N a t i v e

VoicesBy SAra NAtiv idad

Can you remember the times

That you have held your head high

and told all your friends of your Indian claim

Proud good lady and proud good man

Some great great grandfather from Indian blood came

and you feel in your heart for these ones

~*~*~*~*~*~

Can you remember the times

That you have held your head high

and told all your friends of your Indian claim

Proud good lady and proud good man

Some great great grandfather from Indian blood came

and you feel in your heart for these ones

~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy

Saint-

Marie

“

we are afraid

that the old In-dian ways may

be lost. We believe the only way to keep

them alive is for Indian people to do it them-

selves....we must hold on to the old

ways.

“

“

we are afraid

that the old In-dian ways may

be lost. We believe the only way to keep

them alive is for Indian people to do it them-

selves....we must hold on to the old

ways.

”

STRONG ROOTS

We are the trees.Our roots, in this land are strong.

They dig deep into the earth,And as we’ve grown, they’ve grown deeper.

When our land is hurt,We hurt.

When it is flooded,We weep.

Because we are connected to it.Because it is ours.

But you don’t listen.Like the trees, our voices are not heard.

We cry, we scream out in pain.But nothing.

Nothing changes.You continue to hurt, to destroy

Something so connected with our Mother.

Like the tree, you cut us down and use us for your selfish ways

Yet we are still here.The tree still has its stump,

Its roots still deep into the earth.Our culture will always have its roots.

We may be hurt, cut down by the millionsBut we are here, our roots still stretching deep down.

One day you will look at our land,You will see the stumps of what is left,

The destruction you caused,And you will weep.

As strong as the Seneca dams,The tears will pour.

But will it be too late?Is it already too late?

STRONG ROOTSBY SARA NATIVIDAD