Granny Told Me

Granny gave me moccasins To run and play in. She got them from the pow-wow. They made me swift And light on my feet. She told me “Remember who you are” Granny gave me a dream catcher For my good dreams to fly through And the bad ones to get caught in. She got it at the pow-wow. It made my nightmares go away And gave me dreams about my ancestors. She told me “Remember who you are” Granny gave me a totem pole So that I would know our seven clans. She got it from her father. The Ani-gatagewi keepers of our land Ani-gilahi and Ani-waya the peace and war chiefs The Ani-kawi and Ani-tsiskwa earthly and spirited messengers Ani-wodi and Ani-sahoni the creators of medicine She told me “Remember who you are” Granny gave me a book With the words of my people And their stories. She got it from the pow-wow. I learned about our earth mother And how we grew from her bosom. She told me “Remember who you are” Granny gave me a day To wear my moccasins. She took me to the pow-wow. I saw the people from my stories And dreams. My people and clans. She told me “You are ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ (Cherokee)” *The seven clans of the Cherokee tribe: Ani-gatagewi translates to Wild Potato Clan (keepers of our land), Ani-gilahi are the Long Hair Clan (peace chiefs), Ani-kawi is the Deer Clan (earthly messengers), Ani-sahoni or Blue Paint Clan (medicine for children), Ani-tsiskwa or Bird Clan (spirited messengers), Ani-waya is the Wolf Clan (war chief) , Ani-wodi Red Paint Clan (medicine).