The Cheyenne began to pray with peyote in the late 1800's. In 1884 they were visited by Quanah Parker who ran several meetings for them. In that same year, or a little later, Leonard Tylor and John Turtle went to Kiowa country, and learned the ceremony. In 1889 or '90, Henry White Antelope and Standing Bird went to Comanche country and learned Quanah Parker's way. Thus, Cheyenne peyotism has been close to the Comanche and Kiowa tradition for a very long time, and members of these tribes still attend each others meetings today.
For this recording we wanted to emphasize the songs of Cheyenne origin. Some are new songs, and some are old. A few of these songs have been sung by the Cheyenne, Comanche, and Kiowa for so long that it is now difficult to determine where they actually started. It is the feeling of the singers, however, that it is not so important where these songs started, but that people might get some good benefit and inspiration from them, and this is the main purpose of this recording.
We are very pleased to present these fine Cheyenne singers and songs, and we are indeed grateful to those who have helped make this recording possible.