Kevin Locke (1954-2022), known by his Lakota name Tokeya Inajin, was Hunkpapa Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Anishinaabe of the White Earth Nation. Raised partly by an uncle who taught him Lakota language and tradition, Locke recorded his debut album, Love Songs of the Lakota, in 1982 and went on to release 13 albums. He is widely credited with reviving the Indigenous flute tradition after it had nearly disappeared, and was also a master of the hoop dance, performing in more than 80 countries. He received the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 1990. Locke died on September 30, 2022, at age 68.

Mood and energy: Ancestral, meditative, storytelling. Recommended uses: reflection, meditation, nature immersion.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 5 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: Credited as the pivotal figure in reviving the Indigenous flute tradition from near-extinction, and a National Heritage Fellow whose combined mastery of flute and hoop dance make him one of the most historically significant artists in this collection.