WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.670 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:00:01.670 --> 00:00:05.400 align:middle line:84% I'm going to move to a couple of poems from Copper Yearning, 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:10.040 align:middle line:84% and I would love for you to help me with the first one. 00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:13.540 align:middle line:90% So this is a poem-- 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:15.290 align:middle line:84% I feel I want to say that all my poems are 00:00:15.290 --> 00:00:20.930 align:middle line:84% in some way about water, but this poem is really about water. 00:00:20.930 --> 00:00:22.470 align:middle line:90% Am I OK here with this? 00:00:22.470 --> 00:00:25.641 align:middle line:84% Can you all hear me everywhere in the room? 00:00:25.641 --> 00:00:29.280 align:middle line:84% So this is A Song For Giving Back, 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:33.880 align:middle line:84% and it has lines in there that you will speak with me. 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:37.110 align:middle line:90% So can we split the room in two? 00:00:37.110 --> 00:00:40.000 align:middle line:84% But those of you who want to say everything, go ahead and do it. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.200 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.710 align:middle line:84% So there's going to be a moment when I say "sing," 00:00:45.710 --> 00:00:50.040 align:middle line:84% and you should say, "Spirit of Water." 00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:53.580 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water. 00:00:53.580 --> 00:00:54.150 align:middle line:90% All right. 00:00:54.150 --> 00:00:56.990 align:middle line:84% Now you guys have a bigger assignment. 00:00:56.990 --> 00:00:58.850 align:middle line:84% We're saying the same thing, but we're 00:00:58.850 --> 00:01:01.120 align:middle line:90% saying it in Anishinaabemowin. 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:03.400 align:middle line:90% You say, Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:08.150 align:middle line:90% 00:01:08.150 --> 00:01:09.890 align:middle line:90% So they say-- 00:01:09.890 --> 00:01:13.580 align:middle line:90% I say sing, Spirit of Water. 00:01:13.580 --> 00:01:16.150 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:01:16.150 --> 00:01:17.180 align:middle line:90% Got it? 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:19.000 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.220 align:middle line:90% A Song For Giving Back. 00:01:22.220 --> 00:01:25.960 align:middle line:90% The benediction of water begins 00:01:25.960 --> 00:01:32.590 align:middle line:84% In the holy whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of womb sounds. 00:01:32.590 --> 00:01:38.360 align:middle line:84% This ancient amniotic language, our first song, 00:01:38.360 --> 00:01:43.520 align:middle line:84% Like the Earth afloat in a great weeping cosmos. 00:01:43.520 --> 00:01:49.250 align:middle line:84% We fetal beings suspended in sublime liquidity, 00:01:49.250 --> 00:01:53.840 align:middle line:84% Yes, name Water the primary principle, 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.750 align:middle line:90% Sacred originating material. 00:01:56.750 --> 00:02:01.050 align:middle line:84% Sing, our aqueous blood belonging, 00:02:01.050 --> 00:02:05.530 align:middle line:90% As what we bless, blesses us. 00:02:05.530 --> 00:02:09.370 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water, 00:02:09.370 --> 00:02:12.510 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:02:12.510 --> 00:02:16.900 align:middle line:84% Born in the deep wet heart of science, 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.000 align:middle line:90% We tell of water. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.180 align:middle line:90% The granite language of earth, 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:25.180 align:middle line:90% The holding and being held, 00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:31.650 align:middle line:84% The cabinet of rock bodies seeped through this spilling. 00:02:31.650 --> 00:02:36.460 align:middle line:84% That the nature of all creatures is moist, 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:40.900 align:middle line:84% That everything is godfull and growing. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:45.090 align:middle line:84% That all who hold with science or spirit, 00:02:45.090 --> 00:02:49.270 align:middle line:90% Must hold also with change. 00:02:49.270 --> 00:02:55.090 align:middle line:84% Liquid to ice, ice to vapor, and back. 00:02:55.090 --> 00:02:59.100 align:middle line:90% The cycle, sung motion, 00:02:59.100 --> 00:03:02.760 align:middle line:90% The water passage of our lives. 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:06.540 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water. 00:03:06.540 --> 00:03:09.980 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:03:09.980 --> 00:03:14.480 align:middle line:84% The benediction of water begins also, 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:18.810 align:middle line:84% With the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of manoomin, 00:03:18.810 --> 00:03:22.620 align:middle line:90% The food that grows on water. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:27.210 align:middle line:84% Wild rice kernels falling into canoe bottoms, 00:03:27.210 --> 00:03:30.590 align:middle line:90% Into the muddy silt of becoming. 00:03:30.590 --> 00:03:35.940 align:middle line:84% And no arid doctrine of ownership will serve, 00:03:35.940 --> 00:03:41.730 align:middle line:84% We river nymphs, minor but blessed beings. 00:03:41.730 --> 00:03:44.900 align:middle line:90% We swim, if we swim at all, 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:48.380 align:middle line:90% In the flood, blood, baptism, 00:03:48.380 --> 00:03:52.320 align:middle line:84% And copper glistening transformations. 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:57.240 align:middle line:84% The water metaphors of our streaming lives. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:00.680 align:middle line:90% Oh, sweet sap of trees, 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.500 align:middle line:90% Oh, fertile forest brined, 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:09.520 align:middle line:84% Forgive our parched longing and give it voice. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:13.390 align:middle line:90% Rivers sing, and we with them. 00:04:13.390 --> 00:04:14.950 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa 00:04:14.950 --> 00:04:18.740 align:middle line:90% Daily make a prayer offering. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:22.280 align:middle line:90% Here flows our gratitude, 00:04:22.280 --> 00:04:26.480 align:middle line:84% In the blue-scented drench of spring. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:30.110 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water, 00:04:30.110 --> 00:04:32.620 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:37.610 align:middle line:84% In narrow boats on swift flowing passageways, 00:04:37.610 --> 00:04:41.030 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water, 00:04:41.030 --> 00:04:43.540 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:46.330 align:middle line:90% When Great Lakes rush out, 00:04:46.330 --> 00:04:50.390 align:middle line:90% And tide softly backstroke away, 00:04:50.390 --> 00:04:53.810 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water, 00:04:53.810 --> 00:04:56.400 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:58.920 align:middle line:90% When women carry pails, 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:03.370 align:middle line:84% And walk for the health of nibi, sing. 00:05:03.370 --> 00:05:06.480 align:middle line:90% When the body's fluids yearn-- 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:07.470 align:middle line:90% sorry. 00:05:07.470 --> 00:05:10.960 align:middle line:84% When the body's fluids pulse and yearn, 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:16.690 align:middle line:84% When the liquid vibration of voice rises upward to sky, 00:05:16.690 --> 00:05:20.710 align:middle line:84% When seeping in and seeping out meat, 00:05:20.710 --> 00:05:24.640 align:middle line:84% When the cup of eternity is full, 00:05:24.640 --> 00:05:28.090 align:middle line:90% Full of wet and holy. 00:05:28.090 --> 00:05:31.900 align:middle line:90% Full, full of gratitude. 00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:35.230 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water. 00:05:35.230 --> 00:05:37.740 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:41.260 align:middle line:90% Sing, Spirit of Water. 00:05:41.260 --> 00:05:43.650 align:middle line:90% Nagamon Zhaagamaa. 00:05:43.650 --> 00:05:48.611 align:middle line:90% Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. 00:05:48.611 --> 00:05:51.978 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:05:51.978 --> 00:05:55.350 align:middle line:90% 00:05:55.350 --> 00:05:57.680 align:middle line:90% You're so awesome.