Lyrics
I feel the latent effects of assimilation
Expressing the lingering impact of assimilation.
Inner city Native raised by bright lights, sky scrapers
Describing the upbringing of a Native in an urban environment.
Born with dim prospects, little peace in living
Reflecting on a challenging and unpeaceful childhood.
As a child, hot headed about the fact I wasn't wild
Recalling a rebellious phase as a child due to not conforming to stereotypes.
Like they called my ancestors, imagined what it'd be
Imagining the nomadic and free lifestyle of ancestors.
To live nomadic off the land and free
Contrasting ancestral life with the reality of being unprepared.
Instead I was full of heat like a furnace cause I wasn't furnished
Feeling incomplete without cultural knowledge and traditions.
With language and traditional ways of my peeps
Lamenting the lack of language and traditional ways.
Yeah I used to feel like I wasn't truly indigenous
Initial insecurity about Indigenous identity.
Now I say miigwech gichi-manidoo
Expressing gratitude for discovering true Indigenous roots.
For showing me my true roots, definitely Native
Acknowledging Native identity with thanks to the creator.
Take responsibility for being educated
Taking responsibility for education and awareness.
My people and customs originating from early phases
Connecting with ancestral people and customs.
Of history it's, deeper than frybread and contest pow-wows
Highlighting the depth of Native history beyond stereotypes.
Tears shed in the sweat lodge, prayers go out to all those I've wronged
Expressing empathy and prayers for past conflicts.
And who have wronged me, gotta treat 'em like family
Promoting forgiveness and treating others as family.
Gichi-manido wiidookawishin
Invoking spiritual elements and prayers for cultural revival.
Ji-mashkawiziyaan mii dash bami'idiziyaan
-Miizhishinaam zaagi'iiwewin
-Ganoozh ishinaam, bizindaw ishinaam
-Mii-wenji nagamoyaan
-Nimishomis wiidookawishinaam
-Ji-aabajitooyaang anishinaabe izhitwaawin
-Mii-ji-bi-gikendamaan keyaa anishinaabe bimaadiziwin
-Becoming aware of a heart beats fragility
-So I, pray for my creator's will and humility
-It seems my prayer's weak I can't speak, not a linguist
-Does he hear my English when I vent I fear the answer to the question
-This is symbolic of anguish I feel regarding language
-And the obligation of revitalizing something sacred
-Failure to carry through is disgracing a nation
-My first tongue's in need of a face lift but
-Deciphering conjugation's like trying to find
-My way through a maze in the matrix, complex
-Hard to start without an end aside from being fluent
-I gotta push the limit if I'm gonna keep pursuing
-So I, use it in a way that relates to my life and vocab
-Bring some entertainment to it, spit it on a track
-And I take it out the class, can't let what I lack
-Become a self-defeating habit that'll make me want to quit
-Gichi-manido wiidookawishin
-Ji-mashkawiziyaan mii dash bami'idiziyaan
-Miizhishinaam zaagi'iiwewin
-Ganoozh ishinaam, bizindaw ishinaam
-Mii-wenji nagamoyaan
-Nimishomis wiidookawishinaam
-Ji-aabajitooyaang anishinaabe izhitwaawin
-Mii-ji-bi-gikendamaan keyaa anishinaabe bimaadiziwin
-It's farfetched but Grandfather please help me learn it
-Help me assist in keeping it from burning
-Don't let me quit and flee from working for a worthy purpose
-Enlighten me and help me comprehend effects of my service
-I need a spark in my desire from something higher
-Prior to negative reminders killing my stride
-Sometimes I'm the type that likes getting results overnight
-Without sweating or stressing overnight
-So I pray, Creator give me strength, so I can move on
-Creator show us love, so it can spread around
-Communicate with us, from above, hear me now
-My prayers in a song I speak 'em out loud
-Grandfather help us to revitalize the language and ways
-So we walk the red road that you paved
-Communicate with us from above, hear me now
-My prayers in a song I speak 'em out loud
-Gichi-manido wiidookawishin
-Ji-mashkawiziyaan mii dash bami'idiziyaan
-Miizhishinaam zaagi'iiwewin
-Ganoozh ishinaam, bizindaw ishinaam
-Mii-wenji nagamoyaan
-Nimishomis wiidookawishinaam
-Ji-aabajitooyaang anishinaabe izhitwaawin
-Mii-ji-bi-gikendamaan keyaa anishinaabe bimaadiziwin
-Creator give me strength, so I can move on
-Creator show us love, so it can spread around
-Communicate with us, from above, hear me now
-My prayers in a song I speak 'em out loud
-Grandfather help us to revitalize the language and ways
-So we walk the red road that you paved
-Communicate with us from above, hear me now
-My prayers in a song I speak 'em out loud
Final affirmation of prayers expressed through a song.
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