#13 - PT 1 Song Knowledge: Retention and use of songs in Tribal communities - Guest: John Stiffarm
07/31/20 • 71 min
In this episode, the IRC team is also joined by a special guest, John Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih). John is from the Fort Belknap Reservation and has served as a teacher since 2007 of the A̓a̓niiih (Gros Ventre) language in kindergarten through 12th grade. His passion for culture and language revitalization has followed John into all aspects of his life as he continues to promote an Indigenous life through his work in education.
The IRC team discusses the knowledge of songs both contemporarily and traditionally. The episode starts with a Brave Heart Song sung by Paul Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih). The song is used to honor and help people at significant times in their lives. They could be sung at funerals and wakes or during significant accomplishments of individuals. The continuing discussion contributes to a growing body of knowledge in how one acquires information about song and singing. John shares how he started on his journey into learning songs and the traditions associated with them.
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a clip of John singing an old hang game song. Hand game, stick game, and two-button game are discussed. These gambling games are described from an A̓a̓niiih perspective, while the IRC provides corroborative information about gambling games from our respective tribes.
The discussion centers around questions such as "How can traditionally acquired, and spiritually derived songs co-exist with composed contemporary songs?" "How will the next generation maintain traditions in the evolving landscape of song and song use?"
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Guest: John Stiffarm
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Marty Lopez, Brenda Shepard, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-irc/id1512551396
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1H5Y1pWYI8N6SYZAaawwxb
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
In this episode, the IRC team is also joined by a special guest, John Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih). John is from the Fort Belknap Reservation and has served as a teacher since 2007 of the A̓a̓niiih (Gros Ventre) language in kindergarten through 12th grade. His passion for culture and language revitalization has followed John into all aspects of his life as he continues to promote an Indigenous life through his work in education.
The IRC team discusses the knowledge of songs both contemporarily and traditionally. The episode starts with a Brave Heart Song sung by Paul Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih). The song is used to honor and help people at significant times in their lives. They could be sung at funerals and wakes or during significant accomplishments of individuals. The continuing discussion contributes to a growing body of knowledge in how one acquires information about song and singing. John shares how he started on his journey into learning songs and the traditions associated with them.
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a clip of John singing an old hang game song. Hand game, stick game, and two-button game are discussed. These gambling games are described from an A̓a̓niiih perspective, while the IRC provides corroborative information about gambling games from our respective tribes.
The discussion centers around questions such as "How can traditionally acquired, and spiritually derived songs co-exist with composed contemporary songs?" "How will the next generation maintain traditions in the evolving landscape of song and song use?"
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Guest: John Stiffarm
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Marty Lopez, Brenda Shepard, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-irc/id1512551396
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1H5Y1pWYI8N6SYZAaawwxb
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
Previous Episode
#12 - Good Times: Temporal Dimensions of Indigenous Thought
In this episode, the IRC team discusses the concept of time in relation to indigenous thought and life. The episode starts with a song by Madeline Charley (Salish) that is generally labeled a Life Song. Recorded in Arlee in 1950, this song is loosely translated as, "expresses a joy or living." In the middle or the song Madeline is translated saying "This is in my heart and I travel all over; my spirit, my life and living." The IRC Team used this song as a catalyst to discuss how time is utilized in a traditional sense and how it has changed as me move into the modernized time. With the past understanding of time diminishing in certain ways, can a traditional sense of time remain situated in today's everchanging world?
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a song by Ellen BigSam generally labeled a Glad or Life Song recorded in Arlee, MT in 1950. This song is described as “just a glad song, a happy song," and was apparently sung when a war or hunting party returned to camp. Since it was sung as the members or the party rode their horses around the camp circle, it might best be included in the category of the Parade Songs.
The IRC Team finished their discussion by examining ways to revitalize this the concepts of time into our modern Tribal life.
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Marty Lopez, Brenda Shepard, Shandin Pete.
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
Next Episode
#14 - PT 2 Song Knowledge: Retention and use of songs in Tribal communities - Guest: John Stiffarm & Mike Lafromboise
In part 2 of this series of episodes, the IRC team is also joined by a special guest, John Stiffarm (A̓a̓niiih), and returning guest Mike Lafromboise (Piikani). John is from the Fort Belknap Reservation and has served as a teacher since 2007 of the A̓a̓niiih (Gros Ventre) language in kindergarten through 12th grade. His passion for culture and language revitalization has followed John into all aspects of his life as he continues to promote an Indigenous life through his work in education. Mike is a faculty member in the Tribal Governance program, at Salish Kootenai College.
The IRC team discusses the knowledge of songs both contemporarily and traditionally. The episode starts with a clip of Louie NinePipe singing the Snčučaw, a Shoshone war dance song used by the Salish at the end of the war dance in preparation for the distribution of food. The similarity of this song and others, originating from the Omaha grass dance across the plains and plateau tribes, provides context to the historical sharing of knowledge. The discussion of protocols and procedures related to songs and singing are shared between the respective hosts (Apsáalooke & Seliš) and guests (A̓a̓niiih & Piikani) tribes.
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a clip of a song composed for Sampson Birdinground (Apsáalooke) to remark his deeds. The song, generally sung to remark war deeds, was composed to note Sampsons horsemanship and general good qualities. Along with the guests, the IRC continues to discuss how deeds are thought of today the complement those of our ancestors.
The discussion centers around questions such as "How can tribes reinvent or revive traditional practices that were common across our communities?" "How can songs and singing be utilized again to promote inquiry and quests for knowledge?"
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Guest: John Stiffarm, Mike Lafromboise
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-irc/id1512551396
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1H5Y1pWYI8N6SYZAaawwxb
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
Tribal Research Specialist: The Podcast - #13 - PT 1 Song Knowledge: Retention and use of songs in Tribal communities - Guest: John Stiffarm
Transcript
Welcome to podcast IRC conversations with indigenous scholars to advance understandings and gain new knowledge hosted by the indigenous Research Center at Salish Cooney college.
John StiffarmYeah, that's what we call a yoke. That's the it we call it you know like a Braveheart song. And it means to word in the language that they attack means to harden your heart is what it says. It's also like a way
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