Three Lipan Apache Songs
(Page 1)
(As Sung by a Lipan Medicine Man at the turn of the 20th century)
These songs have been hidden from view for more than 80 years. The songs were recorded by a BIA Agent in 1910, in the White Mountians area, just off the Clear Fork River. The name of the Apache Medicine Man who's songs these belong to is long dead. As is Lipan custom, his name is not allowed to be spoken in public. Permission to use these three Apache songs was given to me by a modern-day Lipan Medicine Man.
Daniel Castro Romero Jr., Lipan Apache
'Idìyitá
(He Makes It Walk Song)
djùnà' ái bìdà' tíngè' t' á ìgaì dì gò'
bè dà' gùnòyè gè' dè yà tc' ìndí dì
djígùnà' ái bìjà jé' dá à' dj ' dè yà tc' ìndí d
'ìckî n dá à' dj ' dè yà h dè yà tc' ìndí d
djùnà' ái bì dùt ' ìjì bìnànt' à' nànt' à' dòxá yò'
bì ' ágòdo dí ì' bì dìs' èsts' tc' ìndí
djùnà' ái bè bì' ò' gùnòyè ì' yè
bì' ò' gùnòyè gò' dè yà tc' ìndì
nùgùsts' án biìká' 'ìyú ndzìní' dò à'
hà bídòl gò' dè yà tc' ìndí d
nùgùsts' án biìká' dé 'ì tc' ' òdàsdjà í'
bìyá tì' jò ní bìnàtsé kè s jò ní' bìdlùk jò ní
bínà lzé' 'í t' à' dá' jò dí dò bé' ó ltà' gò'
yèxáidèlà gò dè yà tc' ìndí d
'ìs' à' nà yái k' è' gòjó gò' yèxáidèlà gò dè yà tc' ìndí d
He Makes It Walk Song
(The 'Idìyitá Song)
Sun, his doorway outside, White water, four ply
By, above, mirage at, he walks, they say.
Sun, his child one day he walks they say.
Boy, one day the one who walks, he walks they say.
Sun, his turquoise his chief, chief never
Has he trouble with him sound approaches they say
Sun by, before him mirage by
Before him mirage forming he walks they say.
Earth on top of, witches none
Can harm him, he walks they say
Earth on top of, people scattered about,
Their talk good, their thoughts good, their laugther good,
Their property of all kinds, good, uncountable
Having been prepared he walks they say.
Long life like, good, having been prepared he walks they say.
The "ìdìyi á" "he make it walk" ceremony and song's sole purpose is to aid children who are slow at learning to walk. Through this song, the offering of prayer and life-long protection from evil is given. This ceremony can be performed for children before twelve months of age to ensure they will walk on or before their first year. When performing this ceremony a man or women can perform the rites. If not done by a close blood relative, then hire a medicine man or medicine woman. The rite takes about ten minutes each night, repeated for four nights under a clear night sky. Give a gift of turquoise, made with downy eagle feathers.
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