James Pakootas

(Colville Confederated Tribes)

James is a modern-day story weaver. He is an award-winning vocalist, producer, and filmmaker who cultivates change in the world through the power of words. James comes from people whose future, present and past are expressed through art, song, and movement. As a vocalist who creates conscious hip hop and spoken word poetry, he carries on this tradition. James tells stories - stories that empower, stories that fascinate, and stories that speak truth to our existence. 

The core of his content speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, a deep understanding of trauma, and connection; the never-ending pathway back to ourselves and Our Ancestors. Whether performing with his artist collective, creating new bodies of work in music and film, or mentoring teams of multi-generational artists, James influences people to rise above their circumstances and chase dreams worth living.

Notable Performances

Indigenous Youth Summer Camp with The NATIVE Project

Sinixt Canoe Journey “Welcome Home” Celebration

Sinixt Canoe Journey Opening Ceremony

“Empower Our Future” at Lake Roosevelt Jr./Sr. High School

“Coming Home” with The NATIVE Project

Gonzaga University Spring Dance Concert (2 Shows)

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Myrtle Woldson PAC

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Hult Center for The Arts

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Reser Arts Center

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Edmonds Center for The Arts

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Mt. Baker Theatre

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at The Spanish Ballroom

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Orcas Center

Pacific Northwest Tour with Pamyua at Capitol Theatre

“Purple Canyon Dreams” at Canyons of The Ancients National Monument

Ashe Cultural Center

Pa’i Foundation Grand Opening - Cultural Arts Center

“IllumiNative” with Tau Dance Theater

Lakota Artspace Jam Session Featured Artist

Terrain 14

Nelson Poetry Slam

Elephant Mountain Literary Festival

STOODIS Indigenous Film Festival (International Debut)

“Empower Our Future” Speaking and Concert Series

“Empower Our Future” Speaking and Concert Series

Administrators of Color Symposium & Expo

Chicago Cultural Center

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

Organ Mountains National Monument

King Range Mountains National Monument

The Kennedy Center - “We The Peoples Before”

Bears Ears National Monument

Canyons of The Ancients National Monument

Levitt at The Falls

Red Lake Youth Conference

Jazz Forum

National Museum of Jazz in Harlem

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (4 Shows Sold Out)

Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Blue Desert Tour - Farmington’s Riverfest Celebration

Blue Desert Tour - Sunflower Theatre

Blue Desert Tour - El Morro Theater

Folk Alliance International Official Showcase

Lands Conservation Foundation Summit

Lowdown Tulsa

Outpost Performance Space

Spokane, WA

Nelson, BC (CAN)

Revelstoke, BC (CAN)

Coulee Dam, WA

Spokane, WA

Spokane, WA

Spokane, WA

Eugene, OR

Beaverton, OR

Edmonds, WA

Bellingham, WA

Tacoma, WA

Orcas Island, WA

Yakima, WA

Dolores, CO

New Orleans, LA

Honolulu, HI

Honolulu, HI

Kyle, SD

Spokane, WA

Nelson, BC (CAN)

Nelson, BC (CAN)

Nelson, BC (CAN)

Coulee Dam, WA

Nespelem, WA

Spokane, WA

Chicago, IL

Missoula, MT

Las Cruces, NM

Shelter Cove, CA

Washington DC

Blanding, UT

Dolores, CO

Sioux Falls, SD

Red Lake, MN

Tarrytown, NY

New York, NY

Newark, NJ

New York, NY

Farmington, NM

Cortez, CO

Gallup, NM

Kansas City, MO

Albuquerque, NM

Tulsa, OK

Albuquerque, NM

ACCOLADES

2024

2024

2024

2023

2022

2022

2022

2022

2022

2022

2021

2020

2019

2019

Artist Trust Fellow

The Power of Storytelling Fellow

Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellow

First Peoples Fund “Cultural Capital” Fellow

Artist Trust GAP Awardee

Spokane Arts SAGA Awardee

Spokane Arts “Collaboration Award”

Western Arts Alliance “Native Launchpad” Awardee

Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”

Native American Music Awards Nominee for “Best Collaboration”

Tulsa Remote 1-Year Business Residency Awardee

Western Arts Alliance “Advancing Indigenous Performance” Fellow

First People’s Fund “Artist in Business Leadership” Fellow

Native American Music Awards Winner for “Best Rap/Hip Hop Video”

Seattle, WA

Spokane, WA

Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota

Rapid City, SD

Seattle, WA

Spokane, WA

Spokane, WA

Portland, OR

Niagara Falls, NY

Niagara Falls, NY

Tulsa, OK

Portland, OR

Rapid City, SD

Niagara Falls, NY