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.
Reviews
6 reviews
J H.
May 27, 2026At the start of an American Cruise
White Bull was extraordinary. He brings old stories to relevance in today’s world. His story of the history of the Nez Perce treaty with the US was particularly timely. Well done, sir
Hired as: Storyteller
Madeline L.
July 3, 2023Wonderful, informative presentation
Mr. Spencer was a joy to work with and brought his unique and thoughtful perspective to the Centennial Celebration at our Lodge. His presentation was the highlight of the day and many guests commented on how much they enjoyed hearing traditional stories and Nez Perce history. We would welcome him back any time!
Hired as: Arts/Entertainment Speaker, Educational Entertainment, Storyteller
Michelle H.
October 28, 2021Educational 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
Kenne W.
October 12, 2021A 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
Courtney W.
November 3, 2020Amazing 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
Booking information
Price range: $250-$1500
Languages: English, Nez Perce, Ojibwe
Gig length: 30 - 60 minutes
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.
Past booked events
December 2025
11
Thursday
Grand Rapids, Mn
All-day event
10
Wednesday
travel day
All-day event
November 2025
21
Friday
Emerson, Georgia
10:00am - 12:00pm
14
Friday
Chango
All-day event
13
Thursday
chango
All-day event
08
Saturday
ACL
7:30pm - 10:00pm
07
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
05
Wednesday
Somers, NY
All-day event
01
Saturday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
October 2025
31
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
26
Sunday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
25
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
24
Friday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
22
Wednesday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
21
Tuesday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
20
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
19
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
19
Sunday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
18
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
17
Friday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
13
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
12
Sunday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
12
Sunday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
11
Saturday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
10
Friday
Nat/Geo
4:30pm - 6:00pm
08
Wednesday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
07
Tuesday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
06
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
05
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
05
Sunday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
04
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
03
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
03
Friday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
September 2025
29
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
28
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
28
Sunday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:00pm
27
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
26
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
26
Friday
Nat/Geo
4:00pm - 6:30pm
24
Wednesday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
23
Tuesday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
22
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
21
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
20
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
19
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
15
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
14
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
13
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
12
Friday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
10
Wednesday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
09
Tuesday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
08
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
07
Sunday
ACL Ship
7:30pm - 10:00pm
06
Saturday
ACL
10:00am - 12:00pm
05
Friday
ACL
8:30pm - 10:00pm
01
Monday
ACL
10:00am - 1:00pm
August 2025
31
Sunday
ACL
8:30pm - 10:00pm
29
Friday
Henry's Lake
6:00pm - 7:30pm
27
Wednesday
Holiday Inn
10:00am - 1:00pm
November 2024
22
Friday
School Assembly
9:30am - 11:00am
•
Paris, TN
November 2023
17
Friday
School Assembly
9:30am - 11:00am
•
Paris, TN
September 2023
02
Saturday
Nonprofit Event
10:30am - 3:30pm
•
Pasco, WA
July 2023
01
Saturday
Fair
2:00pm - 3:30pm
•
Joseph, OR
November 2022
21
Monday
School Assembly
10:00am - 11:00am
•
Paris, TN
15
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
13
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
01
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
October 2022
30
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
18
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
17
Monday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:30pm
16
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
15
Saturday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:30pm
04
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
03
Monday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:30pm
02
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
01
Saturday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:30pm
September 2022
27
Tuesday
QUEST
3:30pm - 5:30pm
25
Sunday
QUEST
3:30pm - 5:30pm
20
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
18
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
06
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
04
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
August 2022
23
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
21
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
09
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
07
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
July 2022
26
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
24
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
12
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
10
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
June 2022
28
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
26
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
14
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
12
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
May 2022
31
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
29
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
17
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
17
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
15
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
03
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
03
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
01
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:00pm
April 2022
25
Monday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:00pm
23
Saturday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:00pm
19
Tuesday
Empress
1:00pm - 2:30pm
17
Sunday
Empress
11:00am - 12:30pm
11
Monday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:00pm
09
Saturday
Sea Bird
3:30pm - 5:30pm
05
Tuesday
Empress
1:30pm - 2:30pm
03
Sunday
empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
October 2021
27
Wednesday
School Assembly
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Gallatin, TN
25
Monday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
23
Saturday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
11
Monday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
09
Saturday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
05
Tuesday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
03
Sunday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
September 2021
27
Monday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
25
Saturday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
April 2021
22
Thursday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
20
Tuesday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
November 2020
17
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
15
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
03
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
03
Tuesday
Virtual Event
9:00am - 9:45am
•
Brooklyn, NY
01
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
October 2020
30
Friday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
28
Wednesday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
25
Sunday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
23
Friday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
20
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
18
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
11
Sunday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
09
Friday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
06
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
04
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
September 2020
30
Wednesday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
28
Monday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
27
Sunday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
25
Friday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
22
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
20
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
08
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
06
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
August 2020
25
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
23
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
11
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
09
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
July 2020
28
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
26
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
14
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
12
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
June 2020
30
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
28
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
16
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
14
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
02
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
May 2020
31
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
19
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
17
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
05
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
03
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
April 2020
23
Thursday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
21
Tuesday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
21
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
19
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
18
Saturday
Nat Geo
6:00pm - 7:30pm
07
Tuesday
American Empress
1:00pm - 2:00pm
05
Sunday
American Empress
11:00am - 1:00pm
March 2020
05
Thursday
School Assembly
6:30pm - 7:15pm
•
Halsey, OR
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.
Influences and inspiration
It is tribal elders that have influenced me the most. However, through the years I have drawn inspiration from motivation speakers like Clyde the Cajun Harris and Native comedian Charlie Hill.