Vision_Dreamer

lol well i guess that explains it then lol lol :D

billyjoejimbob

Let me elaborate on my last post. I do notice that in the Northeast EVERYONE goes nuts when they sing the song. They crowd the drum, whooping and hollering like they are on the war path. I just sit there and say, "Oh god, here it goes" because it is usually the wackos who had not 1 thought of NDN stuff in their head in 1973. I admit I didnt. I was 2.

At a powwow up there a few years back someone asked us to sing it. There was an old lakota woman there who said it was OK. Otherwise we wouldnt have.

BLAZIN'OJIB

In response to kiwehnzii:

The AIM song came to Edward Benton-Banai of L.C.O. Wisconsin, C0-FOUNDER of the American Indian Movement in 1972. The song was first sung on the water drum of the Ojibwe People near Keewenaa Bay, Michigan.

This is the real deal. Since that time the song spread like wildfire and indian people everywhere began singing the song, and it became the anthem of Indian people and of the American Indian Movement.

Other songs have been composed and labelled the Aim Song but were not the "First Aim song."

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WhoMe

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Blazin:

I have never heard your version of the origin of this song. Interesting!

Was this the same AIM song that Severt Youngbear composed? I have heard his composition referred to as a "medicine song." When the "medicine song" was requested, the "popular" AIM Song was rendered.

BLAZIN'OJIB

Im not too sure of the song that you are reffering to, and our barrier is that we cannor hear the song that each other is talking about.

I do know that the song on videos like "Lakota Woman", Thunderheart etc. . . is the song composed by EBB.

Blazin'

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rkbtmeyb

From what I've heard about the song it was (AIM) already around before (AIM) and there didn't happen to be many singers and it was the song that they happened to learn. So it became the AIM Song. go figure?

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KeetersCAT

I heard it was created when the crazy Red Lakers were having a REVOLUTION and burnin chit. AYE!;)

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Kakeeya

I remember Leonard CrowDog saying that he was the one that made that song up. :dontknow:

Black Eagle

I know this is a year after the last posting on the subject, but I've got some info that may be of use. This comes from the book "Standing in the Light: A Lakota Way of Seeing" written by Severt Young Bear and R.D. Theisz (Bison Books printing 1996). Page 155 - "One of the most misunderstood or controversial songs during the AIM days was the AIM Song. The actual songmaker of that song is unknown; maybe it was Druiry Cook." "It was jsut a general powwow song with no words."

The authors recount an event in Gordon, Nebraska, then continue on page 156:

"The host committee requested a victory song. We thought about an appropriate song. We didn't know if AIM had a victory song or if Gordon had a victory song to commemorate the occasion. The only song that came to mind was that song (speaking of the "AIM Song"), so we pushed it up."

The story goes on, noting an AIM convention in Cass Lake, Minnesota where AIM leadership had requested the song sung at Gordon, NE to be sung and possibly to be adopted as the official AIM Song.

This is a pretty good book, and its been a while since I've read it. I would have mentioned it here sooner but I've been away for a long while and am just now getting back to the forums. I'm assuming Severt Young Bears biography would have an accurate reocunt of the song he sang, but I could be mistaken. If you want a good read, pick up the book.

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rachelg196

I am very interested in this whole thread. In the Bay Area, near San Francisco this song isn't sung at powwows. The last time i heard it sung was at my Grandmother's funeral. The time before that was after a powwow, my grandma wanted it sung by a particular drum group, and when it was sung, it went on for like 30 minutes. Everyone crowded the drum and I can just see her face and hear it in my head.

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tokana_49

Here's how it really began: That particular tune was first heard at the Crow Fair in the early 70's and was sung by a singer from Lame Deer. don't have name(s), sorry! Then a group of singers who would later be called Red Earth converged into Denver for a powwow held by A.I.M. at some High School, AIM requested an honor song and we decided to sing that particular song. We sang it good and we sang it high and of course back in them days, the lady backup singers made it even better. so ever since then, that song was requested by AIM..and the rest is history. And that's the truth. Keep on Powwowing!! Additional Facts: Yes, there was an original song selected as the AIM song as stated to me by Eddie Benton; and that song was used in Cass Lake. However the second song was more poularized from that Denver powwow and I can't recall if Denver AIM sponsored that powwow then. Perhaps others can recall that one. Keep tabs for more tidbits as I do more recollecting. "Ya whey ya a ya....whey ah ya a ya"...Like dat?

crow_reza

CROW FAIR!!!! HICH AAHH!!

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adesrosier

Booshoo Neeges;
The first time that I became concious of the A.I.M song was at a Veteran's Pow-Wow held at D.Q. University up here in Northern California this past November. By the way, when dancers "crowd" the drum it is meant as a way of honoring the drum. This song was a very powerful spiritual experience for me and it seemed to go on forever and no-one ther wanted it to end. This capped off a very good evening. I am taking a pretty good guess that the other folks felt the same way I did about it. I didn't find out until later that it was called the AIM song. There is a lot of spiritual power to that song. Some would call it strong medicine I suppose. Very beautiful song that sings to your spirit.
Meegwich

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Kakeeya

Hey very cool Tokana That sounds like a very credible story.
And now we know the rest of the story.....

hokawicasa

hau misun dave you got most of the story right Severt Young Bear Sr made the song in the late 60's. And at a local dance was asked to sing for the aim poeple there.the song that everybody calls the aim song was the one they sang, later at a ralley when the news crews were around Russell Means and dennis banks sang that song and told everyone it was the aim song. I remember it got mixed thoughts from the Porcupine crew at that time because of all the fighting the aim poeple were know for everyone wanted tribal rights ,but know one wanted tribal cival war. And to this day the song gets mixed reviews from poeple on Pine Ridge.


p.s. the last time I herd it used was at Black hills in the 90's Black lodge sang it as an intertribal,then paid Mel and Sev out of respect to Severt Sr.

get-the-lead-out

It's credited as a intertribal song composed by a Mr. Sam Moves-Camp, from Pineridge Reservation, S.D. That's what I heard, anyways. It was a soulful tune, therefore, it was adopted by the aimsters. Could be !!
Don't take my word for it, however!