire adult life. That difficult and courageous act was an assertion of restoration, a proclamation of healing, and a denouncement of personal and historical trauma. In short, it was the beginning of taking back so much that had been stolen, and healing so much that had been broken.
Throughout his youth and up to the present, Two-Hawks patiently waited and quietly listened and learned old ways, songs and traditions, and he holds those things closest to his heart. In the end, John is just who he is - the sum of all his parts and experiences... nothing more, nothing less. And he has never tried to be anything more or less than he is; just a human being doing his best to live a life that is positive, helpful and purposeful.
Speaking Up and Speaking Out....
It was in his mid-twenties that his activism and public speaking began, as he was asked to speak on Native contemporary and historical culture at universities and schools, working to educate students, breaking stereotypes and correcting misinformation about Indigenous people. John spoke publicly about the 'Indian mascot' issue, and sat on community discussion panels with prominent Native leaders at public schools to address it. The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media even wrote a letter in the 1990s commending him for his work on that issue.
The Music Comes Alive....
In the early years, John was the lead singer of several very successful rock and metal bands. He had a natural talent for being a front man and brought sold-out crowds to their feet with his ability to energize fans. On two separate occasions, the bands he fronted split up just as they were starting to do big things. It was shortly after those disappointments that John went solo. He began his solo career with folk music, playing his acoustic guitar and singing, and cut his first album in this folk style. That first album has long been out of print. Sadly, it wasn’t until after his parents passed away that John's music career began to rise to new heights. A Native American Flute found it's way into his hands, and a new musical sound was born. Two-Hawks didn't go looking for the flute; the flute found it's way to him in the form of a gift. From the moment he first picked up that wooden instrument, he could play it as if he had played for a lifetime. And as he played, his personal trauma healed, and the music went forth and brought healing to others. And thus his gift with indigenous woodwinds and his tremendous talent as a music composer led John Two-Hawks to create a signature style of music with a message of unity and healing, an approach which still drives his music to this day. That message stems from John's identity as a person of mixed ancestry. That unique perspective, coupled with his deep understanding of what it means to be a survivor of severe abuse and trauma, has imparted to John compassion and empathy for all people, no matter what walk of life they come from.
In the early years, John was the lead singer of several very successful rock and metal bands. He had a natural talent for being a front man and brought sold-out crowds to their feet with his ability to energize fans. On two separate occasions, the bands he fronted split up just as they were starting to do big things. It was shortly after those disappointments that John went solo. He began his solo career with folk music, playing his acoustic guitar and singing, and cut his first album in this folk style. That first album has long been out of print. Sadly, it wasn’t until after his parents passed away that John's music career began to rise to new heights. A Native American Flute found it's way into his hands, and a new musical sound was born. Two-Hawks didn't go looking for the flute; the flute found it's way to him in the form of a gift. From the moment he first picked up that wooden instrument, he could play it as if he had played for a lifetime. And as he played, his personal trauma healed, and the music went forth and brought healing to others. And thus his gift with indigenous woodwinds and his tremendous talent as a music composer led John Two-Hawks to create a signature style of music with a message of unity and healing, an approach which still drives his music to this day. That message stems from John's identity as a person of mixed ancestry. That unique perspective, coupled with his deep understanding of what it means to be a survivor of severe abuse and trauma, has imparted to John compassion and empathy for all people, no matter what walk of life they come from.
Career Accolades
Rising Up....
John Two-Hawks has established himself as an extraordinary performing and recording artist whose success in the music industry can be directly attributed not only to his immense talent, but to the lessons he learned in his formative years. John overcame incredible odds to arrive where he is today, and he has always believed that when we heal we can rise up from the ashes and claim our dreams. Having risen from those ashes himself, he has laid claim to some very impressive accomplishments....
Making His Mark....
John's incredible music has earned him Grammy® and Emmy nominations, Platinum Album awards, been featured in Fox Searchlight movies, HBO films and programs by The History Channel. He has toured the world and performed for audiences as large as 12,000. Two-Hawks' signature brand of music is known and loved by millions around the world.
Rising Up....
John Two-Hawks has established himself as an extraordinary performing and recording artist whose success in the music industry can be directly attributed not only to his immense talent, but to the lessons he learned in his formative years. John overcame incredible odds to arrive where he is today, and he has always believed that when we heal we can rise up from the ashes and claim our dreams. Having risen from those ashes himself, he has laid claim to some very impressive accomplishments....
Making His Mark....
John's incredible music has earned him Grammy® and Emmy nominations, Platinum Album awards, been featured in Fox Searchlight movies, HBO films and programs by The History Channel. He has toured the world and performed for audiences as large as 12,000. Two-Hawks' signature brand of music is known and loved by millions around the world.
For John Two-Hawks, the road to healing and success has not been easy. The odds he overcame to arrive where he is today are just too numerous and too overwhelming to delve into in this brief article. Perhaps someday in his autobiography. In the face of all that John endured and survived throughout his life, his achievements feel even more dramatic. Many things have been written about John. Some are accurate and some are not. The truth is this: his music - all of it - springs forth from a heart that has known suffering, and experienced healing. This is what is so present in all of John's music, and imparts that unique, one-of-a-kind feeling of power and empathy. You can just listen, and know that you are not alone, and that you really do have a brother and a friend in John Two-Hawks.