Kids love chanting and feeling strong rhythmic beats that reach from their heads to their toes. Strong beats harmonize the rhythmic bodies and align the soul forces, calming anxieties and insecurities. When combined with drumming, rhythm sticks or even body beats like stomping, marching, thigh drumming and clapping these chants let the spirit soar, with breath, heart and head working as one. That equals pure fun.
I’m still working on recording some of these from our kids choir, so check back for my homemade recordings. I would love to hear your favorite repetitive Native American chants to sing with children. Please share your ideas in the comments.
Ho! Karen
1. Zuni Sunrise Song
Wa Taho, Taho
Wa Taho, Taho
Wake up arise
Life is calling you
Wake up arise
Life is greeting you
Mother Earth, God
She is calling you
Mother Earth, God
She is greeting you
2. Wichi Tai Tai
Originally composed by Jim Pepper, a jazz musician of Creek and Kaw Indian heritage, this version of the song was performed by Brewer and Shipley on their 1969 album, “Weeds”. This version is from Brewer & Shipley from the album One Toke Over The Line: The Best Of Brewer & Shipley. It is based on a chant that was handed down to Jim from his grandfather.
Wichi tai tai
Timurai
Huranika
Huranika
Hey ne
Hey ne
No ah
Translation:
Water spirits are running around my head. I’m so glad to be alive
3. Wani Wachialo
Wani wachialo
Wani Wachialo
Wakankatanka
Wakantakanka
Translation:
Thank you for this life, O Great Spirit.
Unifying Heaven and Earth
4. Apache Power Chant
Hinamaya, hinamaya Hinamay chi cha yo
Hinamaya, hinamaya Hinamay chi cha yo
Hinamaya, hinamaya
Hinamay chi cha yo Hinamay chi cha yo
Hinamay chi cha yo Hinamay chi cha yo
Hinamay chi cha you
Hina hina hey ya
Hina hina hey yo
5. We Circle Around
We circle around
We circle around
The boundaries Of the earth (2x)
Hay ya hey ya (4x)
Wearing my long tail feathers as I fly (2x)
6. Ly-o-lay Ale Loya (The counterclockwise circle dance)
This chant is part of the album “Yeha-Noha” (Wishes of happiness and prosperity) released in 1994 by a musical project named “Sacred Spirit” combining chant styles from Navajo , Pueblo, Sioux tribes and Sami yoik (traditional style of chanting).
Ly-o-lay Ale Loya
7. Hey Ya Na
Hey ya na,
Hey ya na,
O ha le ya na ya
Hey ya hey ya
Hey ya na.
O h le ya na ya
8. Ele Ele Tau Maim
Hawaiian
Ele ele tau maim
Translation:
May the great peace descend
9. Wen’deyaho
Cherokee morning song
We n’de ya ho We n’de ya ho
We n’deya We n’ de ya ho ho ho ho
Hey ya ho Hey ya ho ya ya ya
Translation:
I am the Great Spirit, Ho! I am the Great Spirit, Ho!
I am the Great Spirit, Ho! I am the Great Spirit
Ho! It is so, it is so. Great Spirit, Great Spirit, Great Spirit
10. The Water Song
Algonquin
Grandma Nancy writes about chant in praise of water that is the life blood. I recommend to read and watch the video to find out more about this song, see the website ttps://www.singthewatersong.com/songlyrics for a description of the water song in more detail . I include this first video to learn by and the second to learn more..
Nee bee wah bow
En die en
Aah key mis kquee
Nee bee wah bow
Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey
Hey ya hey ya hey ya ho
Translation:
water is the life’s blood of our mother the earth
11. Lullaby
Ho, ho what tay na
Ho, ho what tay na
Ho, ho what tay na
Key oh, kay nah
Key oh kay nah
Translation:
Oh, oh little one
Oh, oh little one
Oh, oh little one
Now go to sleep
Now go to sleep
Image credits
Carved faces in wood Peter Pruzina
