CHIPPEWA MUSIC 

 By Frances Densmore 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SONGS 



Introduction 



* 

 The songs comprised in this paper were obtained during 1907, 



1908, and 1909, from Chippewa Indians on the White Earth, Leech 

 Lake, and Red Lake reservations in Minnesota, a few songs being 

 also secured from a Chippewa living on the Bois Fort reservation in 

 Minnesota. The Chippewa Indians on the White Earth and Leech 

 Lake reservations may be said to represent the portion of the tribe 

 south of Lake Superior ; those on the Red Lake reservation are more 

 nearly connected with the portion of the tribe living north of Lake 

 Superior. Conditions on the White Earth and Leech Lake reserva- 

 tions are different from those at Red Lake, and the personality of the 

 singers presents a marked contrast. For these reasons the social 

 songs are considered in two groups. No Mide' songs were collected 

 at Red Lake. 



Chippewa songs are not petrified specimens; they are alive with 

 the warm red blood of human nature. Music is one of the greatest 

 pleasures of the Chippewa. If an Indian visits another reservation 

 one of the first questions asked on his return is : " What new songs 

 did you learn?" 



Every phase of Chippewa life is expressed in music. Many of the 

 songs are very old and are found on several reservations; others are 

 said to be the more recent compositions of certain men who com- 

 posed them ''during a dream" or "upon awaking from a dream." 

 It is still customary for the Chippewa to celebrate an important 

 event by a song. On the Leech Lake reservation the writer secured 

 the song which the Indians composed and sang during the disturbance 

 known as the "Pillager outbreak," in 1898. The song relates to 

 the death of Major Wilkinson, an officer of the United States Army, 

 who was shot while leading the troops. The Indians honor his 

 12692^— Bulk 45—10—1 



