Chief Ghost Dancer

Born and raised in the Florida swamps and Alabama mountains, Ghost Dancer’s whole life has been steeped in the lifeways and traditions of his Southeastern Muscogee and Ani-yun-wiya ancestors. For more than 60 years, Ghost has studied, lived, experienced, and taught these traditions for the benefit of hundreds of others and has been described by those who know him best as a “gentle giant” and a “walking encyclopedia” of Southeastern Creek culture and history.

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Ghost is an accomplished, self-taught artist in a variety of media and beloved as a drummer, storyteller, insightful counselor, and teacher. He is a traditionalist pledged to honor and bring back lost knowledge of the old ways of his people. During his lifetime, Ghost has travelled widely among Native Peoples across the country and western Canada and has a working knowledge of many Native cultures, traditions and languages.

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For much of his life, Ghost Dancer was an activist fighting for the civil and religious rights of all Native Americans. He played a significant role in the passage of The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 as well as the clarifying AIRFA Amendments passed into law in 1994. Ghost is also a disabled veteran and has been an outspoken advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities. One of his greatest dreams is to establish a traditional Native American Spirit Run as an annual event for the benefit of all veterans and first responders suffering with PTSD and other disabilities.