This past Saturday, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum presented “Singing the Birds (Wikitmallem Tahxmuweh): Bird Song & Dance Festival” at Palm Springs High School in California. This free public event was hosted by Michael Mirelez (Desert Cahuilla) and celebrated traditional Native American bird singing and dancing.
Videographer Albert Chacon was at the event and captured some great energy from the bird singers and dancers.
I get goosebumps every time I hear these songs, so beautiful!
In case you haven't seen our other posts about bird singing, here's a little background from the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum:
Through the ages, bird singing and dancing have been an important part of Native culture for tribes in southern California and other regions of the Southwest. Birds inspired the Cahuilla people to migrate after the death of their creator, Mukat. They saw birds come and go throughout the seasons, and thought they must be going somewhere better. The people followed the birds but lost their way, not knowing where to find water or food. They were caught in snow storms and many people died before they made their way back home. Bird songs are social songs that tell stories about the lessons learned during this migration. A completely oral tradition, they were sung in a precise order that accurately accounted for the chronology of the migration, and depended on their transference from teacher to student. Men and women both participate in singing and dancing while accompanied by the metered beat of rattles.
And good news for all you bird singing fans, I hear there's a second documentary in the works! Stay tuned.
Last Updated on May 19, 2019 by PowWow Articles
