Tomahawk Circle: An Ojibwe Family Band

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For the members of Tomahawk Circle, playing in a rural family band is a labor of love. Founded in 2006, the Lac Du Flambeau Ojibwe drum group got its name from the street on which the founding members grew up.

William Mitchell Jr. is the founder, lead singer, and drum master. He put the group together with his father, William Mitchell Sr. as well as his brother, Henry, along with other members of their close-knit family.

“We all lived within walking distance of each other back in the day when these guys were little kids,” said Mitchell Jr.

At any given time, there are at least ten singers in the group. They perform across the country, and Canada, at contest powwows. If they are short a singer, they will draw from a regional network of “drum brothers” who can sit in and help out with singing for a competition.

“Every powwow we go to, we’re pretty crewed up,” said Mitchell Jr.

The group had to take time off from competing this past summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about how the group handled the hiatus, Mitchell Jr. replied, “We handled it ok. A few of our singers did catch it and are doing well now. It just felt weird not singing and traveling this year. Hopefully things get better and we can travel next summer.”

https://wisconsinlife.org/story/tomahaw ... mily-band/