By Joy SpearChief-Morris
Follow James Jones on Tiktok and Instagram @notoriouscree

James Jones is a Cree traditional hoop dancer who has performed internationally on some of the biggest stages with some of the world’s top artists.

From Tall Creek First Nation in Alberta, Jones has performed at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the 2015 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. He’s performed with Snoop Dog, k-os and joined the musical group The Halluci Nation on a world tour.

Jones has become more commonly known by his social media handle, Notorious Cree. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones began posting on the social media platform TikTok. His profile went viral after sharing a video of himself hoop dancing to the popular song by The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights.”

Since then, Jones has encompassed a large social media following of 3.9 million followers on TikTok and 1.1 million followers on Instagram. Through his platform, Jones uses his voice to elevate Indigenous representation in mainstream media, sharing truths and knowledge about Indigenous people and communities.

For the “Seventh Generation: Indigenous Wellness Series” Jones gives a “PowwowFit” session based on the seven sacred teaching of “love.”

From the sacred teachings, love is a gift from the eagle. “Mikisiw would take our prayers up to Creator or up to the Great Spirit and when it comes back down it brings that teaching of love down to the grassroots level and that’s how we’re able to experience it,” Jones says in his session.

“It’s something you can use in your everyday life, in your own personal medicine wheels. Within your mind, your body and your spirit. It’s a tool that can be used.”

Jones says he tries to do as many things as he can with love in his everyday life. “Whether it be going to the gym or whether it be writing an email or just trying to have a good conversation with somebody. I try to do it with love instead of using other elements that may be negative,” he says.

“It doesn’t always work. It’s still a work in progress, but that’s something I always try to keep in my mind is doing things with love as my intent.”

PowwowFit, according to Jones’ website, is “a unique high intensity Indigenous dance exercise program that targets a full body workout,” blending Indigenous powwow music with easy powwow dance choreography.

For this wellness series with Matriarch Movement, Jones emphasizes the importance of movement and wellness with the intent of love.

“PowwowFit is about self-expression, and powwow dancing in general is about expressing yourself freely and expressing yourself in a good way,” Jones says.