Giiwenamaw (To Exchange Gifts)
This song was composed in 2021 as a Land and Water acknowledgement for the City of Milwaukee. It was written by Margaret Noodin and made into a video by Finn Ryan (of The Ways) with help from Trestleworks. The video features: the Menominee River, Anishinaabemowin, the University of Milwaukee Chi-Bizhiwag Dewe’igan, Diane Amour, Nathon Breu, Marcus Carriaga, Lacey Goodrich, Celeste Clarke, Lake Michigan and Miller Park. It is a testament to resilience, Urban Indians, Native American students, big drum tradition and the way everything changes while staying the same.
Land and water acknowledgements have become more common in recent years as people reexamine their connection to place and the political history of our nations. This project is an example of creating a way to acknowledge not only the indigenous stewards of the past, but also their voices as they echo into the present.
Hostile Terrain 94 Project
The gallery is part of the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP), a non-profit research-art-education-media collective, directed by anthropologist Jason De León.
Giiwenamaw Lyrics
Giiwenamaw omaa besho Michigaming
Give things in exchange here by the Great Sea
Bi-dagoshineg da-nisidotamok
when you arrive you should know
Ginigawina-mowaad gikenda-mowaad
they mix things together what they know
Manoominiig,Wiinibiigoog, Boodewaadamiig
Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Potawatomi people
Waya heyo waa heyo way
Giiwenamaw mino-aki, mino-nibii
(Give things in exchange good land, good water)
ge-dibaajimoyang debwetamok
as we tell stories that are true
ezhi-babaamendamang waabaashkaag
about the way we care for waves
maaminonenimiyangidwaa waawaateseg, miskwaabiimizhiig
and are amazed by fireflies and red willow
Waya heyo waa heyo way
Giiwenamaw dibishkoo o’okomisibanan
Give things in exchange like a long-ago grandmother
adizookaanag da-gikinaamaagooyeg
stories can teach you
ji-maada’oonidiyeg gaye maamakaadendameg
to be generous with one another and amazed
Miikoonegwaa miikwaanagong, mashkiigakiing, miinowaking
(when they find you on this island, the living land, the Good Land
Waya heyo waa heyo way