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An Anthology of North American Indian and Eskimo Music

Various Artists
An Anthology of North American Indian and Eskimo Music

This extensive collection of Native American music contains songs from across the North American continent: from the Plains Cree to the Inuit in the Arctic, from Northwest Coast Potlatch music to the sounds of the Southeastern Seminoles. Compiled from earlier Folkways recordings by anthropologist Michael I. Asch, the anthology focuses on the function rather than the form of Native American music. The 50 songs center on social themes such as courting, grieving, hunting, and religious ceremony, and represent the utilitarian musical tradition of Amerindian peoples.


RELATED LESSON PLAN
"Modern Ritual and Contemporary Play: Music Traditions of the Inuit, Apache and Pacific Northwest Native Americans"


EN ESPAÑOL

Esta amplia colección de música nativa contiene canciones que atraviesan el continente norteamericano: de los Llanos Cree a los esquimales en el Ártico, desde la música de la Costa noroeste de Potlatch a los sonidos de los seminoles del sudeste. Compilado de las primeras grabaciones Folkways por el antropólogo Michael I. Asch, la antología se centra en la función más que en la forma de la música nativa norteamericana. Las cincuenta canciones se concentran en temas sociales como el cortejo, el duelo, la caza y la ceremonia religiosa, representan la utilidad de la tradición musical de los pueblos amerindios.

*Content Advisory: The Indigenous peoples of the Arctic identify as Inuit or Yup’ik in both personal and international matters. Individuals also refer to themselves with the names of their communities. “Eskimo” is a name imposed on the Inuit by non-Indigenous people and has increasingly come to be viewed as a slur. Smithsonian Folkways has chosen to leave the album as published in its original state to serve as a historical document; however, we encourage the listener to learn more about how the Inuit and Yup’ik prefer to be represented. Please see the Declaration of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Resolution and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Native Language Center for more information.
- Anna Kate Cannon, 2021–22 Dumbarton Oaks Fellow at SFR, contributed to research and writing for this statement.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

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101
Sioux: Sun Dance Benjamin Sitting Up, Ellis Chips, John Long Commander 01:32
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102
Sioux: Love Song John Coloff 00:57
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103
Blood: Crazy Dog Song Jim Low Horn, Mrs. Emil Wings, and Jack Low Horn 01:41
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104
Kiowa: Buffalo Dance Song Kenneth Anquoe, Jack Anquoe, and Nick Webster 01:03
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105
Pawnee: Man's Love Song Mark Evarts 00:54
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106
Plains Cree: Hand Game Song William Peaychew 01:42
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107
Plains Cree: Prisoner's Song William Burn Stick 02:20
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108
Plains Cree: World War II Song George Nicotine 01:36
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109
Assinboine: Warrior Death Song for Sitting Bull Assiniboine singers and drummer 02:00
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110
Flathead: Canvas Dance Song Eneas Conko and Baptiste Pichette 01:40
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111
Walapai: Funeral Song Tom Lane, Frank Walena, Gus Walena 01:37
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112
Papago: Saguaro Song Tohono O'odham male singers during a rain ceremony 01:58
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113
Washo: Peyote Song Burton John and Roy James 01:26
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201
Taos: Moonlight Song John Concha, Albino, Belmodo, and Manuel Lujan 02:09
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202
San Ildefonso: Eagle Dance Mike and Richard Martinez of San Ildefonso 02:59
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203
Hopi: Butterfly Dance Wesley Poneoma, Dean Siewayumtwa, Rivan Kachinhongva, Jacob Poleviyuma 01:41
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204
Zuni: Lullaby Zuni female singer and drummer 00:58
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205
Zuni: Rain Dance Zuni female singer and drummer 01:47
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206
Navajo: Night Chant Diné (Navajo) singers with rattles 01:43
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207
Navajo: Song of Happiness Navajo children's chorus 01:09
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208
Navajo: Silversmith's Song Ambrose Roanhorse 01:09
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209
Navajo: Corn Grinding Song Navajo female singer 00:59
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210
Apache: Children's Songs Irene Chalepah Poolaw 01:47
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211
Apache: Church Song Apache female singers 01:03
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212
Apache: Devil Dance Macklin Palmer, Andrew Palmer, Sinew Riley, Stanley Paxson 02:57
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301
Kwakiutl-Nootka: Wolf Song Billy Assu 02:05
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302
Kwakiutl-Nootka: Potlatch Song Billy Assu 01:38
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303
Kwakiutl-Nootka: Hamatsa Song Mungo Martin 01:12
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304
Kwakiutl-Nootka: War Song for Marriage Male singer and drummer 01:50
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305
Slavery: Rabbit Dance Song Rabbit male singers and drummer 02:03
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306
Slavery: Cree Dance Song Cree male singers and drummer 02:24
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307
Slavery: Fiddle Dance Song Fiddle players 01:00
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308
Naskapi: Bear Hunting Song Sebastian McKenzie 01:44
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309
Point Barrow: Inviting in Dance Song Point Barrow male singer 00:47
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310
Chesterfield Inlet: His First Hunt Kemukserar and Pangatkar 02:06
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311
Chesterfield Inlet: Hunting for Musk Ox (Dance Song) Kemukserar and Pangatkar 03:33
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401
Cayuga-Tutelo: Corn Dance Thomas Lewis 02:08
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402
Onondaga-Tuscarora: Stomp Dance Huron Miller 01:57
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403
Winnebago: Song of Welcome Albert Yellow Thunder, Winslow White Eagle, and Blow Snake 01:19
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404
Winnebago: Buffalo Feast Song Albert Yellow Thunder, Winslow White Eagle, and Blow Snake 01:06
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405
Winnebago: Morning Song Albert Yellow Thunder, Winslow White Eagle, and Blow Snake 01:12
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406
Winnebago: Song of the Unfaithful Woman Albert Yellow Thunder, Winslow White Eagle, and Blow Snake 00:59
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407
Ottawa: Hoot Owl Song David Kenosha (Oshawenimiki) 01:09
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408
Ojibwa: Oh Mary Fred Lacasse 01:01
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409
Objiwa: Catholic Hymn Thomas Shalifoe 00:42
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410
Seminole: Corn Dance Song Billy Stewart (Gatcayehola) 01:32
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411
Seminole: Song of Removal Susie Tiger and Billie Stewart 01:40
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412
Pan-Indian Movement: Fortyniner Song Female singer 02:00
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413
Unidentified Track Fred Lacasse 01:03
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414
The Seneca: As Long as the Grass Shall Grow Peter La Farge 06:03