Song of Healing
Sung by Courtney Yellowfat
Song No. 90 • Catalog No. 655
Densmore recording sung by Matȟó Napé Ská (Bear with White Paw)
From Teton Sioux Music by Frances Densmore:
The drum Bear with White Paw holds is that which he used when singing his medicine songs.
Before beginning his account of the herbs and their uses, Bear with White Paw made the following request to the bear, a request which he said he would use when treating the sick.
“My friend, I am poor and needy. Listen well to me. This day I have something in my mind, and I wish to tell you.
“All these medicines you have made known to me, and you have commanded me to perform certain things in order to attend to certain sicknesses, and you have told me that these medicines have certain powers in them. Now I wish to use them with effect.
“These sicknesses, I want them to go away.”
Bear with White Paw said that he had only one song that he sang in connection with the use of herbs for healing. This is that song.
Lyrics
Até hiyú yeyó
Hunúŋpa makȟáta yuŋká čha phiyá wakáǧe
Até hiyú yeyó
Iná hiyú yeyó
Hunúŋpa makȟáta yuŋká čha phiyá wakáǧe
Iná hiyú yeyó
Father come forth
A two-legged object lying in the earth I have renewed
Father come forth
Mother come forth
A two-legged object lying in the earth I have renewed
Mother come forth
