Songs of the Sarcee

Sarcee Bull Head Youth Club Singers, Alberta Canada

Canyon Records
Singers: Mike Meguinis, group leader, Charley Wood, Jr., lead singer, Louis Meguinis, Norma Meguinis, Michael Meguinis, all of Sarcee, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Sarcee of Albert are an Athapaskan speaking group who, according to their traditions, split off from the Tsattine or Beaver tribe many years ago. Following this division, which probably took place in the northern part of the province, the Sarcee moved south and became true Plains Indians, following buffalo herds, living in conical hide tipis, and practicing the Sun dance.

The Sarcee have never been a large tribe. At the beginning of the 19th century they numbered "120 warriors, in 35 tents," or about 400 people. Their hunting grounds at this time were on the upper Saskatchewan River, toward the Rocky Mountains. At an early date they placed themselves under the protection of the powerful Siksika or Blackfoot confederacy and their survival can probably be credited to this fact. The name Sarcee is also spelled Sarsi, the accepted anthropological usage (from the Black-foot Sa arsi). Members of the tribe, however, and the general press usually use Sarcee.

It was undoubtedly from the Blackfoot that the Sarcee acquired most of their Plains Indian culture. Although in most respects the Sarcee are typical Northern Plains Indians, their language remains pure Athapaskan to this day. As such it is closely related to the languages of the Dine groups of northern Canada and Alaska and also the Navaho and Apache languages of the American Southwest.

The Sarcee might have increased to become a tribe of major importance but disease and other tragedies seemed to plague them. In 1870 an epidemic of small pox left more dead than alive, and the Sarcee never regained their former numbers. When they assembled at Blackfoot Crossing to negotiate Treaty No. 7 with the Canadian government their people totaled less than 250. As a result of this treaty the Sarcee were given a small tract of land bordering the Blackfoot reserve on the north side of the Bow River. They accepted this grudgingly, as they would have preferred a reserve further west.

By 1879 the buffalo were gone and the people were hungry. Government rations proved totally inadequate and the Sarcee seemed to be facing starvation. In 1880, under their great chief Bull Head, the tribe loaded tipis, possessions, and families into wagons and drove westward toward Fort Calgary, vowing never to return to the Bow river reserve. At Fort Calgary there was a confrontation with the Mounted Police under the command of Inspector Cecil Denny. Fortunately bloodshed was averted and the Sarcee agreed to remove temporarily to Fort MacLeod until a new reserve could be found. In 1881 Bull Head and his people moved to their new reserve located beside the Elbow River, a few miles southwest of Calgary, Alberta. The Sarcee have remained on this reserve to the present day.

They were famous among other northern Plains tribes for their tanned bison robes and fine buckskins, likewise their handcrafted saddles and cherry wood bows. As early as 1909 the Sarcee were noted as farmers and cattlemen, and they continue in these occupations at the present time.


As we might expect, the music of the Sarcee is very similar to that of other tribes of the Canadian Prairie provinces, particularly the Blackfoot and the Atsina. It is clearly in the "Northern Plains" musical style, with it high falsetto beginning and cascading descent. Within this general tradition, the music of the Sarcee has its own distinct flavor, perhaps a result of the tribe's Athapaskan speaking linguistic background. At any rate a Sarcee "drum" or singing group is always welcomed at pow-wows in Canada and in the northern Plains of U.S. as the tribe is known for its fine singers. The songs on this record provide an excellent example of the Sarcee repertoire.

The songs on this disc were recorded on August 3, 1974, at the Northwest Inter-tribal Indian Days Celebration at Woodinville, Washington. The singers are members of the SARCEE BULL HEAD YOUTH CLUB SINGERS.

...Notes by James H. Howard

Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes

Sarcee Flag Song It is the custom at the present time for every tribe to have its own "flag" song. These songs honor the nation's flag, in this case the Canadian national emblem, and the servicemen and women who have served their country under this flag in various wars. Sarcee
Prairie Chicken Dance Song This song, and songs No. 3, 4, and 10 are all associated with a dance known as the "Prairie chicken dance." The dance, originated many years ago, is said to have been inspired by the spring courting display or "dance" of the sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioceted phasianellus). These birds maintain regular "dance grounds" where cocks perform. The same wheeling and spinning motion, stamping of the feet, semi-crouched position of the body, mock aggressiveness, and "trance-like" attitude of the bird is seen in the Native American takeoff on the bird's display. This particular song was described by the singers as a "warm up" song for the Prairie chicken dance. Sarcee
Faster Warm Up Song Song for the Prairie chicken dance. Sarcee
Fast Prairie Chicken Dance Song Sarcee
Owl Dance Song The Owl dance is a social dance, common to many Plains tribes of Canada and the northern U.S. It is danced in couples and is said to have been inspired by the quadrilles of White pioneers. In the Central and Southern Plains the dance is referred to as the "Two Step." This particular song is an old-time song, probably dating from the early 19th century. Sarcee
Sarcee Round Dance Song This is another purely social dance, but apparently one of purely aboriginal origin. The dancers, men and women mixed, join hands and do a step-close to the left (clock-wise) in a large circle facing toward the center. It is known to the Sarcee as a fun or get-acquainted dance. Sarcee
Grass Dance Song This is a Sarcee example of the songs commonly heard at pow-wows, and commonly referred to by Whites as the "War dance." Though it stems from the dance of an old warrior society, the dance is now secularized and all my participate. Sarcee
Sarcee Compassion Song This is an original composition with words in the Sarcee language. It is dedicated to the old people and the destitute, and speaks of how they suffer from want. It is a song of compassion to tell these people that their tribesmen are concerned about their plight – and sad that they cannot help their elders more. Sarcee
Stop Song Used for dance contests. Stop songs have a sudden pause at one or various points in the song, to throw off the dancers unfamiliar with the selection, and likewise to show the skill of a very good dancer who follows the song closely enough to be able to stop immediately with the music. Sarcee
Prairie Chicken Dance Shake Song During this song the dancers shake their feet, demonstrating their agility and mimicking the movements of the sharp-tailed grouse in his courting display. Sarcee
Sarcee Hoop Dance Song Many Northern Plains tribes perform a spectacular exhibition dance involving the dancer manipulating the dancing through a number of wooden hoops about two feet in diameter. Originally the hoops were medicine objects symbolizing the bison and other big game, and the dance was performed to "call" the buffalo, but now the dance is purely for show. Some dancers utilize as many as ten hoops, passing them over their body and arranging them in intricate patterns, all the time ringing their ankle bells in strict time with the drum. Sarcee
Old Timer's Song This song, in the Owl dance form, was composed about 1917-1918. It is sung today for old-timers so that they can recall when they were young and were sweethearts in love. Sarcee
Chief's Give-away Song It is a custom at most Indian gatherings, particularly the large summer pow-wows, for the band chief and tribal committeemen to stage a "give-away" in which blankets, quilts, cash, and other gifts are presented to visitors. This song is one which would be sung for the dance preceding the actual distribution of goods. The band chief, his family, and other who are to "give-away" dance proudly and slowly around the dance area during this song. Sarcee