Arlie Neskahi
Lead Singer
206-781-3855
neskahi@earthlink.net

History... back in the Day...

The White Eagle Singers began in 1974, with the original members being the 7 sons of Allan and Mary Neskahi of Cortez, Colorado.  Arlie, second from the youngest, then 17, was honored by his brothers to be the lead singer and has carried that position for the last 40+ years.  During that time this group has traveled throughout North America sharing their music and learning the Powwow Ways.  They have won numerous singing championships, both in the US and Canada, composed hundreds of songs, and it is very rare that you attend a powwow today without hearing a White Eagle Song.  Many of their compositions have been recorded by other groups, such as, Cathedral Lakes, Blacklodge, Stoney Park, Southern Thunder, Eyabay, Red Bull, Red Leaf Takoja, to name a few.  Arlie was commissioned by the Gathering of Nations Powwow in the mid-80’s to compose the Gathering of Nations Song, which today is one of the most widely known powwow songs in North America.

Since the original group of Neskahi brothers there have been 5 generations of singers, and today most of these White Eagles are still singing with other groups or they are leaders of their own, for example, Jay Begaye and his Cathedral Lakes Singers.  Arlie wishes them all well wherever they may be, and remember, once a White Eagle, always a White Eagle!  It has become a proud singing history.

Sharing the Powwow Spirit...

Many other groups have taken inspiration from their singing style and songmaking endeavors.  Groups like Blacklodge, Blackstone, and Eyabay to name a few.  Kenny ScabbyRobe of BlackLodge approached Arlie around 1985 and offered him tobacco, asking if his young boys could sing his songs.  Terry Paskemin formed a close friendship in the early days of his Blackstone Singers with Jay Begaye and traded many songs and even collaborated on compositions.  And Arlie was honored to learn from the late Terry St. John of the Eyabay Singers when they traveled to sing at Red Lake, MN, how Terry was inspired by the creativity and originality of the White Eagle songs.  Terry was known up till his passing as a great lead singer and one of the finest composers in North America. Today Arlie is frequently asked by younger singers regarding drum & singing culture, history, protocols and song composition.