Larry Spotted Crow Mann

Award-Winning Author, Playwright, Musician, Cultural Educator, Storyteller & Citizen of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts

Larry Spotted Crow Mann

Award-Winning Author, Playwright, Musician, Cultural Educator, Storyteller & Citizen of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts

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Biography

Larry Spotted Crow Mann is a multi-talented Indigenous artist with a career that spans over three decades. In 2021, Mann was the first recipient of the Indigenous Peoples Award from the NAACP in Massachusetts for his lifetime commitment to social justice and sharing the culture and music of his Tribe.

Educating, sharing and being a voice for social change has been at the heart of his journey. His work and passion have been fueled by many of the painful experiences he has endured growing up as a Native child in an urban environment. Interwoven in his story is how he overcame addiction at the age of 21. Many of his early teachings came from his grandfather, who helped him on the path to healing. Mann’s music, traditional stories and books are always accompanied by important history and the living presence of Indigenous people today.

Mann has harnessed his experiences to educate and pass on ways Native youth can find pathways to healing and a better life. Mann’s writings, music and cultural sharing have taken him to many parts of the world to help bring awareness and connect people, who also share in the passion and commitment to make our world a better place. One of the things Mann emphasizes to the young and old alike: You do not need to drink or do drugs to have a good time. He wants his life to be an example to Native youth of what can be accomplished when we take care of our body, mind and spirit.

Today, Mann, who has been sober for over 30 years, is a nationally acclaimed author and an award-winning writer, poet, cultural educator, traditional storyteller and tribal musician centered around the intersection of cultural and environmental awareness, spirituality and youth sobriety in the Indigenous community. In 2021, he became the first Native American person to perform the opening honor song for the Boston Marathon.

Mann is the author of four books including Drumming & Dreaming, The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving (2015 Native American WordCraft Circle of Honors winner), internationally acclaimed Tales from the Whispering Basket, and his most recent book The Adventures of Kehteau, a children’s book to promote social development skills in early education for Tribal Nations and all children around the world. Two of his books, Drumming & Dreaming, a spectacular collection of stories of Nipmuc legends, and Circle Tied to Mother Earth, are featured in a state-wide curriculum across Massachusetts as part of a Life Skills Training for teachers and students focused on alcohol and drug prevention for Native American teens.

Mann is director and founder of the Ohketeau Cultural Center, an organization that allows for the opportunity for interdisciplinary education through cultural workshops, dance, music, and art. Ohketeau, which means a “place to grow,” was founded to provide a safe, rewarding and enriching experience for the Indigenous community of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc region. The Ohketeau Cultural Center is the first-ever, all-Indigenous run and operated center in all of Western and Central Massachusetts.

Mann was also the 2021 Distinguished Artist in Residence at Bunker Hill Community College, where he is worked with staff and faculty to create Indigenous curricula across the spectrum of studies course. Additionally, collaborating on art restorative justice and workshops on Indigenous epistemology.

Previously, Mann served as a board member of the Nipmuc Cultural Preservation, an organization set up to promote the cultural, social and spiritual needs of Nipmuc people, as well as an educational resource of Native American studies. Mann also serves as a Review Committee Member for the Native American Poets Project at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University.

Mann travels to K-12 schools, colleges/universities, pow wows and other organizations sharing the music, culture and history of the Nipmuc people. Outside of Mann’s life work within Indigenous arts and culture, he has given lectures on issues ranging from Native American sovereignty and Indigenous identity to drug and alcohol prevention and eradicating health inequities for Native Americans and Indigenous communities worldwide.

Speaker Videos

Meet Larry Spotted Crow Mann

The Adventures of Kehteau! Teaching through Indigenous Storytelling! The perfect book for Early Ed!

Appropriation Vs Appreciation

Allyship and Storytelling

Water, Land, and Identity

Stolen Identity

Larry Spotted Crow Mann presents The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving

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Speech Topics

Native American Sovereignty: The Tribal Stories That Bind Us

An award-winning author and storyteller, Larry Spotted Crow Mann has dedicated his life to Native American sovereignty and preserving the independence and history of Indigenous identity. The art of Native American storytelling has been passed down for thousands of years, from generation to generation, helping to preserve the traditions and ideals of Indigenous communities around the world. Sharing stories from his internationally acclaimed debut book Tales from the Whispering Basket and other literature and collections, Mann’s oracle depiction of the Nipmuc people teaches us lessons of love, courage, kindness, respect, humility, truth and wisdom. By connecting these stories with today’s most talked about and debated issues, Mann helps audiences bridge the gap between the history of Indigenous people and the role that Indigenous communities play in our current world. Mann hopes that by sharing these stories and the rich history of his people, we can come together as one and start eradicating the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility barriers marginalized communities and BIPOC people face.

A Journey Through Cultural Survival & Healing

As a Native American living in a city, Larry Spotted Crow Mann, an award-winning author and storyteller, navigated a world where his heritage was either forgotten or mocked. At school, he faced relentless questions like "What are you?" and was told that his people were extinct. While back home, he sought refuge in his connection with nature and his family’s traditions, especially through the wisdom of his grandfather.

Mann’s experience is not unique. Many marginalized communities have long endured the burden of being “othered,” their histories erased or rewritten. Their experiences can profoundly affect their mental health and well-being. Traumatic events can also serve as triggers for substance misuse, according to The National Institutes of Health.

In this powerful and deeply personal presentation, Mann takes the audience on a journey from his early struggles with alcohol, his experiences with racism and the crushing weight of generational trauma to his profound awakening during a moment of clarity while watching a documentary about Christopher Columbus. This turning point in Mann's life inspired him to reclaim his Nipmuc identity and embark on a mission of cultural revival through the power of the sacred drum and his family's rich oral traditions. Over the last 35 years, Mann and his family have traveled the world, sharing songs, stories and the enduring spirit of the Nipmuc people. His story of resilience, healing and the power of reclaiming one's identity will leave audiences deeply moved and inspired to reflect on the importance of cultural preservation and self-empowerment.

The Holistic & Traditional Approach to Living Drug-Free

Since the landing of the Mayflower, alcohol has taken a horrible toll on Indigenous communities. Generation after generation has suffered from its grip. In a 2008 report from the CDC, 11.7 percent of deaths among Native Americans and Alaska Natives between 2001 and 2005 were alcohol-related, compared with 3.3 percent for the U.S.A. as a whole. Teen suicide, birth defects, break up of families, violence in the home and community and high incarceration rates are all common.

So, how do you stop the trajectory of alcohol and drug abuse? In this talk, Award-winning Author and Cultural Educator Larry Spotted Crow Mann offers additional alternatives to traditional treatments.

A Place of Creation & Growth

One of the most epic and important accomplishments of Larry Spotted Crow Mann’s career is when he opened up the first-ever all-run-and-operated Indigenous cultural center. The Ohketeau Cultural Center is the first and only one to ever be in all of Central and Western Massachusetts. The center is changing the lives in dynamic ways of all the Native American people in the region. From education, culture, theatre, art and social services, the center aims to share, uplift and provide opportunities for Native people of all ages. In this talk by Mann, you will learn about the center, the work and how you can get involved to support this life-changing endeavor.

The Untold Story of the Civil War

During the Civil War, the Nipmuc people sent nearly one-third of their men to serve in the Union Army. Even though Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens, they fought for freedom, nonetheless. In this talk, Award-winning Author and Storyteller, Larry Spotted Crow Mann shares their story based on his play, “Freedom in Season.” No less than 60 of these men were relatives of Mann, including two of his grandfathers. While they were away, many of these men had their land taken and children sent to White homes and farms as servants. You’ll learn this incredible yet heartbreaking story and how we were never taught the great sacrifice and contributions of these Native people.

The Art of Storytelling & Drumming

In many ways, storytelling and drumming are intrinsically connected. They both tell us a story that harnesses all our senses and helps us imagine alternate possibilities through our creative process. They are at once healing and teaching. Join Award-winning Author and Storyteller Larry Spotted Crow Mann for a journey into this creative space and see where it leads.

The Living Presence Of Nipmuc People

Many times, we hear the term Native American history. But what is just as important is the living presence — the people of today. In this talk, Award-winning Author and Storyteller Larry Spotted Crow Mann discusses the current issues of Nipmuc people — from the Land Back movement to removing mascots and the education and food sovereignty programs that are giving agency back to the community.

Eradicating Health Inequities for Native Americans

When it comes to health inequities, nearly no group of people have suffered more than American Indians and Alaska Natives. They continue to die at higher rates than other Americans in many categories, including chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes, unintentional injuries, assault/homicide, intentional self-harm/suicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. In this talk, Award-winning Author and Storyteller Larry Spotted Crow Mann identifies the root causes and how we can all help Indigenous people receive better medical care and the long run better health.

Writing & Poetry Workshops

Award-winning Author and Storyteller Larry Spotted Crow Mann, author of Drumming & Dreaming, The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving (2015 Native American WordCraft Circle of Honors winner), and the internationally acclaimed Tales from the Whispering Basket, identifies his process for writing and poetry and shares some of his methods that have been successful through the years.

Testimonials

"It was an absolute pleasure working with Larry. His presentation was equal parts beautiful, eye opening, heartbreaking, and inspirational. Many participants on the call were affected by his personal story as well as the history of struggles faced by the Nipmuc people and Native Americans as a whole. It was an honor moderating the Q&A portion with Larry - he made it feel like a conversation amongst friends and it was a really great experience for all involved."

- Vertex

“The event was wonderful, and Larry was great. We expected more people, but we were satisfied with 50. Thanks again for working on this with us.”

- Cambridge Public Library

“Larry was great. He was able to share his experiences and his work in a relatable way for our students. Larry answered all of our students' questions with thoughtfulness and connected with students individually following his talk.”

- Northfield Mount Hermon School

"Larry was compelling, informative, thoughtful and spoke a lot of truth to power to many that needed the conversation. His speech left some members in the crowd emotional, which in our eyes meant he touched people and allowed them to challenge the paradigms that restrain us from progress when it comes to Native American issues in the Us. His poetry was also exceptionally moving and powerful that added many artistic elements the crowd enjoyed. We would most certainly love to have him back in the future."

- Union College

"Thank you! It was a pleasure working with you and the team at APB. I am truly appreciative of the help with the adjustment in the scheduling. It made for a great day and Larry's presence and message was valued and well received. Again, thank you for being available and a true pleasure to work with."

- Concord Academy

"Educator, Community Leader and Activist Larry Spotted Crow Mann was one of the most profound and thoughtful speakers we've had providing both reflective and analytical frameworks for teaching our community members about Indigenous histories and cultures in Western Massachusetts."

- Mount Holyoke College

"I have heard many good things about Larry's presentation. Everyone said they learned so much and it was very interesting. People enjoyed listening to him speak about Native American culture, especially because he is from this area."

- Bryant University

"Everything went great. Larry was wonderful to hear from. He brought a great diversity of knowledge, and my students enjoyed meeting him. Larry shared personal stories and also brought his expertise from the many projects and initiatives he has worked on. He was very approachable and a great resource for my students. We especially appreciated the music and stories he shared."

- Suny College at Geneseo

"He was wonderful!! He really shared a lot of great things and our audience had some good questions. We look forward to a continued partnership with you!"

- S Ill University-Edwardsville