Mahk Jchi (Heartbeat Drum Song) - Ulali
Mahk Jchi tahm boo-ee yahm pi-gih-dee Mahk Jchi tahm boo-ee kahn speh-wah eh-bi
Mahm-pi wah ho-ka yi nonk, tah hond tah-ni kih-yee tai-yee Ghee weh meh yee-tai-yee, Nan-ka yaht yah moo-ni-yeh wah-jhi-seh
Our hearts are full and our minds are good Our ancestors come and give us strength Stand tall, sing, dance and never forget who you are Or where you come from
"Mahk Jchi is a haunting song written by the Native American women’s group Ulali. The song is in a compilation of Tutelo and Saponi languages, now extinct dialects of the Sioux nation from the Ohio Valley. There is a commonly mistaken translation of this song widely circulated on the internet but the translation below has been confirmed by the artist. This song takes an investment in learning and is more complex for choral, oral-tradition learning, but do-able and worth it." - The Bird Sings
