New choral work "Circle of the First" honors First Peoples

Dear Relatives,

An old friend. Robert Terrio, and I have collaborated on a choral piece that will be premiered by the Rider University Choir in Princeton, New Jersey on April 25^th at 2:00 p.m. We invite you to attend if you're in the area.

The work is called Circle of the First, and in it, we seek to pay tribute to the
wisdom and lifeways of the world’s First Peoples – many of whom, as we see and share here at fwii.net, are reviving, reclaiming, even reinventing these traditions. Circle of the First also honors the ways in which much of the rest of
humanity is coming to a shared point of view: that all life is interconnected
and that by treating others and the earth with respect, we can live in harmony.

The central image of the circle is important, of course. As Black Elk said:

“You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because
the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be
round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power
came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as the hoop was
unbroken, the people flourished.”

And as many of us sense, the hoops of many nations are reuniting in these important, prophetic days.

I suggested the idea to Bob and wrote the lyrics, and he composed a beautiful piece of music.

I thank Phil Lane Jr. and all of you for welcoming me into this circle, and I share the lyrics for this piece with you here, offering them with the deepest respect.

With love, peace, and gratitude –

Lee

Circle of the First

Who first revered the grass?

Revered the glacial lake?

Who knew the pine tree’s breath,

And where the day would break?

Who first revered the sun?

Paid homage to the moon?

Seeing that all are one,

Each grace, each pain, our own:

First people, First Nations live this lasting trust,

As the rest awaken, join the circle of the First

First people, First Nations live this lasting trust,

As all the rest awaken, join the circle of the First

Borrow the beaming sun,

Borrow the rushing rivers

Borrow the swifter winds

Borrow the earth’s deep warmth

Not living off the earth

But of the earth

One with the earth, in harmony!