L'ukaahadi Cry Song (formally known as the Tlingit National Anthem)

Basic Anthem Information:

Who composed the song: Joe Wright

Who gave the song to the people: Austin Hammond

The Story Behind The Anthem:

Aanteeyeili (Joe Wright) and his friend were out on a boat. They saw another boat drifting towards them. They found a family on the boat, and everyone had been killed. They brought the boat back to the authorities in Haines Alaska. The authorities questioned them, but all Aanteeyeili and his brother could only say in English was yes, so they were sent to Alcatraz Island in California. Many years later, when Aanteeyeili returned home, he found a great loss of culture had occurred. People no longer remembered the old traditions and culture. Aanteeyeili wrote the Tlingit National Anthem to assure that our voices will always be heard on our grandfather's land.

In grand camp 1989 Austin Hammond gave the Tlingit National Anthem to the Tlingit people so that they could perform the song during the 1990 Celebration. It is often performed today by dance groups and at traditional gatherings.

*Recently the L'ukaahadi Clan has reclaimed this as their Cry Song. They still allow others to sing it but they ask that it be sung properly as well as being properly explained.

Verse One:

YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAWW, EI--YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EI--YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EI-YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

AAYAAW, YAAW HANEE, AAYAAW

CH'A AADEI YEI OONA TEE GAX AWE

HAAA LEELK'WOO HAS

AANEE---YAAW, EIYAAW

AAKAADEI HAAT SAGAX

DOO.AXCH-A

HOO.EI--YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

AAYAAW, YAAW HANEE, AAYAAW

CH'UYEI! CH'UYEI! Repeat, Repeat

Verse One (English Translation):

So that it may never be forgotten

Our voices will be heard on

Our Grandfather's land

VERSE TWO:

DAA X'E GAAS

CHAAYANASK'A EETOOWOO

HAA AAT HAS, AANEEYAAW, EIYAAW

EEYEILEE KAX AGEE DAA GAAX'--YAA

HOO.EI---YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW,

AAYAAW, YAAW HENEE AAYAAW

CH'UYEI! CH'YEI! REPEAT, REPEAT

VERSE TWO (English Translation):

KEEP THIS PROMISE OUR FATHERS' SISTERS

AS YOU PRAY TO YOUR RAVEN

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tlingit
• anthem
• native
• ndn
• aboriginal
• yukon
• alaska
• traditional

[DGAProductions]

it sounds like Yahweh but it's actually just filler words...very common in Tlingit songs.

[DGAProductions]

i just added the history to the video info.

gunalcheesh for asking! :)

[djcarlson95]

Ax Leelk'w kaa hus' Lingit anni yegi

All of my Grandparents spirits are from this land and are Lingit

[montanoalcuba]

That was awesome! I am of Tglinkt decent...although i know nothing of my heritage( i am ashamed to say) but i want to learn more!!!i was adopted as a baby...taken down into the states. but i wish t learn of my Indian nature...

Charelle Prescott

[KariannaFrost]

I am 1/4 Tlingit, raised in the lower 48 with precious little of our culture. Went to Haa Aani (Celebration 2010) and truly felt like I was home. This was just the thing to help ease the homesick feeling I've had lately. Gunalcheesh!

[Interlingua]

Thanks for this. Keep posting anything you have in Lingít: songs, stories, descriptions of ordinary life. You might sometimes want to add subtitles (Lingít, English, French, or any other language). Media like YouTube can either hurt endangered languages or help them. Your videos are helping. Thanks again.

[jsnedden2005]

a tlinget i know on facebook named kai montuer does

[greengiant383]

I Love this song.....its about our people being persucuted and trialed because they couldnt speak english and being accused of killing his brother, its our syruggle we still fight today

[hoopy1111]

Yahweh.. sound like the name of God?? is this true?

[athabascan907]

I remember the tlingit people singing this at Festival of Native arts in Fairbanks, AK Love it!

[astronomar]

this song is beautiful. anybody know the translation to english?

[haidaboyktn2004]

i loooove this song

[BuggsBonnie]

First learn how to spell it....Tlingit. lol. Good luck on search. Knowing your heritage is very important.