1000 Ancestors
This song is to honor our ancestors both Indigenous to Turtle Island (aka America) and beyond. Those who fought to hand down prayerful ways that uphold all life. It was through this prayer and ceremony that many of us were able to save our own lives, get sober, get out of bad situations, and remember who we are. May this song help all remember that Creator and the Ancestors are only a prayer away 🙂 Some say when our grandparents pass they come back as our animal relatives: sheep, horses, goats and other animals. Thus, we treat them the same way we would our own grandparents.
This song was also written for the Native American Community Academy DSIA project to help prevent substance abuse and youth suicide. I started doing drugs when I was 11 years old. I experienced gender violence since I was very young, which led to self-blame, and self-hatred. Through prayer, I was able to find people who could help me understand that what happened to me was not my fault. That there was a planet worth living for, worth fighting for and worth being sober for. I celebrate 9 years of complete sobriety this year. May all who need that support find it and may we live strong for those who didn't make it through the onslaught of colonization.
All proceeds from my bandcamp (lylajune.bandcamp.com) are routed to www.7genfund.org, a non-profit supporting Indigenous grassroots community projects. Buy this song now and you could support their programs: Community Vitality, Land Defenders & Water Protectors, Thriving Women, Tradition Bearers Fellowship, and Flicker Fund! :)
LYRICS:
When I was young I had some big dreams
Wanted to bring peace and help my family
From a small town, I could feel the gravity
Weight on my shoulders made it hard to spread my wings
But I knew I could do it, knew I could push through it
Could do anything if I put my mind to it
Native youth had it hard as children growing up
But with prayers in our hearts I knew we could overcome
Got 1000 ancestors behind me
We marching on yes here come the army
Got 1000 ancestors behind me
We marching on yes here come the army
When I turned 13 the world shattered my dreams
All I had left was a bunch of broken pieces
So many years hiding in the dark
I almost drowned, but I never gave up
Creator heard my prayer in the depths of my despair
It took a couple tries, but I stood back up
Put down the liquor, put down the drugs
I’ve been sober nine years some how we overcome
Got 1000 ancestors behind me
We marching on yes here come the army
Got 1000 ancestors behind me
We marching on yes here come the army
Now everything I have I owe to the Creator
Fell to my knees didn’t know if She would answer
But She came through clutch at the time when I needed Her
Now I’m flying high, yes, I’m a believer.
It’s what got me through, it’s what got me through
Your love, it’s what got me through, what got me through
To you
Creator
Creator
To you
Creator
Yeah, to you.