Larry Spotted Crow Mann

Award-Winning Author, Playwright, Musician, Cultural Educator, Storyteller & Citizen of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts

Larry Spotted Crow Mann

Award-Winning Author, Playwright, Musician, Cultural Educator, Storyteller & Citizen of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts

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Biography

Larry Spotted Crow Mann is a multi-talented Indigenous artist whose career spans more than three decades. In 2021, Mann was the first recipient of the Indigenous Peoples Award from the NAACP in Massachusetts for his lifetime commitment to social justice and sharing the culture and music of his Tribe.

Educating, sharing, and being a voice for social change have been at the heart of his journey. His work and passion have been fueled by many of the painful experiences he endured growing up as a Native child in an urban environment. Interwoven in his story is how he overcame addiction at the age of 21. Many of his early teachings came from his grandfather, who helped guide him on a path to healing. Mann’s music, traditional stories, and books are always accompanied by important history and the living presence of Indigenous people today.

Mann has harnessed his experiences to educate and pass on ways Native youth can find pathways to healing and a better life. His writings, music, and cultural sharing have taken him to many parts of the world, helping bring awareness and connect people who share a passion and commitment to making our world a better place. One of the messages Mann emphasizes to young and old alike is that you do not need to drink or use drugs to have a good time. He hopes his life serves as an example to Native youth of what can be accomplished when we take care of our body, mind, and spirit.

Today, Mann, who has been sober for more than 30 years, is a nationally acclaimed author and an award-winning writer, poet, cultural educator, traditional storyteller, and tribal musician. His work centers around the intersection of cultural and environmental awareness, spirituality, and youth sobriety within Indigenous communities. In 2021, he became the first Native American person to perform the opening honor song for the Boston Marathon.

Mann is the author of four books including Drumming & Dreaming, The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving (2015 Native American WordCraft Circle of Honors winner), the internationally acclaimed Tales from the Whispering Basket, and his most recent book The Adventures of Kehteau, a children’s book designed to promote social development skills in early education for Tribal Nations and children around the world. Two of his books, Drumming & Dreaming, a collection of stories of Nipmuc legends, and Circle Tied to Mother Earth, are featured in a statewide curriculum across Massachusetts as part of a Life Skills Training program for teachers and students focused on alcohol and drug prevention for Native American teens.

Mann is the director and founder of the Ohketeau Cultural Center, an organization that creates opportunities for interdisciplinary education through cultural workshops, dance, music, and art. Ohketeau, which means “a place to grow,” was founded to provide a safe, rewarding, and enriching experience for the Indigenous community of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc region. The Ohketeau Cultural Center is the first all-Indigenous-run and operated center in Western and Central Massachusetts.

Mann was also the 2021 Distinguished Artist in Residence at Bunker Hill Community College, where he worked with staff and faculty to create Indigenous curricula across a spectrum of studies courses, while collaborating on art, restorative justice initiatives, and workshops on Indigenous epistemology.

Previously, Mann served as a board member of Nipmuc Cultural Preservation, an organization created to promote the cultural, social, and spiritual needs of the Nipmuc people and serve as an educational resource for Native American studies. Mann also serves as a Review Committee Member for the Native American Poets Project at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University.

Drawing on his experiences as an artist, author, and cultural educator, Mann speaks with K–12 schools, colleges and universities, organizations, corporations, and community organizations about Indigenous history, storytelling, cultural resilience, and pathways to healing and sobriety. Through music, poetry, and personal storytelling, he helps audiences better understand the living presence of Indigenous communities today. Larry Spotted Crow Mann works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.

Speaker Videos

Meet Larry Spotted Crow Mann

The Adventures of Kehteau! Teaching through Indigenous Storytelling! The perfect book for Early Ed!

Appropriation Vs Appreciation

Allyship and Storytelling

Water, Land, and Identity

Stolen Identity

Larry Spotted Crow Mann presents The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving

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Speech Topics

Stories of Sovereignty: Indigenous Wisdom, Identity & the Power of Native Storytelling

In this powerful and reflective keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann explores the enduring importance of Native American sovereignty, identity, and storytelling. A member of the Nipmuc Tribe and an award-winning author, Mann draws from his internationally acclaimed book Tales from the Whispering Basket and other cultural traditions to share stories that have been passed down through generations. Through these teachings, he highlights the values of love, courage, respect, humility, truth, kindness, and wisdom that guide Indigenous communities. Mann connects these timeless stories to today’s conversations about identity, justice, and belonging, helping audiences better understand the historical and contemporary realities of Native peoples. By bridging past and present through storytelling, he invites listeners to reflect on how Indigenous perspectives can guide us toward stronger communities and deeper understanding.

Audiences will learn:

How Indigenous storytelling preserves culture, history, and community values across generations.
Why Native American sovereignty and identity remain vital issues today.
How Indigenous wisdom can inspire greater understanding, respect, and connection across communities.

Reclaiming Identity: A Personal Journey of Indigenous Resilience

In this deeply personal keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann shares a journey of resilience, cultural survival, and healing. Growing up as a Native American in an urban environment, Mann often faced questions and experiences that reflected the painful legacy of erased histories and cultural misunderstanding. Within his family and through his grandfather’s guidance, he found strength in Nipmuc traditions and identity. Mann speaks candidly about confronting racism, generational trauma, and struggles with alcohol before experiencing a turning point that led him to reclaim his heritage and purpose. That awakening inspired his lifelong commitment to preserving Indigenous culture through storytelling, music, and the sacred drum. For more than three decades, he and his family have traveled the world sharing the living traditions of the Nipmuc people.

Audiences will learn:

How cultural erasure and generational trauma impact identity and well-being.
Why reclaiming heritage and storytelling can be powerful paths toward healing.
How honoring culture and community can inspire resilience and empowerment.

Breaking the Cycle of Addiction: Indigenous Paths to Healing

In this powerful and reflective keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann explores the devastating impact that alcohol and substance misuse have had on Indigenous communities for generations while offering a hopeful path forward rooted in culture and holistic healing. Drawing on history, personal experience, and community knowledge, Mann examines how colonial history, intergenerational trauma, and systemic inequities have contributed to cycles of addiction. At the same time, he shares how Indigenous teachings, spirituality, and community connection can serve as powerful tools for recovery and resilience. Through storytelling and cultural insight, Mann introduces approaches that complement traditional treatment models by reconnecting individuals with identity, purpose, and community.

Audiences will learn:

How historical trauma and systemic inequities contribute to substance misuse in Indigenous communities.
Why cultural teachings and community connection can support recovery and resilience.
How holistic approaches can complement modern treatment models.

Creating Space for Culture: The Story of the Ohketeau Cultural Center

In this inspiring keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann shares the vision behind the creation of the Ohketeau Cultural Center, the first Indigenous-run cultural center in Central and Western Massachusetts. Founded to preserve, celebrate, and uplift Native culture, the center serves as a hub for education, arts, storytelling, and community support. Mann reflects on the importance of creating spaces where Indigenous identity and traditions can thrive for generations. He also highlights how the center has become a place of opportunity and healing for Native youth, families, and elders throughout the region. Through this story of leadership and community building, Mann demonstrates how cultural institutions play a critical role in preserving Indigenous heritage.

Audiences will learn:

Why Indigenous-led cultural spaces are vital for preserving identity and tradition.
How the Ohketeau Cultural Center is supporting Native education, arts, and community connection.
Ways individuals and communities can support Indigenous cultural preservation.

Freedom in Season: The Untold Native American Story of the Civil War

In this eye-opening keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann reveals the largely forgotten story of the Nipmuc men who fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. Although Native Americans were not recognized as U.S. citizens at the time, nearly one-third of the Nipmuc men in Mann’s community volunteered to serve. Drawing from his stage play Freedom in Season, he brings to life the courage and sacrifice of these soldiers—many of whom were his own relatives, including two of his grandfathers. While these men fought for freedom, their families often faced land theft, displacement, and the forced placement of Native children into white households. Through storytelling grounded in history and personal connection, Mann invites audiences to reconsider an overlooked chapter of American history.

Audiences will learn:

The little-known history of Native American participation in the Civil War.
How Indigenous soldiers fought for freedom despite being denied citizenship.
Why recognizing overlooked histories is essential to understanding America’s past.

The Power of Story & Song: An Interactive Indigenous Storytelling & Drumming Experience

In this immersive and interactive presentation, Larry Spotted Crow Mann invites audiences into the living tradition of Indigenous storytelling and drumming. For generations, Native communities have used stories and song not only to entertain but to teach, heal, and preserve cultural memory. Mann demonstrates how the sacred drum and the spoken word work together to awaken the imagination and engage the senses while sharing lessons about identity, community, and respect for the natural world. Through live storytelling, drumming, and audience participation, he brings these traditions to life and shows how they continue to guide Indigenous communities today. This experience allows audiences to actively engage with the rhythm, meaning, and cultural significance of Native storytelling.

Audiences will learn:

How storytelling and drumming preserve Indigenous history and cultural identity.
Why these traditions serve as powerful tools for teaching, healing, and community connection.
How cultural expression can inspire deeper understanding across communities.

The Living Presence of the Nipmuc People: Indigenous Identity Today

In this contemporary keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann challenges the misconception that Native Americans exist only in history books. As a member of the Nipmuc Tribe and a cultural educator, Mann explores the living presence of Indigenous communities today. From the Land Back movement to efforts to remove harmful mascots and develop education and food sovereignty programs, he highlights how Nipmuc people are reclaiming agency and strengthening their community. Mann connects these modern efforts to the deep traditions and resilience that have sustained Indigenous peoples for generations.

Audiences will learn:

Why Indigenous communities must be understood as living cultures, not historical artifacts.
How movements like Land Back and food sovereignty are reshaping Native futures.
How individuals and institutions can support Native sovereignty and cultural resilience.

Healing the Gap: Addressing Health Inequities in Native Communities

In this informative keynote, Larry Spotted Crow Mann examines the severe health inequities facing Native American and Alaska Native communities. Mann explores how systemic neglect, historical trauma, and limited healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of illness and mortality among Indigenous populations. He discusses the broader social determinants of health and the cultural barriers that often exist within healthcare systems. At the same time, Mann highlights stories of resilience and community-led solutions working to improve health outcomes.

Audiences will learn:

Why Native communities experience some of the most severe health disparities in the United States.
How historical trauma and systemic inequities influence health outcomes today.
Ways institutions and communities can support culturally responsive healthcare.

Finding Your Voice: Writing & Poetry as Storytelling

In this interactive workshop, Larry Spotted Crow Mann shares the creative process that has shaped his work as an award-winning author, poet, and storyteller. Drawing from his books Drumming & Dreaming, The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving, and Tales from the Whispering Basket, Mann explains how stories and poetry emerge from lived experience, culture, and reflection. Through guided exercises and discussion, he introduces techniques that have helped him develop powerful narratives and meaningful poetry. Mann encourages writers of all backgrounds to discover their own voice and explore storytelling as a way to connect with identity and creativity.

Participants will learn:

Practical techniques for developing ideas into stories and poems.
How storytelling can draw from personal experience and cultural memory.
Ways to strengthen creative confidence and develop an authentic writing voice.

Testimonials

"It was an absolute pleasure working with Larry. His presentation was equal parts beautiful, eye opening, heartbreaking, and inspirational. Many participants on the call were affected by his personal story as well as the history of struggles faced by the Nipmuc people and Native Americans as a whole. It was an honor moderating the Q&A portion with Larry - he made it feel like a conversation amongst friends and it was a really great experience for all involved."

- Vertex

“The event was wonderful, and Larry was great. We expected more people, but we were satisfied with 50. Thanks again for working on this with us.”

- Cambridge Public Library

“Larry was great. He was able to share his experiences and his work in a relatable way for our students. Larry answered all of our students' questions with thoughtfulness and connected with students individually following his talk.”

- Northfield Mount Hermon School

"Larry was compelling, informative, thoughtful and spoke a lot of truth to power to many that needed the conversation. His speech left some members in the crowd emotional, which in our eyes meant he touched people and allowed them to challenge the paradigms that restrain us from progress when it comes to Native American issues in the Us. His poetry was also exceptionally moving and powerful that added many artistic elements the crowd enjoyed. We would most certainly love to have him back in the future."

- Union College

"Thank you! It was a pleasure working with you and the team at APB. I am truly appreciative of the help with the adjustment in the scheduling. It made for a great day and Larry's presence and message was valued and well received. Again, thank you for being available and a true pleasure to work with."

- Concord Academy

"Educator, Community Leader and Activist Larry Spotted Crow Mann was one of the most profound and thoughtful speakers we've had providing both reflective and analytical frameworks for teaching our community members about Indigenous histories and cultures in Western Massachusetts."

- Mount Holyoke College

"I have heard many good things about Larry's presentation. Everyone said they learned so much and it was very interesting. People enjoyed listening to him speak about Native American culture, especially because he is from this area."

- Bryant University

"Everything went great. Larry was wonderful to hear from. He brought a great diversity of knowledge, and my students enjoyed meeting him. Larry shared personal stories and also brought his expertise from the many projects and initiatives he has worked on. He was very approachable and a great resource for my students. We especially appreciated the music and stories he shared."

- Suny College at Geneseo

"He was wonderful!! He really shared a lot of great things and our audience had some good questions. We look forward to a continued partnership with you!"

- S Ill University-Edwardsville