War Pony - Native Creatives (Jesse DesRosier)

War Pony Returns.

We’re releasing another small and limited herd of our War Pony distortion out into the wild with custom, hand-crafted artwork provided by fellow Blackfeet artist, Jesse DesRosier. The updated War Pony is a part of our newest series, Native Creatives. The War Pony will only be available at NativeAudio.com and 50% of our net profits will be donated to the Cuts Wood Youth Blackfeet Language School located on the Blackfeet Nation.

TLDR.

What are done with the profits?

50% of the net profits made with this version of the War Pony will be donated to the Cuts Wood school, a school dedicated to preserving the language in our Blackfeet youth.

What is the Native Creative Series?

A series where we feature an Indigenous artist's creative interpretation of a NativeAudio product.

Who is Jesse DesRosier?

A Blackfeet artist that carries many other titles: Blackfeet language teacher, U.S. veteran, and SAG stuntman.

What’s War Pony for?

Delivering an unapologetic and aggressively wild range of dirt tone that’s ready to battle any tonal situation.

Cuts Wood School — where work that matters.

50% of the net profits made from this version of the War Pony will be donated to the Cuts Wood School. Cuts Wood School is a part of the Piegan Institute, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded and chartered in 1987 to research, promote and preserve Native American languages, in particular the Blackfoot language of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana. The institute originated with two university trained tribal members and a group of older generation Blackfoot speakers and ceremonial people. You can learn more about the Cuts Wood School here.

Native Creative Series.

The Native Creative series aims to introduce our NativeAudio fam to some pretty cool and amazing Indigenous artists. Each artist will showcase their talent through a creative interpretation of a NativeAudio product. We chose to launch this series in our homeland, the Blackfeet Nation, starting with Jesse DesRosier.

Jesse DesRosier.

Jesse DesRosier, Assinaipooyii (Cree Speaker), is a language instructor at the Piegan Institute, also known as the Cutswood School, on the Blackfeet Reservation. The institute was co-founded by the late Darrell Kipp in the late 1980s. Jesse graduated from Cutswood School after attending from 1998 to 2003, completing the 8th grade. Following high school, he served in the Marine Corps from 2007 to 2011. Jesse later pursued a BA in Native American Studies at the University of Montana (Missoula).

Today, Jesse teaches the Blackfeet language using plains sign language, pictographs, and written language at both the Piegan Institute (Cutswood School) and Blackfeet Community College (BCC). Beyond his language work, Jesse is deeply passionate about artwork, particularly plains-style ledger art, through which he tells stories using the ancient medium of Blackfoot winter count designs.

Formerly a prize fighter, Jesse has recently found a new passion in the film industry, where he works as a SAG AFTRA stuntman. He has also produced, co-directed, and translated multiple films into the Blackfoot language, aiming to represent his people's language and history through his work. To explore his artwork and projects, you can follow him on Instagram at Pikuni Boy_media.

Jesse DesRosier - Blackfeet Artist

Ledger artwork.

Jesse’s War Pony ledger print was originally crafted by hand on 1800s ledger paper then transferred via digital print onto our pedal enclosures. The War Pony ledger artwork has officially been commissioned by Jesse to NativeAudio.

Ledger artwork originates from symbols traditionally painted on hides by the Blackfeet and other Plains Indians to convey their stories and history.

After the decline of the buffalo and traditional culture following the Buffalo Days, storytelling among our people diminished. However, during the early 1900s, through boarding schools and other merchants, we gained access to ledger paper. Warriors and others began documenting their narratives on the ledger paper.

Since the 1990s, ledger art has experienced a resurgence of interest, championed by Blackfeet artists like Terrance Guardipee, and more recently, John Pepion, Louis Still Smoking, and Jesse DesRosier. Today, artists use ledger art to share their experiences as contemporary Blackfeet navigating the modern world.

Jesse DesRosier’s Original War Pony Print

War Pony - an extension of the warrior.

The term “War Pony” is in reference to the warrior’s beloved war horse. In Native American culture, the horse was an extension of the warrior. The warrior would proudly ride their War Pony into battle, earning them approval and prominence within the tribe. The War Pony would often be painted with the same pattern and colors that the warrior used in battle, and it was through these markings the story of the warrior was told.

War Pony’s tone.

War Pony originated from our War Party circuit but now includes our hybrid clipping which is two entirely different clipping styles (diode and LED) that in return create something super tasty. In addition, we completely reworked the high pass filtering that’s integrated into the gain circuitry to further open the doors to creativity.

How does the updated gain structure sound? It has all the tube-like response that you get from asymmetrical clipping but with the hybrid and newly filtered approach, you get the following:

• Additional headroom for low frequency content. The low frequencies retain their structure through all levels of gain, making this pedal perfect for all bass lovers and guitarist who don’t mind thick tone.

• No bacon sizzle. No annoying bacon sizzle sound when you push the pedal to towards the higher gain range, only smooth and elegant tone that’s a little rageful.

• High-end clarity. Every single note can be heard at all stages of gain so whether your slinging jangly tunes or throwing down the D-stortion, individual notes maintain maximum clarity when met with complex chording.

A big thank you.

Our biggest mission is to share Native culture through sound, and having the opportunity to share the floor with such a talented artist like Jesse is truly an amazing experience. We appreciate him taking the time to share his creativity with our team and look forward to you being a part of this journey with us.

Much love.

-Mike Trombley, Founder

Let’s make some noise!

Now that we’ve explored the possible, let’s go and create the impossible. Visit here for War Pony.