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Back to Storytellers
J.R. Spencer

J.R. Spencer

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5.0 
(4 reviews)
  • Lapwai, ID
  • Storyteller
  • Travels nationwide
  • $250-$1500
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Promotional video thumbnail 1 for J.R. Spencer Watch

JR Spencer of the Nez Perce Tribe aboard the American Empress Steamboat

Promotional video thumbnail 2 for J.R. Spencer Watch

White Bull on the SS Legacy

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Media Overview Reviews Booking Info
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Overview

For Native people, a legend was more than just an hour's entertainment. Behind the adventures and trials of verious heros and villains, important lessons were always to be found, because these legends were the first formal education a Native child recieved. Through these stories, a child gathered practical information about their physical surroundings. For example, the story, "Skunk Goes Looking For His Scent," mentions the names of 22 plants and tells whether they taste sweet or bitter.
Join J.R. on a journey going all the way back to Legend days. Listen to the haunting sounds of the Elderberry flute and how the first flute was made.


4 Reviews

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Verified Review
Michelle H. • October 28, 2021

Educational and Entertaining

Mr. Spencer captivated his audience at my school! All of the feedback from the kids has been positive. We appreciate him telling great Indigenous stories and playing music from the Nez Perce people. We hope to see him again!

Hired as:
Educational Entertainment, Native American Entertainment, Storyteller
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Kenne W. • October 12, 2021

A crowd pleaser!

Mr Spencer performed weekly on my cruise ship. He was always an audience favorite, provoking great response and engagement with our guests. They couldn't get enough of him.

Hired as:
Arts/Entertainment Speaker, Educational Entertainment, Native American Entertainment, Storyteller
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Verified Review
Courtney W. • November 3, 2020

Amazing Presentation

Mr. Spencer joined our 5th grade for a Zoom meeting for a virtual event. He was extremely flexible and accommodating. He presented multiple stories that connected to our unit on Nez Perce beliefs and values. He also did a question/answer session with students. Everyone was captivated by his stories and his traditional clothing. He exceeded our expectations.

Hired as:
Educational Entertainment, Storyteller
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Verified Review
Mary A. • March 26, 2020

School Preformanace

Mr. Spencer was very easy to work with and his performance was awesome. Our staff enjoyed the performance as did most of the students. The stories he told were relevant, our fifth grade classes had just finished a unit on Native Americans where they had read the same story that he told. The music was inspiring, relaxing and enjoyable.

Hired as:
Educational Entertainment

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Booking Info

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  • Set List

Price Range: $250-$1500

Gig Length: 30 - 60 minutes

Languages: English, Nez Perce, Ojibwe

What to Expect

Take a journey with J.R. back to the time of Tit-wah-tit (Legend Days), and learn how Coyote created people, why animals look the way they do today and why they behave the way they do. Learn why the landscape id shaped the way it is, and how the knowledge of the people was passed down from generation to generation.
You'll hear stories and music of the Nez Perce people. You will laugh and have a good time; and if you're not careful, you may just learn something along the way.
For Native people, a legend was more than just an hour's entertainment. By hearing these adventures again and again, a child gathered a great deal of practical information about their surroundings. These stories were the first formal education that a native child would receive. For example, the story, "Skunk Goes Looking For His Scent," mentions the names of 22 plants and tells whether they taste sweet or bitter. A child would learn to identify the markings and characteristic behavior of various animals.
Perhaps the most important lessons to be found in these tales, are of a moral nature. To help a child become a good person was the main goal of their education.

About

J.R. Spencer, also known as Whitebull, is a Nez Perce/Ojibwe artisan, educator, and performing artist of Native culture and living traditions of his people. J.R. brings to audiences, the rich history of native stories and traditional music in a moving, fun, and entertaining manner. He strives to present the history and culture of Native people in a lighthearted yet respectful way. He gives to audiences a sense of history, and aspects of Native culture that you won't find in history books. J.R. shows the world that there is a lighter side to being Native. In both recordings and video productions, he takes audiences on a journey through time, from Legend Days to modern times, and back again.

"Most people focus on the conflicts our people had through history, there by identifying us by those conflicts. And many Natives have adopted that identity. This is totally wrong. Because we Native people are so much more than that. We have so much more to offer the world, culturally, spiritually, and intellectually." -J.R. Spencer

Additional Booking Notes

I'll require a room for a quick wardrobe change, a side table (card table or piano bench), and a bottle of water. A microphone will be required depending on the size of the venue. I prefer a lapel or headset type of mic, but a microphone on a boom stand will be sufficient.

Services Offered

Storyteller Arts/Entertainment Speaker Educational Entertainment Motivational Speaker Native American Entertainment Voice Actor

Upcoming Booked Events

July 01, 2023 • 2:00pm - 3:30pm Fair

Past Booked Events

November 21, 2022 • 10:00am - 11:00am School Assembly
November 15, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
November 13, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
November 01, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
October 30, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
October 18, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
October 17, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sea Bird
October 16, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
October 15, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sea Bird
October 04, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
October 03, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sea Bird
October 02, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
October 01, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sea Bird
September 27, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm QUEST
September 25, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm QUEST
September 20, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
September 18, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
September 06, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
September 04, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
August 23, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
August 21, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
August 09, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
August 07, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
July 26, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
July 24, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
July 12, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
July 10, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
June 28, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
June 26, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
June 14, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
June 12, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
May 31, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
May 29, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
May 17, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
May 17, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
May 15, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
May 03, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
May 03, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
May 01, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:00pm Empress
April 25, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:00pm Sea Bird
April 23, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:00pm Sea Bird
April 19, 2022 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm Empress
April 17, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:30pm Empress
April 11, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:00pm Sea Bird
April 09, 2022 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm Sea Bird
April 05, 2022 • 1:30pm - 2:30pm Empress
April 03, 2022 • 11:00am - 1:00pm empress
October 27, 2021 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm School Assembly
October 25, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 23, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 11, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 09, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 05, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 03, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 27, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 25, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
April 22, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
April 20, 2021 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
November 17, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
November 15, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
November 03, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
November 03, 2020 • 9:00am - 9:45am Virtual Event
November 01, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
October 30, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 28, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 25, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 23, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 20, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
October 18, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
October 11, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 09, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
October 06, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
October 04, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
September 30, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 28, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 27, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 25, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
September 22, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
September 20, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
September 08, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
September 06, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
August 25, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
August 23, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
August 11, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
August 09, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
July 28, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
July 26, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
July 14, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
July 12, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
June 30, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
June 28, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
June 16, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
June 14, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
June 02, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
May 31, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
May 19, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
May 17, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
May 05, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
May 03, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
April 23, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
April 21, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
April 21, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
April 19, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
April 18, 2020 • 6:00pm - 7:30pm Nat Geo
April 07, 2020 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm American Empress
April 05, 2020 • 11:00am - 1:00pm American Empress
March 05, 2020 • 6:30pm - 7:15pm School Assembly

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Set List

I always begin with the story of How Coyote Created People, and How Coyote Created the Columbia River. These stories best demonstrate how Native people used stories to explain how things came to be.
I then do a brief explanation of the Native Flute and play 2 songs. I then will explain how our people got the name "Nez Perce". I then talk about our relationship with the horse and our role in the development of the Appaloosa breed.
I then talk about the treaty of 1855 and how that treaty made the Walla Walla treaty tribes unique. I then end with a short story about how many of the problems we have had in history as well as many of the problems we have today, can be attributed to simple misunderstandings.

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