April 28, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 27: Rose Red Elk did here Sunday evening what she has been doing for more than 20 years in her homeland - sending people into trance with her artistic presentations of rhythmic Native American music.

Also known as Wieka Luta Win (Red Feather Woman), the Native American storyteller, singer, songwriter and author brought energy to the audience as she shared her ancestral stories as told to her by her father and grandfather.

The innovative approach in presenting the show with images on the slide was well chosen. It helped to involve the young and old from the beginning of the show as Rose recalled history with respect.

From tales, deeply infused with emotions, of the white buffalo calf woman descending from heavens to help her people to the story of the four-coloured medicine wheel, the master storyteller entertained and moved, giving hope for our planet and for future generations.

The winner of the Native American Music Award in 2006, some songs had been gifted to her through dreams while others were inspired by the stories told to her, and her life experiences.

Rose had the best reaction from the audience later, when she picked up her acoustic guitar and sang with the relaxing and sensitive audience singing along, “We are the Keepers of the Earth, A heritage given to us through birth, Creator took us by the hand, and said This is our Land.”

“Wish she could bring her music to Islamabad,” said Mehreen Ahmed in the audience.

Adding to the already excellent atmosphere and the joyous experience in the musically rich Lok Virsa Auditorium, famed Balochi folk singer Akhtar Channar controlled the audience for the next half hour or so. He sang compositions like ‘NarBeth’ and ‘Habban Nirkhan’ - stories of his land of tribes and warriors.

Channar had the skilled sensitivity to give audience that connection as he swirled and gently danced. And hearts overflowed with joy while Ali Ahmed - all about a lead banjo player - poured his solo out through his six-string banjo producing a beautiful balance of tone and timbre, Zahid Hussain complemented with clever harmonisation to the rhythms of Dholak.

The graceful, elegant playing of these artists was bound to win friends for this music wherever there were listeners who relished the rare and beautiful.