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Peace Songs
A peace dance song, or 'song about the deer' (kuwakan daciyi), was composed by the
captor-hosts for each person whom they had taken as a peace-hostage or 'deer.' It was sung
by the hosts during the ceremony while the 'deer' danced, imitating in his or her movements,
or symbolizing in his costume, the honorable name which his captors had given him and
which is mentioned in the song. The 'deer' is also addressed as one of the sib-chUdren of his
captors (pp. 570, 599-604).
There is also a special type of peace song (see 1954, 1-1-B)—composed by each of the
two rival groups of guests invited to a potlatch—in which the singers refer in complementary
or sympathetic fashion to the sib-chUdren of their rivals. The sib-children of both guest groups
are, of course, equivalent to their hosts. These potlatch peace songs are sung by the two
groups of guests to each other, and serve to allay their bitter mutual antagonism.
Both types of peace songs are apparently in Haida Mouth style (pp. 571-572).
Potlatch Peace Song about Kardeetoo, by Dry Bay Chief George
1954, 1-1-B; recorded by Charley and Jenny White on
March 23.
This song was composed by the Tl'uknaxAdi chief.
Dry Bay Chief George, in 1910, when he and his sib
from Dry Bay were invited by the Teqwedi leader, Jim
Kardeetoo (1862-1937), to a potlatch at Shark House
(also known as Bear House), in the old Village, Yakutat.
The song is addressed to Ginexqwan-children, who
would include Kardeetoo and other Teqwedi.
The Tlingit introduction (1 minute) was given by
Charley White and later translated by John Ellis: "My
grandfather's nephew invited people from Dry Bay, and
that's the time, that's the song I'm going to sing. They
were dancing to that song (when they were coming in).
The words of that song were composed about him,
Kardeetoo."
The words of the song were later dictated by Mary
Thomas, daughter of Jim Kardeetoo; she and her sister,
Louise Peterson, explained them, There is only one
stanza.
de gunaye 'at—To the land of the dead they went
}244
'Aciawsigai—Weeping (?)
ya 'ida tuwu—Longing for you
ya 'iyeli xawe(s)—Your Raven thus
c-Ginexqwani-yAtxi—Ginexqwan-chUdren
The song, as sung (1:25 minutes), consists of a refrain
(sung once), a single stanza (sung tmce), and a brief
ending. Charley White beats the drum and at the end
of the refrain calls out "djiya" (?), apparently urging
his wife to join in. Her voice can be heard occasionally
an octave above his.
As transcribed from the tape, however, the words
seem to be:
Refrain
A 'a 'anuwea, 'a-
B -a, 'anuwe 'a
C 'an 'anuwe,
D 'ahe, 'aheya, ya-
B/ ha ha nuwe,
C 'aha n 'anuwe,
D 'ahe, ahe [tciye!—song leader's cry]