Prayer Song

[wheezercat42]

Thank you for posting these. I used to attend inipi ceremonies regularly, then life got in the way for a while, and now I'm just starting back again. The place where I go is too far away for me to go to singing practice too so I could learn these songs. I understand the significance behind the songs and will use them respectfully. Thank you for giving me a way to learn them so I can join in during ceremony. Pilamaye. Mitakuye Oyasin.

[takeabreak333]

Thanks for all the wonderful help you have provided through sharing lyrics and translations for these songs. It has deepened my understanding and ability to participate in the Inipi ceremony. Re this song, in the video, you sing the “Grandfather, I pray to you first” lyrics twice the first time, then only once the second time, and the third time through, you sing them only once and substitute “Wankantana” for “Tunkasila.” Does this comprise one complete verse or set that is sung four times?

[Inipisongs]

@takeabreak333 Yes, it is one set. Repeated sets are often referred to as push-ups.

[LutaBoy11]

Look if you want to learn go to these sacred circles.... Mato Luta Waheyelo

Mitakuye Oyasin

[Tonantzintonali1]

Mitakuye Oyasin! Remember the meaning.

[Tonantzintonali1]

Thank you for posting,although there is much disagreement on to or not to post it is with much love from our people that we are given these songs.

[CallingBear1]

Although this forum may not please some people, this is a wonderful way to keep our culture alive and thriving. I frequent the inipi ceremonies very often, and although I am not of the great Sioux nation, we sometimes do have sioux brothers and sisters attend, I will use these songs with the respect they deserve. Ahow

[wbworkout]

I know that this and others are sacred songs. I honor the context and the First Nations. I deeply appreciate the intentions of the gentleman who posted this and others. I believe this is a time that people from different spiritual traditions will start to learn from each other and historical scars and divisions will be healed. Please accept my thanks.

[mdeer12]

Thank you so much for this gift of love, this call upon your heart to share this way. Momma (Earth) tells me that in the sacred walk we to walk as she does. She tells me the rain comes down and falls upon all. It does not withhold its song and only share with the few, but gives to all. She says, "By sharing we grow" Thank you for all of this that you have done. AHO ... Earthen Girl Native Rainbow Star

[LakotaLoveNativeThug]

This is the first song I ever learned from my father. I dont know the exact translation but its something like. grandfather I pray to you first. Grandfather I pray to you first. I pray for my family and first. Grandfather I pray to you first. I think. then the next verse is the same but with wanka tanka or great spirit

[Inipisongs]

@LakotaLoveNativeThug Click "see all" up by the comments, and the translation is about two-thirds of the way down the page.

[Wakalyapi]

I suppose if u learn A language - with ur mind...ur head. U can one up someone..but true language is taught thru the ceremonies...

Sharing is a good process ..but then that's why we have so many non-aboriginal people trying to diss us at our Ceremonies. They think cuz they know - something - they can out do spiritual leaders.

Ceremony is knowing ur lineage...language is knowing ur soul/spirit.... taking it from there... follow ur family lineage! Dont be chasing the N American dream!

[chaparrita0069]

this is another way of showing that our people can adapt to anything thrown at us....i am a costal native here...and proud...

[claudiaocean]

thank you for helping us to remember our songs, and share them with others.

[salishbeauty]

Wanted to say hychka for this prayer song. I truly need prayers at this time, not only for myself, my health, lupus - but also to pray for someone i have to deal with in my life. I also pray for my family -each are going through their own trials & tribulations. I needed something, so checked here & found peace in my heart. I truly believe that a social forum, it will be shown that those who are at our wit's end, will find solace in prayer and as Indigenous people, we have always been adaptable

[SleepyCabeza]

This song and other songs are sacred and should not be shown in public from what I was taught. I think is great to share out with our brothers and sister who sweat.

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin!

[elsenor89]

Those of you who want to "share and learn": These are Inipi songs. They have a purpose, and many times that is to call Spirit. They do not belong on this forum. You do not call Spirit on Youtube. You can post songs from powwows, songs that are sung in social forums, but these songs have a purpose that is to be used in Inipi ceremony. If you dont understand that this is offensive to Native people, then I would say you do not truly understand the ceremonies as well. Respectfully,Mitakuye Oyasin

[Inipisongs]

@elsenor89 Seriously disagree. Having said that, let's leave it at that.

[elsenor89]

These are Inipi songs. Sacred songs that have a purpose. They are not to be posted in public. Posting this is wrong and offensive. Please, remove this and all your other posts of songs that are for sacred ceremonies.

Not to disrespect any intertribal brothers or sisters. This is not the place for such songs. People are wanting spirit in this day, but ceremony songs are not shared in this way. The ways can lose their meanings and true function. Be careful Mitakuye Oyasin

[Inipisongs]

@elsenor89 Suffice to say, we disagree.

[BRIANBRECTO]

Thank you for the work you have and are doing here. We use these to practice for ceremony. For those who ask "Why are you putting these up?", I would have to ask what do you mean? These are up so all who follow these ways can share and learn. Same reason we buy CD"s of all the singers and groups to learn... odd question!!!

[Inipisongs]

@BRIANBRECTO Glad to hear that you find them helpful. You are, of course, correct in the rationale for their postings here. Thanks.

[17blawrence]

thank you for posting these tutorials. so helpful to see the words and practice this way.

[sammyleon]

WHY ARE U PUTTING THESE UP?

[Inipisongs]

@sammyleon You are being rhetorical, right?

[jdcc061]

Thank you for singing...

[icedogfan1]

Is there a victory song,or a song of thanks?

[Inipisongs]

@icedogfan1 I have only heard it sung as a prayer song. I learned it as such, and sing it in the prayer round of the inipi ceremony,

[freeorla]

Hello, interesting how these songs have diferent dialects like the lakota language has different dialects. were did you learn this version of this song from?

[Inipisongs]

@freeorla All comments here are subject to approval, so don't sweat it if you don't see yours for awhile after posting. Many songs vary from tiopsaye to tiyospaye. I know at least three versions of this one. In addition to songs I have heard and learned thru Pine Ridge and Rosebud communities,  there are countless recordings available. I just present them in this format to help folks learn them more readily. It is tough for a non-native speaker to pick up on them.

[freeorla]

Hello, interesting how these songs have diferent dialects like the lakota language has different dialects. were did you learn this version of this song from?

[rezboy74]

Im learning the inipi ceremony and these songs are helpin me to sing thanks for posting

[ShiylahWhitelance]

Uhm i dont like that fact that you are posting these songs on here ...

[Inipisongs]

I hear that every once in awhile. Thanks for weighing in.

[LSon20]

Don't sweat it, I am a sundancer, my father was a sundancer, my grandfather was a sundancer and I've been having trouble learning to sing, I've always asked people to write down the words and sing them with me so I can learn easier, this really helps me.

[Inipisongs]

Glad these efforts are helpful to you. Thanks for the post.

[beautywatersprite]

Thanks! or can I say, pilamayaye?

[fcukyui]

Inipisongs, lovely prayer song! very beautiful.

[Inipisongs]

Translation:

Tunkasila-Grandfather

Tokaheya-First

Cewakiyelo-I pray

Mitakuye ob-With my relatives

Wanikta ca- I will live, so

Hoyewayelo-I send my voice (pray)

Wakantanka-Great Power (God)

[ryuzakilawlight]

@Inipisongs thank youuu

[rubberbandface]

Thank you for your time on recording and spelling out the lakota language for these songs you have posted. I'm from Mexico and down here are a lot of Inipi communities that are working hard to learn the songs correctly. Hope you keep up with this so we can keep learning the songs for good. Mitakuye oyasin

[MsCharamut1969]

thanx for posting this..I am on the track of learning my language again and it's awesome to hear words you know...Pilamaya! I'm from Pine Ridge Rez but havent been there since I was baby. But thank you again

Wakan Tanka nici un

May the Great Spirit guide you and bless you

[Inipisongs]

Thank you. I have spent some time in several Pine Ridge communities, and have drunk quite a few Gator-ades and coffees at Big Bat's. Glad these songs are worthwhile to you.

[Romanorum]

Every song I hear has slightly different words to it. My Inipi community is straight from SD and sings things differently, are there many forms of the same song, or have the real ones been lost with all the variations?

[Inipisongs]

I have heard variations of the same songs from one community to the next. This one, for example, has two more variations that I know. Lyrics, melodies, and rhythms vary. One song I haven't posted yet, the coyote song, is sung differently by a father and each of two of his sons, all three of whom have conducted their own sundances in SD and Nebraska. The Pine Ridge version I have heard is different, as well. Different singers, different communities, different versions, it seems.

[Romanorum]

Funny you should mention the Coyote song to me. I can't seem to memorize that song, despite it being given to me. I work better when I can actually see the words. Make sure you post a good explanation of the song too. :) That's a very important song to me.

[Inipisongs]

I'll get it up as soon as I get my recording program working again. Thanks.

[sunmoonstarlex]

Thanks for posting these songs.

It makes it easier for people to learn them, seeing the words printed out.

I had to learn the hard way, while being roasted and toasted!

LOL!

[Inipisongs]

Thanks, just trying to help. Making them easier for people to learn is the only reason they are posted here. Even in lodge, they can be very difficult to learn, with multiple singers' voices and interpretations mixed in with secondings, drums, and rattles. Some of the CDs and songsheets can also be hard to follow, and learn from.

[Dharma2012]

This is a song I heard at my very first Inipi ever this summer. Thanks for posting.

[Inipisongs]

Thanks for the positive comment.

[Inipisongs]

Translation:

Tunkasila-Grandfather

Tokaheya-First

Cewakiyelo-I pray

Mitakuye ob-With my relations

Wanikta ca-I will live, so

Hoyewayelo- I send a voice.

Wakantanka- The Great Sacred One, God

[Matrixdirect78]

Is this the native lakota language? the pronunciation seems very easy to learn and i'm not a native amrican,but i enjoy learning to pray in another language.

[Inipisongs]

My detractors would say otherwise, but yes, these songs are in the Lakota language. Thanks.