The Earth Songs of the Seneca Nation

FAIN: FEL-289191-23

Andrew Aaron Cashner
University of Rochester (Rochester, NY 14627-0001)

Research and writing towards a digital multimedia book on the Earth Songs of the Seneca Nation of Indians.

This is a digital-humanities project on the subject of the traditional social-dance songs of the Onöndow’ga:’ (Seneca) people, created in collaboration with Seneca singer and faithkeeper Bill Crouse, Sr. Known as Earth Songs (Yöëdza’ge:ka:’ gaë:nö’shö’), these songs have been used for centuries to build reciprocal relationships within the Seneca community and with outsiders. This project will be the first to present Seneca music to the academic community and general public accurately, sensitively, and on Seneca terms. In a website and born-digital book, the project will combine high-quality videos of song performances and Seneca teaching about the songs with the findings of both ethnographic and archival research into the history and significance of the songs.