By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor

He’s only 43, but with 15 compact discs, two DVDs and 39 national awards to his credit, Tribal member Jan Michael Looking Wolf Reibach was recently named Spirit Wind Record’s first Silver Arrow Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
“I’m blown away,” Reibach, who is also the Tribe’s Lands Manager, said.
“This very special award recognizes an artist who has dedicated their life to the Native music industry and made a substantial positive impact globally,” a Spirit Wind Records press release says.
“We are honored to present this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Jan Michael Looking Wolf for his many outstanding contributions to both Native and nonNative communities through musical achievements. He has worked tirelessly to help those less fortunate and promote healing to the world through his music.”
Reibach, a Kalapuya Native, suffered two strokes that caused him to become a paraplegic for more than a year in 1994 from a rare genetic enzyme disorder prone to Native Americans. After healing, he has dedicated his life to helping others through music.
Working with five separate independent labels, he has released a bevy of compact discs that have ran the gamut from traditional Native flute instrumentals to blues to rock ‘n’ roll. He received the Artist of the Year Award at the 11th annual Native American Music Awards in 2009 for his flute-rock release “The Looking Wolf Project.”
In 2008, he became the first Native player to be named Flutist of the Year by the NAMMYs and the Indian Summer Music Awards in the same year.
He has worked with many well-known artists, including Floyd Crow Westerman, Peter Buffet, Tim Yett and George Noriega.
In 2007, he created the children’s CD “Seven Rabbits” that included stories from seven bunnies. A story CD, it shares hope, healing and inspiration to children with cancer based on traditional Native lore and contemporary settings with Reibach’s flute music.
Thousands of copies of “Seven Rabbits” were distributed to children across the country and he was recognized with a Hero Award by the Children’s Cancer Association for the project.
More recently, Reibach and Spirit Wind Records created a homeless benefit CD “Rise Up.” He also recorded and donated the title track and personally helped finance production.
His newest recording, “Breakin’ Free,” is a special project to give back to Native communities by supporting drug and alcohol prevention among Native youth. The CD, music video and anti-drug abuse posters will be distributed to every Reservation in the country this year.
“Spirit Wind Records is honored to have Jan Michael Looking Wolf as part of our family and extends a big congratulations,” said Spirit Wind Chief Executive Officer Donald Blackfox.