I?m on my way to Augsburg College to hear Charlene Teters, co-founder of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media, speak on the issue and to watch the movie ?In Whose Honor?? a film that documents the journey she has walked with dignity and pride. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves words and images hurt.

I?m listening to Blackstone/Back In The Day and it starts out with an incredible 13 minute song titled ?Come Dance, It?s Beautiful? which sets me up for the rest of the CD and the poetry of bike riding the streets of Minneapolis.

The Blackstone singers? Back In The Day was recorded live at Twenty-Nine Palms and all of the singers on this CD are of Cree background except for Roger Morin who is of Cree/Chipweyan background. The members are Benji Weenie, Garnet Whitecalf, Leon Lightning, Adrian Cross, Nate Littlechild, Rocky Antoine, Marvin Thunderchild, Terry Paskemin, Kirkland Weenie, Leo Paskemin, Cornell Tootoosis, and Lyle Tootoosis.

The second trac Victory Song is sung in victorious celebration for conquering an enemy. Those enemies that are not just armed physical opponents but enemies like greed, alcoholism and addiction, vanity and racism.

Just Like Back In The Day, is a traditional style song that refers to all of the joy and dancing that has been done in the circle around the drum. We?ve hung onto our culture despite incredible challenges and obstacles. It certainly speaks to how no matter how things change they still seem to stay the same.

The Honoring Children Song is most certainly self-explanatory and a beautiful way to honor and respect our young ones.

Grand Entry: Brave Scout is a song that refers to the courage of the man that was first. It is sung in honor of the man that went out to recon on a hunt or a raiding party.

Victory Song: Mekwunuk ?88 is another victory celebration and refers to one of the Cree?s greatest Warriors, Chief Poundmaker.

The song Dances For The Elders is self-explanatory and the Blackstone singers round out a very respectful CD by honoring those that came before. By the time they reach this point they are really singing together in their spirit and it shows. You can hear the joy these young men have in their hearts as they sing together at the drum.

Enjoying A Way Of Life gives me an Indiannish attitude and is a song of gratitude for our way of life. We are thankful that we are born Native because our way of life is so connected to the spirituality of the universe and this is our home. We should always respect that.

I am unable to speak Cree so I do not know the meaning of Waskowetotehtan the title of the final song but again some very passionate and beautiful singing by the Blackstone Singers.

I?m out here learning to dance this bike down the sidewalk in men?s traditional on this boulevard of broken dreams, investigating the sacred mysteries, the Blackstone singers sounding like a choir of angels in my head saving me from myself soundly once again.

It isn?t only just about the money. No, far from it. It?s more about respect than anything else. Respect for your self, your elders, your traditions and culture. My pow wow music consultant, Johnny S., pow wow singer for over 60 years, tells me that you must gift the maker of a song and ask permission in order to sing that song. Now that?s respectful.

If hell was cold it would be this cold. If you can even ride a bike in hell it?s probably a stationary. But I don?t even notice the frigid Minneapolis air because Charlene Teters and the Blackstone Singers have lit a fire in my heart that says you better quit sitting on the fence and get busy. I know what lies down that road is going to be hard. In the next ten years we are going to eliminate sports mascots because the land inside the stadium is Indian land too and we don?t have to put up with grinning disrespectful shit face caricatures. You get it? I?ve got a shot at redemption and I?m going to take full advantage of it.

Jamison Mahto/Reporter
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