Three Lipan Apache Songs

The "ìdìyi á" "he make it walk" ceremony and song's sole purpose is to aid children who are slow at learning to walk. Through this song, the offering of prayer and life-long protection from evil is given. This ceremony can be performed for children before twelve months of age to ensure they will walk on or before their first year. When performing this ceremony a man or women can perform the rites. If not done by a close blood relative, then hire a medicine man or medicine woman. The rite takes about ten minutes each night, repeated for four nights under a clear night sky. Give a gift of turquoise, made with downy eagle feathers.

Gòjó sí
(The Blessing Song for Girls)

'ìs' à' nà yái k' è' gòjó 'àná' hòkùs

t' á ìgaì bìt ' á' éd yùd 'á lzà tc' ìndí

'ákó gò' t' á ìgaì bìká' nà' íljò jgò 'á lzà tc' ìndí

yò gài sìyùdì 'ìt á' nèz' ágò' 'á lzà tc' ìndí

gòdìt' ó' bàsxà' híljìj tc' ìndí

gòdìt' ó' bèbìk' è nà ìst ' ó tc' ìndí

hí tsát ' ùl bìt' ùl 'á lzà tc' ìndí

t' ádì xì bìtc' ìd bìt ' á' sì tsò z

t' á ìgaì bìtc' ìd bìt ' á' sì tsò z

'ìs' à' nà yái k' è' gòjó ts' á 'á lzà tc' ìndí

djùnà' ái bìnànt' à' bè bìyì' gùdìtní tc' ìndí

The "gojo si" is a "cradle song" ceremony and song whose sole purpose is to aid and provide supernatural powers to baby girls into womanhood. Through this song, the offering of prayer and life-long protection from evil is given. This ceremony is to be performed for baby girls into puberty to ensure their fertility before marriage. When performing this ceremony a man or women can perform the rites. If not done by a close blood relative, then hire a medicine man or medicine woman. The rite includes making a cradle from wood collected by the girl's family, not in their cycle. While making the cradle the song will be sung under a clear night sky. When the song is finished a women or man will place the girl into the cradle and will put prehistoric shell ornaments onto the cradle. The cradle is never to be touched by Mother Earth. It is said to take away the girls fertility. Gifts are of corn or meal. The performers of this song ceremony will receive the equivalent of a life of respect and care.

zee tsa lit ni'
(The Friendship Prayer)

Si' -Zi' bìyì' éd yùd di" di' ?isZa'ni' tc' ìndí

'ìs' à' nà yái éd yùd 'á lzà tc' ìndí

bìyì' éd yùd híljìj 'ìs' à' nà yái tc' ìndí

yèxáidèlà gò dè yà k' è' gòjó zee tsá lit' tc' ìndí d

Á bìtc' ìd bìt ' á' ná ná ni? sì tsò z

nùgùsts' án biìká' dé ' ì tc' ' òdàsdjà í'

bìyá tì' jò ní bìnàtsé kè s jò ní' bìdlùk jò ní

bínà lzé' 'í t' à' dá' jò dí dò bé' ó ltà' gò'

yèxáidèlà gò dè yà tc' ìndí d

'ìs' à' nà yái k' è' gòjó gò' nànt' à' dòxá yò' bì ' ágòdo dí ì'

yèxáidèlà gò dè yà tc' ìndí d

The "zee tsa lit ni' " "friendship prayer" song is an offering of prayer and life long protection from evil. This ceremony can be performed in the presents of a scared candle or fire to ensure the spirits will hear your prayers. When performing this ceremony a man or women can perform the rites. If not done by a close blood relative, then hire a medicine man or medicine woman. The rite takes about ten minutes each night, repeated for four nights under a clear night sky. Give a gift of turquoise, made with downy eagle feathers.