Frank Waln
Artist / Musician / Public Speaker
Frank Waln is an award winning multi-genre music artist, public speaker and educator representing the Lakota Nation from on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. With a Bachelor of Arts in Audio Arts & Acoustics from Columbia College Chicago, he has received numerous awards for his work, including three Native American Music Awards and fellowships from organizations such as NDN Collective and the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. Frank Waln’s creative contributions have graced museums and art institutions around the world, and he has held artist residencies at the University of Delaware, Southern Methodist University and Harvard University. He has made appearances on MTV, CNN and ESPN for his music, making him a leading voice in fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture and art. His role as a curator and his dedication to preserving Lakota culture have left an undeniable mark, most notably seen in the music interactive exhibit he curated at the Field Museum in Chicago. Currently, Frank Waln teaches in the music department at Western Michigan University. Frank Waln’s self produced and self published music is available on all streaming platforms.
