In Loving Memory of David Nighteagle
Flute Maker, Storyteller, Teacher, Friend
We are deeply saddened to share that our dear friend and longtime collaborator, David Nighteagle, passed away peacefully last night. David volunteered and was an advisor to the Institute and is well known as a gifted flute maker, musician, and storyteller, David brought beauty, heart, and wisdom to everything he did.

A proud member of the Lakota tradition, David spent decades sharing his deep knowledge of Native American flutes and oral storytelling. His performances were more than concerts—they were immersive experiences. Whether performing for schoolchildren, at national parks, or for special guests like former First Ladies Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush, David had a gift for connecting people through sound, spirit, and story.
David’s artistry lives on through his recordings, including Torn from the Heart: The Journey, Mesa Anthology (recorded at Mesa Verde National Park), and Circle Around the Moon. His music wove together ancient traditions with the timeless rhythms of the Earth, offering a sacred space for healing, reflection, and joy.

Beyond performance, David devoted much of his life to teaching. With over 20 years of work in schools, he inspired countless students by blending oral tradition with social studies, science, and art. He not only explained the physics of sound and the craft of flute-making—he invited students to join in, to feel the music, and to co-create in the moment.

David was a featured artist at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics and performed at venues as far-reaching as Disney World, Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde National Parks, Hovenweep, and the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Wherever he went, he left a lasting impression of warmth, integrity, and authenticity.

Born in Florida, raised in the mountains of North Carolina and a longtime resident of Southwestern Colorado, David also expressed his creativity through photography and served as an investigator for the State of Colorado. His flutes are cherished around the world for their beauty, craftsmanship, and spirit.

Following in the steps of his grandfather, David was also a well-known ceremonial Pipe Carrier, a role held with deep reverence and responsibility in Lakota tradition. The title of Pipe Carrier is a long-honored spiritual calling, bestowed upon those entrusted to carry the sacred pipe in prayer, healing, and ceremony. According to Lakota legend, the sacred pipe was gifted to the people 19 generations ago by White Buffalo Calf Woman, who taught them how to make, care for, and properly use it in prayer. One of the first teachings was to use the pipe in asking the buffalo to offer himself so that the people might live—an act of mutual respect and sacred reciprocity. When the pipe was used in the right way, the buffalo returned, and the people were nourished. As a Pipe Carrier, David upheld these teachings, bringing profound presence, integrity, and spiritual connection to all who gathered with him.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Sherry Plattfoot Nighteagle, and by a wide circle of friends, students, and admirers who will carry his legacy forward.

His life was a song—a prayer in motion—and we are honored to have walked part of that journey with him.
Pilamaya, David. Thank you. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.