The Music of American Indians

What America gave to the world

• Gold and silver – Led to rise of Europe’s merchant class • Potatoes and other new world products – Cotton, dyes, corn (maize), beans, squash, peanuts, sunflowers, fertilizers, chocolate, vanilla, chili peppers, tomatoes, paprika, clams • Personal freedom - not present in Europe • Egalitarian democracy (e.g. legislature)

American Indian music

• Song is most important – Purely instrumental music is rare • Songs used for variety of uses and functions – Work, social, ritual, • Rattles and drums are the principal instruments • Group singing is most important – Beware of solo songs on record (group?)

American Indian music

(continued) • Songs may be received in a dream or vision – Individuals who receive such songs are powerful • Ritual songs must be sung correctly to have power - this retards change over time • The circle is an important formation for songs and dances • The medicine man (shaman) is often a musician who uses music to heal sickness

American Indian music

(continued) • Music and dance are integrally connected • Many Amerindian songs use

vocables

syllables without specific meaning • Song styles vary considerably by region • Traditional Amerindian music has no harmony • The flute is often associated with courtship – Traditionally this was a minor role; today Indian flute (Carlos Nakai et al) playing is important About Carlos Nakai

The Sioux Nation

• The seven original bands of the Great Sioux Nation were joined in an alliance called the "Seven Council Fires." This confederation of tribes spoke three dialects. The Santee spoke Dakota. The Yankton originally used Nakota, but many adopted the Dakota dialect in the mid 1800s. And the Teton spoke Lakota.

• The term "Sioux," short for "nadouessioux" or "little snakes," actually came from the Chippewa, a longtime foe.

The Sioux Nation

• Sioux websites – Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota – Lakota Homepage • Contains links to other related websites – The Great Sioux Nation (History Channel) – http://www.fireonprairie.org/index.html

• Treaty rights and human rights on northern plains