WAYNE SILAS, JR.

About the Artist

Born in 1973 in Chicago, Wayne Silas, Jr. is from the Grignon family of the Menominee and the Silas family of the Oneida. He belongs to the Bear Clan. Raised in "Chicagoland" Wayne has been singing and dancing in the Pow-Wow circle since he was a young child. His earliest experiences of singing and dancing occurred while living amongst the Native American community of Chicago at the A.I.C. (American Indian Center of Chicago). Wayne's father first taught him all about singing and showed him the rules, regulations, respect, & etiquette that go along with that responsibility. His first singing experiences were with a local drum group known as Chi-Town Boys. He learned the basic ways of the drum from his father and other singers notably Carlos Peynetsa (Zuni), George Garvin (Meskwaki/Ho-Chunk), Ben Bearskin, Sr. and Ben Bearskin, Jr. (both of the Winnebago/Dakota Sioux), Herman Logan (Winnebago), & Myron Pyawasit (Menominee/Potowatomi). These lessons, teachings and "ways" have brought him tremendous life, strength, beauty, and respect for his Native American culture through song and dance!

Recordings