This YouTube video just makes my heart feel good. My people are from the Smokies, so far up the hollers that you can see someone coming for 2 miles or so and they cross 3 county and 2 state lines in that last 2 miles of 2 track. This video takes me home.
Reggie Duke recorded and posted this video of his visit to the Smokies. I usually visit every spring, a ritual that has been part of my life for the past 30+ years, but this spring, I didn’t get to visit.
Thanks to Reggie and YouTube, this is my virtual visit, and I’m sharing it with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZo_KfS1_zE
Reggie set his beautiful photos to the music of one of my favorite Native artist groups, Walela, a group of three exceptionally talented, spiritual Cherokee women.
You can see more of Walela here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03luO1WMUik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDfVY_-yTv0
A medley here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMjPlZBqB5Q&list=PL0B3849EAF70207FD
Watch, listen and wash your spirit clean…..
Native Heritage Project 
Roberta, that sent chills up my spine. I love Native American music, and the views he captured were amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
check out “Walker Calhoun.” He was highly respected Cherokee elder that promoted keeping the Cherokee language alive with the children, he has at least one cd ive seen on ebay. and on pbs. he even played the banjo! sadly he passed away last year or 2011.
Roberta, have you seen the documentary on 3 Appalachian women from different backgrounds? The first one interviewed is 79 year old Amanda Swimmer from Big Cove. I could sit and listen to her for days, reminds me of my own grandmother. It’s on youtube also: