This week’s installment: Spirit Lake Tribal Flag Song
The origin of the Spirit Lake Tribal Flag song began in 1946 when the singers of the Hay Boys (Pezihoksina)
club gathered. Michael Jackson the lead Singer composed the words and wished to use the melody
belonging to Chief Left Hand Bear’s (Mato Catka) honor song.
The Hay Boys Club officially asked the Leftbear family permission to use the tune of Chief Leftbear’s honor
song. They traditionally feasted the Leftbear family, who granted permission to use the tune.
Native American Flag Songs take the place of the National Anthem. It is a known fact that Native Americans fought in every war that the United States was involved. They are honoring our flag in their tradition way.
Spirit Lake Tribal Flag Song
Hay Makawita kin Hay (the Country)
Hay Tawiyokihena Kinhan waṡtewadaka ca (I love the Flag)
Wahacanka waye kin ohinniyan (Always using it as a shield)
Miwakam kabogbog najin yedo (it stands flapping above me)
The Flag of the United States I love, so I will always use it as a shield, standing flying above me.
Mr. Michael Jackson was a well-known singer for pow-wow and Catholic Church hymns. He composed many songs, all of which were pleasing to the ear.
The flag song is the Dakota way of honoring veterans and is used in place of the National Anthem. The pow-wow committee would select a family for each day of the celebration to use their love one’s flag. The veteran’s flag was raised on a flag pole early each morning and taken down each evening. The Flag Song was rendered for this occasion.
The use of the flag of the United States show the people’s patriotism and to honor veterans, and to show everyone present were at peace with each other. When the flag song was sung four times, the singers immediately sang a Iwakcipi (Round Dance) song which was danced by the War Mothers. At the completion of the four verses, the family of the veteran held a Giveaway to thank the people for the honor of using their love one’s flag.
One must remember that this is the way the Flag Song was used before the Grand Entry was introduced to the Fort Totten Days celebration in 1967. Spirit Lake was the first who introduced the Grand Entry to the modern pow-wow. Harry Hopkins Senior saw how during a rodeo the participants would ride into the arena carrying the United States Flag. From here the Grand Entry spread all over the pow-wow world.
The above information was obtained from John Leftbear, grandson of the chief, Harry Hopkins Senior, and Ephraim Hill, two of the Hay Boys singers, and Duane Jackson, great grandson of the composer.
If anyone has additions information please come forward so the correct history can be kept by the Spirit Lake people.
Editor’s note: Mr. Garcia includes names and phrases in his stories that are written in the Dakota language. Some of the spelling may not be accurate since modern technology available at the Devils Lake Journal may not be compatable with pronunciation marks and some spelling of names that Mr. Garcia provides. – Louise Oleson, editor DLJ
