Native American Youths Today and Their Native Music

Danyel Eldridge (1)Music November 2, 2010

Table of contents• History of Native music• Forms• The Flute• Voice • Spiritual Uses• Ceremonies• How it was viewed• Youths today• Native Youths• Music today• Native American Music today• Some artist• Conclusion

History of Native American Music

First we will look at the history of Native American music and its different forms.

Music

• Forms– Drums– Rattles– The Flute– Voice– Uses for music

Ceremonies Healing

Forms of native music

Native American music was normally based on the use of percussion instruments. These

forms of instruments were normally drums or a type of rattle.(3)(11)

The Flute

Another instrument that the Native people played on was the flute. Though this wasn’t a percussion instrument it did and does have its place in their music. The flute was often used

for courting.The modern flute has only one note, if you want

to play another note you would have to get another flute. (4)

Voice

The other large part of the Native American music is the vocals. The singing and chanting of the music plays a large roll in not just the

traditional aspect of the music but also in the spirituality of the Native Americans.(3)

Spiritual uses

Music play’s a large roll in the lives of Native Americans, especially in the way of spirituality.

Music is often used in many different ceremonies and healing purposes.

Ceremonies

• War dances• Executions • Deaths These are some of the reasons of ceremonial music.

Healing

“According to principles of native American healing, illnesses are not rooted in the

affected area, but are cause by spiritual imbalances which can be corrected by herbs,

meditation and rituals.”() Much of these rituals also included singing or chanting. As Parkmen’s account shows they viewed “that

the physical work of vocalizing and time beating as part of a healing ritual…”(5)

How it was viewed

When the American people came into contact with the Natives they found them to be savage in their traditions and ceremonies.

They were Viewed as Different

Native Americans were viewed as savage. As a people that had no morals and danced around half naked hopped up on peace pipes. This view was because of the Europeans mundane lifestyle across the sea. When the encountered a people that lived differently it lead to contempentt “which gave settlers excuse” to do what they wanted.

Youths today

• 97% of American youths play video games• Others focus on sports• Parties• School• Work

Native American Youths

• Native American youths represent 1% of the population

• 58% of youths 12-20 are likely to become criminals

• Suicide for youths is three times the national average (2)

Native Youths

There are many different organizations to help Natives Youths and there families.

Native Nations InstituteNAYA-Native American Youth & Family Center

These are just a few of the Nationally know organizations. They help Native American

youths learn about their culture and identity. Thus helping to make them stronger individuals

in their culture. (8)

Music Today

There are many different forms of music today:

• Rock & Roll• R & B• Country • Folk• Punk

Just to name a few.

Music Today

Music today has come a long way from sitting in a parlor lessening to a piano. Music today is about anything, sexy, drugs to brake ups and falling in love. These never would have been sung in the

parlor.All of these different kinds of music are intertwined if

you will. For example country music got its start as folk music. R & B from jazz and jazz also started

rock & roll. Where does Native American Music fit into this world?

About Native Music today

Many tribes have formed what is called Pan-Tribalism music.

They uses this as a way to keep their identity and share their

culture. They do this by having gatherings where the will have powwows and ghost dances. Native Music today has also

become a market on its own, by those that want to take

advantage of it.

How Youths view Native Music

Many youths of the Native American people only know their peoples music by going to organizations that teach it. Its is often no long passed down from older to younger tribe members like it used to. Now the youth have to go and learn it.

Native Youths

Many Native youths are being trained in the music of their people. This way the Native music has a chance to live on, though “traditional Native American music is becoming lost forever”, many believe.(6)(9)

The Affects of Native Music on Youths Today

Today the Youths are being reached by a different group of people. The Native people themselves are growing and adapting, and now pass on their peoples values in other

ways then the traditional form. Many Natives today are marketed and use Rap or Hip Hop as

a way to spread their messages.(7)

“Your words are your arrow, your pin is your bow.”

Today many Native Americans turn to hip

hop or rap to empower their people. Teach about their history and provide

spiritual songs, or enlightenment.

A few of the Artist

• Teddy “Reduon” Orii• Litefoot• Dreamcatchers

These are just to name a few of the Artist. These musicians try to show culture in a blend with hip-hop. They also inspirer the embracing

of their people. This makes there music something that the youths today can learn

from.

ConclusionThe Native American people and there music has been bullied for centuries, but yet it lives

on. Though they may have difficulty passing on traditions and values to their youths, they have

still managed to come up with ways that are appealing to them and thus have won this

battle. The Native Americans music will always live on, because of their dedication to their

values and customs. It has just started to evolve.

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<http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/issues/nativeyouth/facts.html>.3. "History of Native American Music." Professional Translation Services | Interpreters | Intercultural

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