Spirit Rise (music cassette)

fyre@web.apc.org
Tue, 20 Jul 1993 01:36:00 PDT


In early February a cassette, called Spirit Rise, was recorded inspired by the
Protectors of Mother Earth and the Canoe Lake blockade of Northern Saskatchewan
(please see previous postings for information). The poetry of the music and
lyrics inspired me to transcribe these two songs from the cassette for your
pleasure as well. (Spirit Rise lyrics transcribed by ear from the cassette my
apologies to the songwriter if there are any errors). Sounds even better with
music.

________________________________________________

spirit rise - songwriter: Jake Jacobsen
***********

grandmother falcon gentle one
I hear your voice inside the drum
so wise
spirit rise

grandfather now I understand
the carpenter's the fisherman's
sacrifice
spirit rise

and take me with the raven
as she flies
and show me where the truth
within me lies

oh spirits rise
spirit rise

I love you woman
you're the one
with mother earth
the moon the sun
you are alive

when the spirits rise

our children of the porcupine
are they yours
and all her mine
the light survives

when the spirits rise

and take me with the raven as she flies
and show me where the truth within me lies

oh spirits rise
spirit rise

the spirit walker of the sand
will put his gift into your hand
you are alive

when the spirits rise

our vision and our history
the sacred pipe the sacred tree
we are alive

when the spirits rise

and take me with the raven as she flies
and show me where the truth within me lies

oh spirits rise
spirit rise

________________________________________________

I am Your Mother Maria Campbell, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
****************

He says you are a patriarchal religion
Writes in his books your songs and your stories
But look, look at me
I am your mother
The one he calls nature

Do you see my gown of spring
The colors of the young virgin
Do you see my gown of summer
The colors of womanhood
Do you see my gown of autumn
The colors of my strength
Do you see my gown of winter
The colors of my power

Or instead do you see like him
A million board feet of lumber
A billion tons of paper
And how many more of uranium

Are your eyes blinded by
The treasure taken from my womb
Do you ever see me open and bleeding
Raw from a hundred years of raping

I am earth
The bountiful female
The ever giving mother
I have nurtured you with food taken from my valleys and streams
And my rhythms have received your dead back into my womb
I have given you power
Given you holistic rituals where
Brother sister nature are one
and not the other
Why then do you forbid that power
Forbid those rituals and violate my being

________________________________________________

To obtain copies of this cassette or for more information on the struggle of the
Portectors of Mother Earth, contact:

Saskatchewan Indigenous Coalition
824 Broadway Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada S7N 1B6

tel: (306) 664-1992
fax: (306) 933-4346