When we watched the short litter-prevention ad of the “Crying Indian” I was promptly reminded of an exhibition I once visited that centered on the indigenous people of Canada. Amidst traditional clothing, hunting tools, building tools, and other artifacts and pieces of information, there was a small screening room that featured the short film/long music video I am posting here. It’s dense and historic in content but I have watched and listened to it so many times I’ve lost count. It speaks to the strengths and sorrows of the native people of the North American continent who have historically recognized and respected the natural world far more than their immigrant, namely colonial (and us as descendants) counterparts.

It is a moving piece if you devote the time to it, featuring pleas to remember the importance of the drive to save the buffalo and stand their ground, and lamenting of the loss of life at the hands of those who didn’t care enough to preserve it. I think it would be cheap to offer too much of my own interpretation without opening it first to anyone who wishes to form one of their own, but I find it an important and memorable piece of Native art and music.

<iframe src=”https://www.nfb.ca/film/ballad_of_crowfoot/embed/player” width=”560″ height=”315″ frameborder=”0″></iframe><p style=”width:560px”><a href=”https://www.nfb.ca/film/ballad_of_crowfoot” target=”_blank”><em>The Ballad of Crowfoot</em></a> by <a href=”https://www.nfb.ca/explore-all-directors/willie-dunn/” title=”more films by Willie Dunn” target=”_blank”>Willie Dunn</a>, <a href=”https://www.nfb.ca” target=”_blank”>National Film Board of Canada</a></p>