The Deer Clan Singers are:

Lead by Dave Locklear, Mark Deese, Pura Fe and occasionally other cousins. People born into this clan through their maternal line, tend to be strong singers, harmonizers and extensive travelers. This is fitting to their traditional responsibility as “The Messengers” and “The Runners” of their Nation. As Tuscaroras from N.C., we’ve come along way, to bring back what’s been burried, lost and taken.

I met Dave when he was 14 years old, as one of my students at the N.C. Indian Cultural Center. I spotted him immediately and knew that this was a very special, gifted and old soul that I and others would share all we know and have with. At 23, Dave is now my teacher and youngest Faith Keeper of Kiever’s LongHouse. Mark is a traditional tribal council member. He’s a gentle soul that works with Native youth, repatriation and is becoming a very gifted healer. Together Mark and Dave travel singing and educating throughout East Carolinas Native community schools, centers, festivals and perform abroad singing Tutelo-Tuscarora and Iroquois Social Dance songs.

Tuscarora oral history says that at one time, Iroquois people filled out the lands from present day South Carolina to N.Y. and Canada. Tracing back the steps of ancient kin is like following the umbilical cord, a race, a trail connecting to many corn people, bringing you to the birth place, the navel, the starting point as human beings and migration North and South from Central America . “ The Corn Mother”. Contrary to crossing the Bering Staits from Asia, I’ve met Mongols that say their beginnings were from here. And contrary to Columbus’s “Discovery”, extensive travel and trade had long been taking place between the Americas and Africa. Ancient accounts record Native people as world travelers…-Pura Fe’