Darryl Tonemah visits Salmon River and Clarkson University

By Michael Griffin

Gr. 5 and 6 students from Salmon River Central and St. Regis Mohawk School were treated to a visit from Native American performer and speaker Darry Tonemah last week. Tonemah travels around North America speaking and singing, sharing both his talent and stories of his life.

An accomplished musician and entertainer, Tonemah, who is Kiowa/Comanche and Tuscarora, is a singer/songwriter in the purest sense. He combines the energy of rock, the intelligence of folk and the heart of country, to create a musical niche he calls “Native Americana.”

Tonemah is also internationally known as an agent of change for health and wellness. He currently works with the National Institutes of Health on diabetes prevention and lifestyle change research among Indian populations. He also works with Native groups across the United States and Canada promoting health and wellness.

Tonemah has recorded five award-winning and critically acclaimed CDs. His most recent, “Ink Blots and Random Thoughts,” was nominated for a Native American Music Award, and an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Award. Tonemah has also appeared in two movies.

He is a partner in Native Health Group, promoting health education and wellness worldwide, and was the behavioral scientist for the southwest sites of the National Institutes of Health Diabetes Prevention Program. He has worked in the field of health and wellness for over 20 years.

Tonemah has traveled the world promoting healthy behavior change as it relates to individuals as well as community wellness. He has conducted over 750 trainings and keynotes from grass roots communities to universities and Fortune 500 companies. He has spoken alongside top international speakers and researchers, including Bob Green from the Oprah Winfrey show. His use of humor and storytelling to connect with the audience has won him international accolades.

He is currently writing two books -- one on health behavior change, and the other the first of a trilogy of novels. He has also been approached about writing and scoring a screenplay, and will be pursuing those goals.

Tonemah has B.S. degrees in sociology, psychology and gerontology; an M.Ed. in community counseling; and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and cultural studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Following his visit to Salmon River, Tonemah traveled to Potsdam to perform in concert at Clarkson University. His show was sponsored by SPECTRUM and the American Indian Science & Engineering Society.

Tonemah also kicked off the World in Potsdam Diversity Festival on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Akwesasne where he was happy to assist the Akwesasne Freedom School by singing at their fundraiser indoor music festival.