L'ukaahadi Cry Song (formally known as the Tlingit National Anthem)

Basic Anthem Information:

Who composed the song: Joe Wright

Who gave the song to the people: Austin Hammond

The Story Behind The Anthem:

Aanteeyeili (Joe Wright) and his friend were out on a boat. They saw another boat drifting towards them. They found a family on the boat, and everyone had been killed. They brought the boat back to the authorities in Haines Alaska. The authorities questioned them, but all Aanteeyeili and his brother could only say in English was yes, so they were sent to Alcatraz Island in California. Many years later, when Aanteeyeili returned home, he found a great loss of culture had occurred. People no longer remembered the old traditions and culture. Aanteeyeili wrote the Tlingit National Anthem to assure that our voices will always be heard on our grandfather's land.

In grand camp 1989 Austin Hammond gave the Tlingit National Anthem to the Tlingit people so that they could perform the song during the 1990 Celebration. It is often performed today by dance groups and at traditional gatherings.

*Recently the L'ukaahadi Clan has reclaimed this as their Cry Song. They still allow others to sing it but they ask that it be sung properly as well as being properly explained.

Verse One:

YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAWW, EI--YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EI--YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EI-YAAW

HOO.EIYAAW, EIYAAW EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

AAYAAW, YAAW HANEE, AAYAAW

CH'A AADEI YEI OONA TEE GAX AWE

HAAA LEELK'WOO HAS

AANEE---YAAW, EIYAAW

AAKAADEI HAAT SAGAX

DOO.AXCH-A

HOO.EI--YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

AAYAAW, YAAW HANEE, AAYAAW

CH'UYEI! CH'UYEI! Repeat, Repeat

Verse One (English Translation):

So that it may never be forgotten

Our voices will be heard on

Our Grandfather's land

VERSE TWO:

DAA X'E GAAS

CHAAYANASK'A EETOOWOO

HAA AAT HAS, AANEEYAAW, EIYAAW

EEYEILEE KAX AGEE DAA GAAX'--YAA

HOO.EI---YAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW

EIYAAW, EIYAAW, EIYAAW,

AAYAAW, YAAW HENEE AAYAAW

CH'UYEI! CH'YEI! REPEAT, REPEAT

VERSE TWO (English Translation):

KEEP THIS PROMISE OUR FATHERS' SISTERS

AS YOU PRAY TO YOUR RAVEN