Black Belt Eagle Scout Inspires Indigenous Kids

KP of Black Belt Eagle Scout
KP of the band Black Belt Eagle Scout. Her latest album is "At The Party With My Brown Friends" Jason Marck/WBEZ
KP of Black Belt Eagle Scout
KP of the band Black Belt Eagle Scout. Her latest album is "At The Party With My Brown Friends" Jason Marck/WBEZ

Black Belt Eagle Scout Inspires Indigenous Kids

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In 2007 Katherine Paul, or KP, left home to go to to college. Her home was the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, about halfway between Seattle and Vancouver. Portland wasn’t chosen just because it was KP’s new college town. It had a vibrant music scene, and a decent-sized queer community. Over the next decade KP played in a lot of bands, learned the business side of the industry, and found “her people”. But she realized there was something missing from the music-particularly the lyrics-that she was playing. And so, Black Belt Eagle Scout was born. It’s a project to tell her own brown, queer, indigenous story. Black Belt Eagle Scout’s latest release is called “At The Party With My Brown Friends”. KP produced the album, and plays all the instruments. It has received great press and excellent reviews. Black Belt Eagle Scout headlines a show Friday Nov. 29, 2019 at The Hideout in Chicago