recycled and re-edited audio tracks. It is published with Vimeo.

Audio:

Sacred Spirit

Chants and Dances of The Native Americans

Ya-Na-Hana (Celebrate Wild Rice)

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Prairie Chants 2019 – Reading Script

Prairie Chants is part of a collection of hypermedia, narrative videos that chronicle aspects of life on the shores of Lake Michigan [called Michigami by some tribes].  In this video, a story of the prairie – and the native tribes who once lived there – unfolds.  The past, the present, the future….

The tribal narrative happens to follow the historic movement of the Sauk or Sac (officially Sauk and Fox) but it could be that of any one of many eastern woodland people, indeed hundreds of groups across the country, who were forced from their homes, had their land taken by trickery or force, and walked their own trail of tears into captivity. 

“as if nothing that we had done — or given or given up — had contributed to America.” Chief Pokagon, Potawatomi

You might imagine that his had once been prairie –

But maybe not….

For eons, the native peoples

that lived along the shores of the Michigami

fished in the lakes and rivers,

sheltered in the forests,

and hunted on the prairie.  

As they were forced ever westward by white settlers,

they gave up the shore,

then the forest,

and, finally, the prairie.

Since less than 1% of

the original prairie lands

remain in many states,

we find it easy to forget

the tribes that flourished

in the tall grass country.

The St. Lawrence Seaway, June 1680

Thunder Moon

Great Grandmother: 

In the thunder of the summer rains,

our people must leave

the shores of the seaway.

 We are beset on all sides

and weakened by disease. 

The French have given muskets to

 bands of Iroquois and Huron.

The warriors go ahead to find a

place for the winter. 

We follow as we can.

Saginaw, Michigan, February 1734

Hunger Moon

Grandmother:

Long ago we lost our

ancient home and our name,

Othâkîwa.  Now we are

the Sac, the people of the outlet.

The last Mesquakies have

 come to us for shelter.

The French are on

the warpath.

Of course, in 2019

you could see pieces of prairie

In special preserves

and at botanical gardens…

Chicago, Illinois, September 1803

Corn Moon

Mother:

At peace all year,

I hope our two boys and

My beautiful girl never see war.

We live beside the

Fox and the Potawatomi villages.

We plant and fish with

Them and hunt buffalo.

And so it came down.  After 1830 no

Tribes were allowed east of the

Mississippi.

They were forcibly settled in reservations

or drifted into towns on the plains.  

The peoples who knew the land

as it once was have passed – gone with the summer wind. 

But their spirits watch for

the return of the prairie. 

Saukenuk, Illinois, January 1830

Wolf Moon

Daughter:

We have been Removed. My brothers have gone with

Keokuk to Half-Breed Town. My husband and

I have joined Black Sparrow Hawk. 

The whites are on our land.  Many families

are starving.

Rock River, Illinois, October 1832

Hunter’s Moon

Daughter:

After the last battle

at Bad Axe, we went into

hiding.  My husband was

dead, my mother drowned.

I have been taken

By a white soldier

Who says he will take

Me to my brothers

Sac and Fox

Ojibwe/Chippewa

Potawatomi

Winnebago/Ho-Chunk

Menominee

Huron/Wyandot

Odawa

Miami

Illini

Cree

Wea

Kaskaskia

Cahokia

Peoria

Tamaroa

Moingwena

Michigamea

Chepoussa

Chinkoa

Coiracoentanon

Espeminkia

Maroa

Tapouara

But just a few years ago, the prairie

Began to return in a surprising

Way.  Solar Gardens sprang up,

Surrounded by restored prairie,

Pollinator-friendly, bird-loving,

Flower-and-grass havens.

Everywhere. 

Keokuk, Iowa, June 1852

Strawberry Moon

Granddaughter:

Now I live in the town.                                                                                                

At night, I listen to the wind out on

The old Prairie.  In my spirit dreams,

The sun is shining, the scent of

Mint grass and violets in the air.

The Prairie is alive again,

And I dance there.

Big bluestem

Black-eyed Susan

Indian grass

Little bluestem

Prairie phlox

Northern bedstraw

Prairie dropseed

Blazing star

Yarrow

Fragrant giant hyssop

Leadplant

Butterfly weed

Lindley's aster

Smooth aster

Side oat grama

Stiff tickseed

Canada wild rye

Common ox-eye

Wild lupine

Showy penstemon

White prairie clover

Purple prairie clover

Mountain mint

Upland goldenrod

Stiff goldenrod

Western spiderwort

Hoary verbena

Golden Alexander

Pussytoes

Whorled milkweed

Harebell

Wild strawberry 

Prairie smoke

Bush clover

Prairie violet 

“In my End

Is my Beginning”