May 1979
I feel that I should tell you
About the people of this land
I ask you please to listen
Understand it if you can
Our life blood is the rivers
Our flesh and bone the sod
We are the people of this earth
Placed here by Our God
You came with your gilded bible
Your god you said to trust
We learned your hymns of praise
While his image turned to rust
You brought us books and learning
You said we needed schools
We learned to read and cypher
Now we’re educated fools
You brought us beef and bacon
You drove the deer away
Today we cash our welfare cheques
And hunt at the Hudson’s Bay
You crawled from out your caves
Ten thousand years or more
We were cultivating corn
Twenty thousand years before
You dammed up all our rivers
Run its power in little wires
We told you the earth had power
You thought that we were liars
We shared this entire land
A truly democratic place
You fenced it back and forth
And called it real estate
We said this earth was our mother
Our mother could not be sold
But each of you a Judas
With thirty pieces of gold
You killed and buried Jesus
He arose and left this place
I guess I really can’t blame him
When I think of this human race
We used to have our spirits
They were always here before
But now we buy our spirits
At the local liquor store
You burned our shaking tent
Put a phone upon our wall
And charge outrageous prices
For a long-distance call
We knew about the universe
The animals, earth and trees
While you were telling people
That the moon was made of cheese
We had our herbs and medicines
We cured with drum and song
You lock us up in hospitals
And try to guess what’s wrong
You said it was the devil
He never did such good
When you crucified your God
I guess you never understood
You took away our tipis
Outlawed our right to roam
You built us all new houses
But you took away our homes
You shared with us your blankets
They were filled with your disease
Annihilating our people
The way you’re cutting down our trees
You brought war and destruction
You murdered your fellow man
We spoke of life and sharing
Now you try that if you can
We spoke of co-existence
The way all people should
But only your vengeful God
And only your laws were good
Perhaps there’s still a chance
I don’t speak of assimilation
For us all to co-exist
As unique and growing nations
I feel that I have told you
About the people of this land
I hope you tried to listen
I hope you tried to understand
Our life blood is its rivers
Our flesh and bone the sod
We are still the people of this earth
Placed here by OUR God
http://www.shingwauk.auc.ca/ShingwaukHall/SH_p20.html
(corrected typos)
