← more from
Makoché

Kelcie Two Shields - Song Concerning White Butterfly (Song 147)

from Lakota Songs by Densmore Repatriation Project

/

about

From Teton Sioux Music by Frances Densmore:

The grief of those whose relatives were killed on the warpath was intense. Many of the women cut gashes in the flesh of the entire body and limbs, and cropped the hair close to their heads. Many of the men thrust skewers through the flesh on the outside of their legs. It was the custom for them to go around the village circle displaying these signs of mourning.

As they went they sang a song in which they inserted the name of their dead relative, or they might compose an entirely new song in his honor.

Mrs. Lawrence (Silent Woman) has been a student at Carlisle, but retains an unusually clear knowledge of old war customs. Mrs. Lawrence said that when she was ten years of age her cousin, named Kimímela Ská (White Butterfly), was killed by the Crows. She remembered hearing her aunt sing this song when the war party returned with the news of his death.

credits

from Lakota Songs, released August 31, 2022
Song Concerning White Butterfly (Song 147)
Sung by Kelcie Two Shields
Song No. 147 • Catalog No. 686
Densmore recording sung by Čanku ́lawiŋ (Road) Mrs. Hattie Lawrence

www.lakotasongs.com/song147

www.lakotasongs.com
densmorerepatriationproject.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/densmoreproject
youtu.be/fkRUJ5Dvj4c

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Densmore Repatriation Project image

Densmore Repatriation Project

At Standing Rock in 1911, Frances Densmore met with dozens of tribal elders and recorded traditional songs on wax cylinder. Densmore documented this work in her book Teton Sioux Music which became a touchstone for learning about Lakota/Dakota culture. The Densmore Repatriation Project reintroduces the songs with new recordings made by contemporary Native singers. ... more

contact / help

Contact Densmore Repatriation Project

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Song Concerning White Butterfly (Song 147), you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now