Ryan is a 20year-old Lakota/Apache mix blood from the Hill Country of Texas.
At the age of 1 Ryan was given the Lakota name wanbli cikala (Little Eagle). Ryan spent most of his early life in San Antonio where he was able to learn the ways of his ancestors from his Grandmother.
When Ryan turned 16 he met a Hidatsa Elder that went by the name Mato. From there Ryan started to get involved in the local Powwows. At the Powwow in Bandera, Texas, Ryan picked up a Harjo cane flute.
He played this flute as if he had been playing for years. Ryan was a natural with the flute. A few months later his father got a new job in Georgia where Ryan and his father had moved to. Now living in Georgia, he started to become part of the Powwow more and more.
Ryan eventually got a new cedar flute. Wanting to lean more, he joined a local flute circle in Atlanta where he met flutemaker, Dana Ross. With the help of Dana and many others Ryan learn how hone his craft.
Eventually Dana had Ryan meet Jimmy Yellowhorse, who gave Ryan his first chance of performing at the Red Clay Powwow. At this Powwow Ryan also began to start dancing.
Thanks to Dana Ross and his Father Andrew ( Currently a Flute Player for Native Drum group Women of Heart), Ryan began to become part of the Georgia Powwow Circuit. While on the circuit Ryan learned how to be a part of his culture and how to be proud of it, and also Ryan got to meet many good people that he is glad to call his family.
