Hawk has experience in many settings ranging from formal performance venues to community-based workshops to participation in local cultural events and dialogues. Whether in a kindergarten classroom, university event, Pow-Wow, cafe, museum, concert venue, international festival, or private gathering, Hawk most especially enjoys engaging people in dialogue.
Much of Hawk’s time with others is spent sharing his experiences and perspectives about life in hopes of acknowledging and honoring the Sacredness in each person and all cultures. The flutes have always been a powerful vehicle for this sharing. Not only do you experience music from a variety of different flutes, but he also shares wonderful stories & humor that reminds us of the gifts that Life has to offer.
London Mozart Players (LMP)
As a result of Hawk’s work with international events recognizing the 400th anniversary of the establishment of England’s first colony in the Americas, Hawk was invited to England as a representative of Native American tradition and cultural life, and the shared histories and challenges of relations between Native and British peoples. Some of his activities in England included:
- Hawk was commissioned to compose an original piece of music that was arranged for an ensemble of LMP classical musicians. The piece was performed in three old churches in Lincolnshire, England.
- Musical presentations and talks with young students in several schools, including solo performances and together with the LMP musicians
- Public talks and musical presentations with professional musicians from a variety of musical genres
- He participated in a formal historical event marking the importance of Captain John Smith in English history and life, which included the attendance of politicians and ambassadors.
“Quebec 400”
Quebec City, Canada
Recommendation of the Native Arts at the New England Foundation for the Arts, Hawk was invited to participate as the Native musical ambassador from Maine in the international celebration of the 400th anniversary of Quebec. After hearing his first performance, organizers commented on Hawk’s contribution as a Native artist to the spirit of the event a crossroads of people from different cultures. In honor of their recognition of his work, he was invited to do the opening for the evening’s events.
Native Arts at the New England Foundation for the Arts
With a generous grant from Native Arts, Hawk has conducted three workshops in Native communities throughout New England, teaching his flute-making skills to Native children and adults. His primary goal in these and upcoming workshops is to foster inspiration about the preservation of traditional musical crafts.
American Folk Festival
At one of the most important folk festivals in the United States, Hawk received a standing ovation for his performance.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Washington, D.C.
Hawk was the first person to perform in the Potomac Rotunda on the summer solstice. The room filled with brilliant rainbows as the sun shone through a large prism within the round room. Flute music danced with the light, prompting sighs and laughter and wide-eyed wonder as magic filled the air. He also performed on the stage of their outdoor amphitheater. Both venues were filled to capacity.
Cultural Survival
Cultural Survival is an internationally recognized not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promoting the rights, voices and visions of Indigenous peoples all around the world. For the past several years, Hawk has been invited to participate in many of their Bazaars, where skilled Indigenous artisans and craftspeople from many cultures and continents exhibit and share their work.
New Orleans Jazz Festival
Invited for two years to play for the Native Village, Hawk was very well received by the Festival’s audiences. He also played in impromptu musical jams with many other musicians, one of which was given a standing ovation.
First Night, Boston
First Night Boston is the country’s oldest and largest New Year’s arts celebration, where over 1000 artists perform each year. For two years, all of Hawk’s performances have been standing room only!
Harvard University
Hawk provided the opening ceremony for the commemoration marking the 350th anniversary of the Harvard Indian School, which had special meaning since one of the first students to attend Harvard’s Indian school over three centuries ago was also Nipmuc. He’s also worked with the Divinity School at Harvard.
Hurricanes Katrina & Rita
Hawk received a Musical Messages Spirit Award from Sound Psychologist, Inc. in recognition of the profound, healing impact of his Keeping the Fire CD on those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dr. Susan, President of Sound Psychology, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Louisiana, stated that “Hawk Henries’ music has been an essential part of our programs for the community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Faith Quilt Project
Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA
Hawk played together with other Indigenous musicians from all over the world, in a weaving-together of many genres of music from diverse cultures. This month-long celebration of faith, arts, and community culminated in the exhibit of fifty-seven quilts that were created over the course of three years through the collaboration of many different congregations, organizations, families, and individuals.
Tunica Biloxi Pow Wow
Marksville, Louisiana
Hawk participated in this large regional and nationally known Pow Wow for 12 consecutive years, where his work is highly regarded by both Native and non-Native people.
Recordings and Films
Original Composition CD’s
Keeping the Fire”
Hawk’s most recent recording speaks to the spiritual fire within all of Creation. Poems accompany each song that invite each of us to tend our fires of self, spirit, and life.
“Voices”
Songs from the heart inspired by the many voices of Creation
Film and Television
“Mystic Voices: The Story of the Pequot War”
www.pequotwar.com
Emmy-award winning film co-produced by Guy Perrotta and Charles Clemmons. Hawk’s music is integral to this PBS television film which received two Emmy Awards.
“Penobscot Basketmaker: Barbara Francis”
www.folkfilms.com
Emmy-nominated film directed by Jim Sharkey. The film, on which several of Hawk’s original compositions appear, also received the Award of Distinction at the Indian Summer Image Awards in 2003.
Public Broadcasting System
“Anyplacewild: Highways of Prehistory”
“Journey to Wissatinnewag”
“M. C. Richards: The Life Within”
Louisiana Public Broadcast Network
“Promise to the Sun”
“Poverty Point Earthworks”
“The Marksville Historical Site”
Other places to hear Hawk’s music
“Tribal Winds”, a compilation CD of Native flute music on the Earthbeat! label.
“The Gathering: A Modern Thanksgiving Story”, an audio CD distributed by Public Radio International and narrated by Blair Brown
“Walk Softly on the Earth, The Words and Wisdom of Narragansett Elder Big Toe”, an audio CD of a radio program
“Plant Spirit Medicine”, an audio book Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Mashantucket, CT — Gifts of the Forest, audio CD
Fruitland’s Museum, Harvard, MA — Introductory Video
Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME — played in their Wabanaki exhibits gallery
State Museum of Pennsylvania — played in their anthropology-archaeology gallery
Websites
Colt Creek State Park, Lakeland, FL
Odamogan Living History Museum, Litchfield, ME
To contact Hawk ~ hawkhenries@hotmail.com~ (207) 460-2203
or visit Hawk on Facebook