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Nik Alexander (2)

Native American music icon Nik Alexander—lead singer and guitarist of the Seattle and San Francisco-based group Winterhawk, who led his all-Native heavy metal band to opening for big names, including Motley Crue, in the 1980s—walked on July 5, 2017 after battling with cancer. Nik Alexander, the front man for the 1980s Native rock band Winterhawk, stood for a powerful message of Native music. Nik Alexander and his metal band Winterhawk were known for hard riffs and powerful lyrics, and for the donning of Native attire and regalia during live performances that embodied a Native activist’s spirit. The band opened for such musical icons as Tina Turner, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, Steve Miller and Van Halen. The band formed in 1978 and separated in 1984, according to Spirit of Metal. Alexander’s fellow bandmates included Alfonso Kolb, Doug Love, Gordon Campbell, Frankie Joe, Jon Gibson and Frank J. Diaz de Leon and Jim Boyd. Nik Alexander was a Cree musician who believed his band’s music presented a valuable message to the world. “Music is a very sacred part of Native American lifestyles,” he said prior to his death in a statement on the Discogs music website that features his music. “If a person of a tribe possesses a rattle or a drum or a stick to beat the drum, those articles are treated with great respect. [The band] Winterhawk carried that same reverence toward music, because the ability to play music is a gift.” In addition to wearing pieces of regalia during shows, accompanied by lyrics and statements embracing his heritage, Nik Alexander also believed in sharing a positive message with young people. “I believe in setting an example for young people,” Alexander said on the Discog’s site. “We carry high the values our forefathers did: keeping our environment clean, taking care of the creatures, including ourselves. If there’s any music that is close to traditional Native American music, a war dance beat, it’s straight rock and roll.” In 1987, Alexander spoke in front of 600 at the Yellowhead Tribal Council’s youth conference in Canada, stating “Look at me, I’m a rock musician… and I don’t do drugs, drink or smoke.” In 1992, he attended a Los Angeles protest of the Rose Parade, which featured a descendant of Christopher Columbus as the grand marshal. “Red children,” he said, who already suffer low self-esteem should not have to turn on their televisions to see the Rose Parade glorify the man who helped destroy American Indian culture.” In 1995, Alexander got into film with roles in Cheyenne Warrior and God’s Army. In 2000, he took part in two more: Red Letters and Escape to Grizzly Mountain. And in 2017, he appeared in You Have a Nice Flight. Nik Alexander passed away July 5, 2017 after battling with cancer.