Gatiyo

Inspired by Cherokee Stompdance. Mostly english with some Cherokee. Glossary provided.

Igitsi rises with dawn
Strike, spark, life
Gatiyo awakes
Smoke carries petitions
Of peace, love, unity
For all peoples, all nations
"Ulisgedi detsadayelvsesdi"

Nvdo iga ehi
Touches the tops of the trees
Ancient song and incantation
Bless the water in sacred tongue
Seven times down into icy comfort;
The plunge renews the spirit,
Washes the soul

Unetlanvhi sharpens the eye,
Guides the feet
To tree, plant, and root;
Nvwoti to strengthen
Nvwoti to heal
Nvwoti to bind us together
"Galigwogi digiyvwi digitlanvgita"

Pipe passed prayers
Drift skyward, speaking,
"Nani'v yvwi detsatloyadisgesv"
Solemn circle, Spirit surges;
Tangible, touchable, primal
Unified, we stand
"Detsadadohiyusesdi"

Now to rest
Await the night
Prepare the ground
Sweep darkness out
Break the bread
Don our best
Anticipate the Daksi call

Hearts grow large
As Usa falls
Encircling Igitsi
Hands are joined
Daksi sing, voices ring
Anigaduwagi spiral out
Like arms of grand galaxies

Through night 'til morn'
Compelled to trance
By rattle, dance, and drum
Can't feel feet upon the Earth
Lifted by Ancestral specter
We move as one, we live as one
Detsatliyvsesdi

Author's Note

Glossary: V's are pronounced "uh"; A's "ah"; O's "oh"; I's "ee"; E's "eh"; U's "oo" as in "root" TS is pronounce as a "j" as in June.

Igitsi: "Our Mother" This is how some refer to the Sacred Fire that is the center of the ceremonial grounds.
Gatiyo: Ceremonial grounds or "stompground"
Ulisgesdi detsadayelvsesdi: "Treat each others existence as sacred."
Nvdo iga ehi: The "daytime sun"
Unetlanvhi: Creator, apportioner, God
Nvwoti: medicine
Galigwogi digiyvwi digitlanvgita: "For the strength of the Seven Clans"
Nani'v yvwi detsatloyadisgesv: "Include everyone, all mankind, no matter how many"
Detsadadohiyusesdi: "All have a strong conviction and believe in each other."
Daksi: Turtle. Refers to the turtle shell shackles the ladies wear on their ankles. These provide the rhythm for the dances.
Usa: night
Anigaduwagi: "People who are on top".
Detsatliyvsesdi: "Struggle to hold on to one another or cling to one another."

Reviews

[Serenity Faith]

I absolutely loved this Digoliyesgi ^_^ Though maybe you should be known as Gowelisgi as you are talented with words. For someone who has never been to a Pow Wow or experienced a part of our culture you made the image for them very clear. My mother and a friend of our family did the stompdances when I was younger. My Father did the Asgilialsgia. The first time I saw him dressed in his regalia I ran away from him and cried lol. He said it took him a while to convince me he was my Dad. ^_^ This brings back happy memories for me thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I'm 1/2 Ojibwa. I wish my tribe did their prayer to paper. Before they are forgotten. The old prayers were beautiful and to give thanks to nature and life. I hope to read more. Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[Emily B]

words to come back to . . . i wish i spoke cherokee

i only know osiyo

[...]

. i've read this epic post thrice since you posted it ... and i know i'm going to read it again ... the beauty, the power, the spirit, the strength, the harmony ... and ... the love for life and all of humanity in these words ... is like a magical healing touch ... i am astounded and floored by the beauty of your language ... and i thank you especially for sharing such precious life concepts with those who don't know Cherokee ... a language carries with it ... it's unique sensibility and wisdom ... and that for me is always a miracle to witness ... oh, i am tempted to write in Urdu ... maybe i will ... it's been ages ... thank you for this post, monsieur ... for the inspiration ... for the peace ... for the devotion to life and all living beings ... we are blessed ... to be a part of this universe ... and we must never forget that ...

[icaros13]

As always, you humble me with your kind words. I agree with you completely about what language carries with it. It carries ancestral wisdom, the soul of a people. One of the saddest things in the world to me is the rate at which different indigenous and ethnic peoples are losing their language. Language, no matter which one, contains the beauty of humanity.

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlande..]

I've been equating kung fu with lazarus, somehow, then I read this
i knew I was playing air guitar, but didn't "know"

tell me something I didn't know and/or I will review this again tomorrow

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlander]

that actually made no sense, sorry

[icaros13]

If all the biomass on the Earth were weighed, one fourth of the weight would be ants.

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlander]

ok, you just blew my mind, but I refuse to say why

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlander]

if someone is as scared as you are bold, it isn't my damn problem

[icaros13]

Lol...

[Shmoke-Sifted Heftlander]

whoot!

[Renée]

Touches the soul & vibrates in the core... Thank you for sharing the translation ..

[Corset]

oh..my..gawd. I have no words, It makes me want to cry cause this is something he would have done for me...knowing I haven't the patience to look all the words up, lol, it is beyond incredible...beyond words I am...Thank you for posting this incredible amazing, fantastic, mind boggling masterpiece of a dance! I love it! love it!!!

[Skye]

I loved it, i really really did. Thanks so much for adding the little dictionary at the bottom :)