“Song of the Sky Loom” and “Hunting Song” Sacred words from Tewa and Navajo songs Many cultures have spiritual songs and poetry that are used in worship or thanksgiving. This language is often clearly distinguished as sacred language as opposed to ordinary language. These songs are sacred because they celebrate their relationships with nature. Song of the Sky Loom is a generalized prayer for a good life, while Hunting Song is a specific prayer for a successful hunt. Both songs reflect a oneness with and respect for nature.

Build Background Tewa: Song of the Sky Loom Pueblo Indians from New Mexico Sang song in religious rituals Sky Loom used as a symbol Navajo: The Hunting Song Originally a tribe of hunters and gatherers Migrated to SW in 11th century and became herders and farmers Song was a gift from the god of sunrise and game animals These selections are sacred songs of two Native American groups of the Southwest. The Tewa are a group of Pueblo Indians, so called because they live in pueblos – villages of stone or adobe dwellings. The Tewa live in six pueblos north of Santa Fe, New Mexico: Tesque, nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, and San Juan. “Song of the Sky Loom” is one of many Tewa songs that are sung in religios rituals. The translator, Herbert Spinden, states that the sky loom referes to “small desert rains which resemble a loom hung from the sky.” “Dinni – e Sin” (“hunting Song” in English translation) is a song of the Navajo. The Navajo were originally hunters and gatherers, but after migrating to the Southwest in the 11th century, thay gradually adopted a more settled life of herding and farming. According to the Navajo, “Hunting Song” was given to them by Hastyeyalti, the god of the sunrise and of game animals. Navajo men prepared for the hunt by praying and singing hunting songs, in the belief that if they sang well, they would have success.

Symbolism the use of objects to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism is used to Emphasize key ideas or themes Examples: Lord of the Rings: The ring represents the power of good and evil Hatchet The hatchet represents survival The Hunger Games The Mockingjay represents __________?

Repetition The recurrence of words, phrases, or lines in a piece of literature. One obvious feature of these songs is repetition – the recurrence of words, phrases, or lines. The repetition of the line “Comes the deer to my singing” in “Hunting Song” creates a hypnotic, chantlike effect. The first line of “Song of the Sky Loom” is the same as the last line. This repetition of “ Oh our Mother the Earth, oh our Father the sky” help to frame the petitions of the Tewa.

Functions of repetition in Native American songs Creates a regular rhythm for dancing Reinforces important ideas Makes a song easier to remember Gives power to a song Has a hypnotic effect on the consciousness It is important to remember that the texts you read are not fully representative of these songs. They are lyrics, translated from the original languages, unaccompanied by music and movement, and taken out of the context of the ceremonies they are a part of. Still, there is enough left to appreciate the Native Americans’ desires to live in harmony with nature.

Active Reading Tips to Remember Read songs aloud Visualize the singers and the occasion for the song Speculate deeper, nonliteral meanings (ie. garment of brightness) Be aware of feelings toward nature and the universe

Visualize singers and occasion Song of the Sky Loom People relaxing after work Gathered together in ceremony Pleased, happy and fulfilled Hunting Song Singer is hungry but hopeful Hunter hidden in the flowery meadow Find the line of each poem that supports these visualizations. ( Song – “Your children are we, and with tired backs/ We bring you the gifts that you love.” Hunting – “Quarry mine, blessed am I/ In the luck of the chase.”)

Discuss in your small groups Analyze the symbols in each song. What might they represent? Song of the Sky Loom The Hunting Song Mother Earth and Father Sky: Garment of Brightness: Weft, warp, fringes, border: Blackbird: Other examples?

Nonliteral meanings Song of the Sky Loom Earth and sky as parents, deserving of gifts, and able to bestow gifts to children Garment weaved from morning and evening light, rain and rainbows Hunting Song The blackbird, favorite companion of the deer, may represent a desire that draws one to death In “Song of the Sky Loom”, the Tewa bring offerings to Mother the Earth and Father the Sky. The earth and sky are called parents. The singers look upon themselves as children who need the care of the earth and sky. With “tired backs” the children have worked to bring the offering described as “the gifts that you love.” They ask in return that Mother the Earth and Father the Sky weave a symbolic garment out of the white light of morning and the read light of evening, and out of the rain and the rainbow. That they give gifts, and ask for gifts in return, indicates reverence and intimacy. In “Hunting Song”, the Navajo hunter imitates the singing of the blackbird, favorite companion of the deer. His song calls the deer to come down from the mountain, coaxing the deer to participate in a cycle in which death in one part of the natural world brings life and sustenance in another.

Discuss in your small groups What can you infer about the connection the Tewa and the Navajo have with nature from the songs you heard? Tewa Navajo

Feelings about nature Song of the Sky Loom The singers view nature reverently, as their parents. Singer wishes to wear a mystical garment woven by nature Hunting Song The singer believes he can communicate with nature and influence it by singing. He is coaxing the deer to participate in a cycle of death with brings life. The singers in Song of the Sky Loom view earth and sky reverently as their parents, deserving of gifts, and able to bestow gifts in return. In Hunting Song, the singer views nature as very much a part of his world: he believes that he can communicate with it and influence it by singing.

Connect to life How do the attitudes toward nature expressed in these songs compare with the attitudes toward nature in American society today? Ask students to respond with their own ideas. IE – People today are much more likely to see themselves as being outside of or opposed to nature than the Tewa or the Navajo apparently did. Modern people would expect technology to provide them with a good life rather than farming, hunting, or other activities close to nature.