Chapter 15. Music of the Gwich'in Indians of Alaska

Audio Examples

Love Song: Goodbye Sheenyaa
This song is very popular and widely known by all of the Kutchin villages. It began to circulate back in the 1950s, when the woman who composed it, Annie Cadzow, sang it for her husband Peter when she left him for another man. The translation reads: "Tell me goodbye. Shake my hand. Don't cry for me..."
Performed by Lily-Pitka and recorded by Craig Mishler between 1972 and 1973 in Fort Yukon, Alaska. (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album #04070 track #4)

War Song
The Chandalar people engaged in many wars with the Eskimos of the Arctic Slope, and Johnny (one of the singers) has long tales about famous Indians victorious in Battle. This particular song came from an Indian woman who lost her whole family in one of these battles, and to arouse her people to take revenge, she sang this song to them.
Performed by Johnny Frank and recorded by Craig Mishler at Gold Camp, Alaska. (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album #04070 track #8)

Virginia Reel
The Virginia Reel is performed by the Kutchin with complete fidelity to the manner in which it is done elsewhere in the United States. One primary difference between the Virginia Reel and the other Kutchin line dances is the use of one-hand reels rather than elbow-to-elbow reels.
Performed by Charlie Peter (violin) and Stanley Frank (rhythm guitar), and recorded by Craig Mishler. (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album #04070 track #21)

Four Hand Reel, Lady's Earring Dance, Neets'ee T'yaa
This popular Hitchin dance is what the people call "neets'ee T'yaa," literally meaning "Mountain Rope," but is also known in English as as "The Four Hand Reel" and "The Lady's Earring Dance". Actually, it is a variant of the Circle Two-Step. Forming a large ring, as many as twelve couples may participate in this dance, and the fiddlers adjust their violins to a special tuning that is not used with any of the other dances.
(Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album #04070 track #26)

Notes for these examples were written by Craig Mishler and published as liner notes in the 1974 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings album titled Music of the Kwtchin Indians of Alaska.

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