Oklahoma Tornado - May 2013
Photo Credit: ABC News

Thunders Walking
(jigwek bmosewat)
By Constance Redgrave
February 2014

This song began several years ago with the death of my father and my desire to know about his mothers people. The Citizen Potawatomi are a mixed race Native American tribe based in Shawnee, Oklahoma. I do not claim to be an expert in the Potawatomi language and apologise for any questionable pronunciation. My genuine thanks to Justin Neely and his excellent recordings so generously offered via the CPN website. Migwetch

I offer this prayer and song with all my heart,
to soldiers everywhere and the ones who sing them home. cr

Thunders Walking
www.youtube.com

(Potawatomi Praying)

Ahaw Mamogosnan
Respectful greetings Creator

Migwetch jak she gego ga gishtoyen.
Thank you for everything you have created.

Wedo dasgeago kowab meshnak jiyack
We beseech you watch over all of us

Emine goago, hora menockma zooen, mena jeet mowen
And give us this good life and help

Igwien Iw
(Eeg-wee-en Eo)
Heartfelt Amen

Verse 1
I will sing you home my armoured bear
I will sing you home with a lover’s prayer
Though your feet are worn & the road is long
If you lose your soul, I will sing you home.

Chorus
Ahaw mko (Ok bear)
It’s time to go home
Igwien, igwien iw – (Heartfelt, heartfelt Amen)
The thunders are walking…
They walk so slow
Bring my soldier home
Igwien iw – (heartfelt enough)

Verse 2
I will sing you home my warrior brave
Sing the ones you lose and the ones you save
The ones who watch thru the night alone
And the ones who sing their soldiers home

Chorus

Verse 3
I will sing you home my weary one
As your woman sing and have always done
Do not fear you’ve lost, though you stand alone
If you your soul is lost, I will sing you home.

Chorus

By Constance Redgrave
February 2014

The Citizen Potawatomi are Algonquian-speaking people who originally occupied the Great Lakes region of the United States. Originally, the Potawatomi were part of the Three Fires Council made up of the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa, collectively known as Anishnabek peoples. By the end of the 18th century, tribal villages were being displaced by white settlements, ultimately ushering in the American treaty era.

Through a series of treaties, beginning in 1789, their tribal estate equating to more than eighty-nine million acres was gradually reduced in size. The federal government continued to reduce Potawatomi land holding by removing them to smaller reserves in Iowa, Missouri, and finally Kansas in 1846.

In 1861, the Potawatomi in Kansas was officially divided by way of treaty. The treaty required its signers to surrender their tribal membership and adopt U.S. citizenship, in-turn creating the foundation for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. It was a decision that forever shaped the culture and lives of our people and subsequently led to their eventual migration to Indian Territory [Oklahoma].

Today, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation is 1 of 39 federally recognized Native American tribes with headquarters in the state of Oklahoma. The CPN is a thriving nation that is actively working to retain its culture while being a frontrunner in Native American business. More…

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