First Nations Songs From Turtle Island

A Big Drum Song with soaring vocals and a pounding drum rhythm, which symbolizes a gathering of nations and a Grand Entrance into the Dance Circle. Battle cries with large group, big drum, deer toe shakers and bells.

An Honoring Song usually sung at the beginning of an intertribal event, equivalent to a "National Anthem" meant to acknowledge our Eagle Staffs and their carriers. Battle cries with full group and big drum.

A very emotional and possibly sad song that the warriors would sing upon their return home from battle. This song would tell their story or honor another warrior who had fallen in battle. One male with hand drum.

An Intertribal Song sung in the lower registers of the southern singers such as the Kiowa's and Ponca's. This song's purpose is to gather different tribes as a social type dance where everyone is welcome in the Dance Circle! Full group with big drum, deer toe shakers and bells.

This song is from the era of 1849 and is sung in vocable melodies followed by English/Native Lyrics that are meant to be love songs. These songs are usually sung only at night. "No matter, where you are, I still Love You". Medium group with big drum.

A Stomp Dance is usually when the Elders make medicine. The Cherokee gifted these songs to the 6 Iroquois Nations and are sung in that style, with Bull Horn Rattles. Medium group with rattles and foot stomps.

A Beautiful Love song played on a wooden Red Cedar Flute which has a very sweet tone in the key of A. Solo cedar flute natural, no reverb.

The Cree People have a very unique way of playing their Hand Drums where a "Triple Beat" is used to sing songs of love and friendship, while everyone dances in a circle around the singers. This song can also be known as a Friendship Dance. Battle cries with medium sized group using hand drums.

A very fast pace song from the Longhouses of the 6 Nations Iroquois People, that was used to clear out the smoke when the fires became too overwhelming. One male and big drum.

A Victory Song with a "halftime" tempo to it, sung on the Big Drum. The dance in this song represents the Crow as it is seen on the battlefield hopping from body to body as if it were dancing. Medium sized group with big drum, shakers and bells.