OYATE TA OLOWAN: SONGS OF THE PEOPLE: FORREST
CHIMERICA {KOSOFSKY ETHNIC RADIO COLLECTION - -
NATIVE AMERICAN/ENGLISH} (RADIO)
Summary
One in this series of radio programs featuring the music
and voices of individuals from twenty-six Native
American tribes throughout the United States. Each
program includes musical performances and interviews
with Native American artists, accompanied by narration
by host Milt Lee. This program features comments and
performances by Forrest Chimerica of the Hopi tribe of
Arizona. Chimerica begins by discussing his origins in
the sun and snake clans, from the village of Moencopi on
the Hopi reservation, and goes on to talk about his
present life as a family man in Phoenix. In an aside,
Lee discusses the communities of "urban Indians" who
have left the reservations in search of opportunity,
carrying their cultural practices to the cities. While
playing the drums, Chimerica sings a song honoring a
neighboring tribe from the canyons, traditional trading
partners of the Hopi. Next, he explains how he began
organizing traditional Hopi dance groups in Phoenix; he
eventually established a class of sixty young Native
students and their families who learn and practice Hopi
songs, dances, and ways of life. Chimerica then sings
the "clown song," which generally accompanies a series
of comical skits, and he comments of the role of Hopi
clowns in religious practice. He continues discussing
the classes that he holds with his wife Cheryl,
emphasizing the importance of absorbing Hopi philosophy
and building community. Next, Chimerica sings a song to
the kachina gods of rain clouds and corn, as well as the
song for the "butterfly dance," which is a line dance
performed by young, single men and women. Lee joins
the ChimericasÕ class of young students and observes
their performance of the butterfly dance. Chimerica
concludes with a discussion of Hopi religious thought,
and he outlines the "hardship" way of life, in which
hard work, sacrifice, and giving to others leads to a
happy end. The program is followed by three promo clips
for the "Oyate Ta Olowan" episode featuring John Kionut,
and three promo clips for this edition featuring Forrest
Chimerica.
(This program is in the English and Hopi languages.)
The acquisition and cataloging of this program were
made possible by Marvin and Jacqueline Kosofsky.
Details
- NETWORK: PRI Public Radio International AIROS
- DATE: November 30, 1997
- RUNNING TIME: 0:31:07
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:17777
- GENRE: Radio - Music; Radio - Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Indians of North America - Music; Indians of North America - Social life and customs; Indians of North America - Dances; Hopi Indians; Indigenous Peoples Collection
- SERIES RUN: PRI - Radio series, 1998
- COMMERCIALS:
- Radio - Promos - "Oyate Ta Olowan: Songs of the People"
CREDITS
- Milt Lee … Producer
- Jamie Lee … Writer
- Milt Lee … Host
- Forrest Chimerica … Guest, Singer, Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Cheryl Chimerica
- John Kionut