A.I.M. Song - Page 3

mnx_str8_up · 05-30-2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

My uncles are Edward Benton-Banai and Clyde Bellecourt(founder of the American Indian Movement).
I also have heard the story you've heard rkbtmeyb,that a song was requested by the AIM members, and one of the few songs known to the singers at the time was the "AIM" song. They sang it, people caught on, and that's how it got to become the "AIM" song.

Pheji Wanbli · 05-31-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

they crowd the drum.. whooping and hollering... dude who are you too speak of the aim song like that... so you sang it . did you have that same crowd .. so why did you ask an elder lakota women too sing it. makes you wonder..

redthunder · 06-10-2006, 06:42 PM

anyone have a recording of the song?

**WocusWoman** · 06-10-2006, 07:01 PM

We use this song to "open" our drum. I have a recording, but it sucks!

TiPi CrEePeR · 06-10-2006, 11:35 PM

To "open"???

**WocusWoman** · 06-10-2006, 11:43 PM

Yes, we open the drum in private. Then we pray, and not during an event. Then we close the drum with a song and prayer.

TiPi CrEePeR · 06-11-2006, 12:31 AM

Thanks. Juss never heard the term "open" before.

Is this a woman's drum?

**WocusWoman** · 06-11-2006, 04:42 AM

It's a mans traditional drum. My daughter and I sing with them. You never heard of opening or closing a drum before putting it away in it's case???

RedShield · 06-11-2006, 05:17 AM

There's a version of the song on Dennis Banks' Still Strong Recording along with the Peltier Song...

Paselo

RedShield · 06-11-2006, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WocusWoman

It's a mans traditional drum. My daughter and I sing with them. You never heard of opening or closing a drum before putting it away in it's case???

Probably just a difference in terminology, we use a warm-up song (normally our drum song) and a closing song (usually a travelling song) before we wrap up at the end of a session.

Just what I think anyways.

Paselo

**WocusWoman** · 06-11-2006, 09:59 PM

Goot thought; maybe some people don't know how the drum is to be treated with respect?

TiPi CrEePeR · 06-12-2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WocusWoman

Goot thought; maybe some people don't know how the drum is to be treated with respect?

That sounds kinda witchy don't ya think?

I was talking in a respectful manner to ya. Just asked a question cause I never heard the term. And yeah, what we do is warm up and traveling song usually. So yeah, we do stuff to "open" and "close" . Just never heard it called that. Sorry. Damn.

TiPi CrEePeR · 06-12-2006, 01:41 AM

I thought I was being respectful when I asked this question but guess some have taken offense. For that I apologize. I got bad repped for this and really don't understand why. Maybe some one can shed light on it. Not that it really matters but just curious. Cause of course they have to be cowards and not sign their names.

**WocusWoman** · 06-12-2006, 03:09 AM

Tipicreeper; I sure don't believe I was being witchy, and I didn't think I was directly aiming my comments at you. Now that I go back and read; in your post #47, were you inferring that because the drum I sing with "opens" our drum, means that we could only be a woman's drum? I guess someone beat me to giving you bad rep, but that's ok, I save that for really bad, disrespectful people on this website.

06-10-2006, 06:42 PM	#43 (permalink)
redthunder Powwow King Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 484	anyone have a recording of the song? __________________ I'm interested more in self determination than gender equity. In other words, changing white men for white woman in the structures of power, does nothing to transform the opression in my community. "You need to find yourself a girl, mate... Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you? [looks down]" -Captain Jack Sparrow

06-10-2006, 11:35 PM	#45 (permalink)
TiPi CrEePeR Tipi Chiefy Join Date: May 2003 Location: My tipi or yours Posts: 77	To "open"??? __________________ Have ichabu.. will travel! The original TiPi CrEePeR...

06-11-2006, 12:31 AM	#47 (permalink)
TiPi CrEePeR Tipi Chiefy Join Date: May 2003 Location: My tipi or yours Posts: 77	Thanks. Juss never heard the term "open" before. Is this a woman's drum? __________________ Have ichabu.. will travel! The original TiPi CrEePeR...

06-11-2006, 05:17 AM	#49 (permalink)
RedShield Singer/ Dancer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 15,474	There's a version of the song on Dennis Banks' Still Strong Recording along with the Peltier Song... Paselo __________________ I became a singer because I love to sing... and to feed my addiction to cough drops!

06-12-2006, 01:41 AM	#53 (permalink)
TiPi CrEePeR Tipi Chiefy Join Date: May 2003 Location: My tipi or yours Posts: 77	I thought I was being respectful when I asked this question but guess some have taken offense. For that I apologize. I got bad repped for this and really don't understand why. Maybe some one can shed light on it. Not that it really matters but just curious. Cause of course they have to be cowards and not sign their names. __________________ Have ichabu.. will travel! The original TiPi CrEePeR...

06-10-2006, 07:01 PM	#44 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	We use this song to "open" our drum. I have a recording, but it sucks!

06-10-2006, 11:43 PM	#46 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	Yes, we open the drum in private. Then we pray, and not during an event. Then we close the drum with a song and prayer.

06-11-2006, 04:42 AM	#48 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	It's a mans traditional drum. My daughter and I sing with them. You never heard of opening or closing a drum before putting it away in it's case???

06-11-2006, 09:59 PM	#51 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	Goot thought; maybe some people don't know how the drum is to be treated with respect?

06-12-2006, 03:09 AM	#54 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	Tipicreeper; I sure don't believe I was being witchy, and I didn't think I was directly aiming my comments at you. Now that I go back and read; in your post #47, were you inferring that because the drum I sing with "opens" our drum, means that we could only be a woman's drum? I guess someone beat me to giving you bad rep, but that's ok, I save that for really bad, disrespectful people on this website.

06-12-2006, 04:33 AM	#55 (permalink)
TiPi CrEePeR Tipi Chiefy