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The Five Nations Peacemaker Rap

by Kenny Kirkwood

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about

A Teaching Song - not for personal profit or fame. This project is artist produced/artist funded. © March, 2009-2021 Kenny Kirkwood SOCAN. Performed by Kenny Kirkwood, with The Ollivanders, featuring Haudenosaunee children’s voices.
The Peacemaker, Ayonwatha and the Great Law of Peace are central to the cultural identity of the Haudenosaunee. This song was co-created for educational use to support Haudenosaunee language learning and promote cultural understanding among Canadian settlers, to inspire them to engage mindfully, nation to nation, and to live by our treaty obligations for the future of the earth, for all children.
“The Five Nations Peacemaker Rap” has been revised over 13 years in ongoing consultation/collaboration with diverse Haudenosaunee community members, language speakers, longhouse members, storytellers and educators.
Nia:wen to all the families that contributed to and supported the song, and the children who shared their voices. Nia:wen to all those who supported the video’s creation, named or anonymous. Support Indigenous languages in your area – listen, speak, promote, fund. Focus on democracy and peacemaking strategies to make a better world for all children.
“The Five Nations Peacemaker Rap” ©2009-2021 Kenny Kirkwood SOCAN. Musician/educator of Celtic ancestry, unsettled on Turtle Island. Website: kennykirkwood.com

lyrics

CHORUS
The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga too, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscaroras new,
These are the Six Nations that we rap in words, They became strong ‘cause they listened and they heard.
The brave Peacemaker, and Ayonwatha too, The Great Law of Peace is a good way to renew,
The Great Law of Peace is a good way to renew! Here we go now
BREATHE - , in a good way so we can
THINK - , in a good way so we can
TALK - , in a good way so we can
WALK - , in a good way

VERSE 1
Before the arrival of the Europeans
The ongwehon:we had to make a big decision, there was
War and fighting, a lot of the time
People were in trouble and were tired of the crimes.

CHORUS: The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga too, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscaroras new…


VERSE 2
The Great Law of Peace is an oratory law,
it takes many days, to hear it all
There are three things to remember,
Ka’nikonhri:yo, Ka’satsténshsera, Skén:nen
Ka’nikonhri:yo, Ka’satsténshsera, Skén:nen
Ka’nikonhri:yo, Ka’satsténshsera, Skén:nen
Harmony, Unity, Peace! - ,

Ka’nikonhri:yo, Harmony - , use your good mind - , respect all the time - ,
Ka’satsténshsera, Unity - , our collective ties - , give us strong lives - ,
Skén:nen, - , Peace! - , thank all na-tions - , loving cre-ation -_,

CHORUS The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga too, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscaroras new…


VERSE 3
The first five nations form a confederacy
Each nation sends the good spokesmen to Great Council to meet,
They make big decisions by consensus with peers
They listen really deep 'cos they open their ears.

They put down tobacco and they take great care,
With wisdom and truth, they face their fears
With thanks to cre-ator, and Mother Earth too
And all of the ancestors, watching over you

The Haudenosaunee have a government with "chiefs”,
they are chosen for living their be-liefs
They do their job, as best as they can
The clan mothers who pick them know the mind of a good man

Each Nation has a team, a national council
The Chiefs listen carefully to all the people’s needs
to make good decisions for commUnity,
to keep families feeling safe, you know what I mean?

CHORUS
The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga too, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscaroras new,
These are the Six Nations that we rap in words, They became strong ‘cause they listened and they heard.
The brave Peacemaker, and Ayonwatha too, The Great Law of Peace is a good way to renew,
The Great Law of Peace is a good way to renew! Here we go now
BREATHE - , in a good way so we can THINK - , in a good way so we can
TALK - , in a good way so we can WALK - , in a good way

VERSE 4
Representative democracy, a good mind thing
Taught to the European settlers to bring,
A voice to their people, everyone should have a say
Nia:wen Peacemaker, we can still make peace today!

This is how the United States
Set up U.S. government connecting our fates
Each state has a council, that makes its own laws
And also sends officials to the Federal cause

The Haudenosaunee meet every no:ia,
To give thanks to the Earth Iethi'nistenha ohontsia
You are my sustenance, you give me life each day
Nya:weh, Shogwayadihs’oh - , Oyanre !

CHORUS (REPEAT)

credits

released October 5, 2021
Kenny Kirkwood – voice, piano, djembe, saxophones
Featuring The Ollivanders (Martin Isaacs – lead guitar;
Roxanne Rendle – rhythm guitar, voice; Ryan Johnson – bass;
Ryan Mickeloff – drum kit), and Haudenosaunee children’s voices.

Co-Producers Kenny Kirkwood, Joe Lapinski
Engineer Joe Lapinski
Recorded and mixed at WOW! Recording Studio
Ollivanders tracks recorded independently.
Mastered by Fedge

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Kenny Kirkwood Toronto, Ontario

Canadian Juno award winning musician, educator, folktivist. Music and Truths for reconciliation.

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