Jan Michael Looking Wolf

Musician/Educator/Author/Humanitarian

An enrolled Kalapuya Tribal Elder of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde who lives within his indigenous homelands in Oregon and honored Army Veteran, Jan Michael Looking Wolf is a world renowned Native American flute musician and educator that shares his powerful message of the tradition of ‘ONE HEART’. In short, it is a universal truth that everyone is equal regardless of the color of our skin, tribal affiliation, language we speak, income, gender, faith, nationality or personal beliefs. ‘ONE HEART' is the recognition of Unity through Diversity.

Jan Michael is a direct descendant of Santiam Kalapuya Chief Joseph Sangretta, a signer of the Willamette Valley Treaty.  Jan speaks his Tribal language and stays closely involved with the Tribal communities.

Following two strokes from a rare hereditary enzyme disorder prone to Native American people, Jan Michael was a paraplegic for almost a year in his late 20s.  His prognosis was to be paralyzed the rest of his life and never walk again.  After returning to his Tribal Reservation, Jan Michael received a miraculous healing and recovery. It was during that time that he connected deeply with the Native American Flute on his Tribal Reservation.

Traveling a broad range of musical styles with 30 commercially released albums on 6 different record labels spanning 3 decades, his recordings have garnered 74 awards and a top 10 ranking in the global radio charts.   In addition to his own albums, Jan Michael has collaborated with many other well-known artists, introducing the Native American inspired music into genres such as folk, instrumental, pop, blues, rock, and hip-hop/rap. He has composed arrangements for video productions and feature film. 

Jan Michael has dedicated his life to performing, teaching, and sharing the beauty of musical self-expression through the Native American Flute and message of One Heart.

“During the journey here, I have found it is true that we are all related. Everyone across mother earth comes from an indigenous ancestor.  Music is the common language that we all share, it can bring healing for the world.” 

One of the most honored Native American recording artists in history, he has also received 14 Global Music Awards, an Indigenous Music Award, 2 Indian Summer Music Awards, 7 Native American Music Awards with 32 nominations there, the OFP Peace Star Award, and 2 One World Music Radio Awards for Best Native American Recording.

Click here for a full list of awards and honors that Jan Michael has received.

Following years of research of the Native American Flute, Jan Michael created a curriculum for an accredited university course which he has instructed regularly for over 20 years. He has authored two published books: “One Heart - Journey with the Native American Flute”, an inclusive eBook,  and “The First Flute”, an inspirational fictional story published by Red Deer Press.

Through his university courses and workshops, Jan Michael has taught over 20,000 people how to play the Native American Flute in person.  Plus thousands more with his On Demand Video Workshops and Lessons.  He is commonly referred to as the leading educator of the Native American Flute.

During the pandemic, he founded the World Flute Circle, an international group of flute players that played online, and an international Native American Flute awards program.

With help from his family, Jan Michael provides an honor-recognition awards program for players and makers of the Native American Flute.  The One Heart Award is presented for outstanding contribution to the community with the NAF.

Jan Michael continues to perform, teach, and advocate for peace around the world.  

His appearances can vary from land acknowledgements with an honor song on his flute, full concerts, presentations on indigenous music, lectures, keynote speaker, to workshops, lectures at universities, and special performances with his band Native Rose.

“May you always walk in Beauty, may you always live in Peace, and may we all join together in Harmony.”