As Long as the Grass Grows: A Treaty Song from Saskatchewan

As I begin, I am thankful to acknowledge that we are standing and studying in traditional Musqueam territory land and space. I bring greetings from Treaty Four territory in Saskatchewan where Treaty Commissioner Morris made a promise on behalf of the Government that the Treaties would be honoured "as long as the grass grows, the sun shines, the river flows." I am happy to bring my Treaty song to you today and dedicate it to the "People of the River Grass", the Musqueam. I wish you progress as you fulfil your responsibilities to Treaty, Land and Resources.

http://www.musqueam.bc.ca/treaty-lands-and-resources 
http://www.bctreaty.net/nations/musqueam.php

As Long as the Grass Grows: A Treaty Song from Saskatchewan

by Sheena Koops, Settler Descendant

As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this heart of mine
As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this land of mine

They are living documents, First Peoples' and the Crowns'
Building blocks of Canada, to which we are bound
Sacred agreements, the pipe and the pen
Brother to brother; peace, good-order to men

As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this heart of mine
As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this land of mine

My Indian Brothers of the plains, I shake hands with you today
I shake hands in my heart, God has given us a good day
I trust his eye is upon us, and all that we do
Will be for the benefit of our children, Lieutenant Governor Morris told this to...

Chief Ben Pasqua, he was there, September 1874
On the Pasqua Pictograph, he documented Treaty 4
Now his Great, Great Granddaughter, honours me as her friend
We shake hands in our hearts -- Witaskewan

But the Indian Act came along, Treaty broken across the land
Residential School stole the children, Systemic Racism played its hand
And the Settlers, we closed our eyes, with worries of our own
And the Treaties were forgotten, as history has shown

Well it's time we opened up our eyes, Promise Breakers be no more
This land we call Canada, from shore to shore to shore
Is calling us to honour, our word, our law, our truth
We are the Seventh Generation; if not us, then who?

As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this heart of mine
As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this land of mine... of ours...

Getting along with others, Miyowicehtowin
Making a living, Pimacihowin
Living together on the land, Witaskewin
We are the people of Turtle Island; the Treaty makes us kin

As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this heart of mine
As long as the grass grows, as long as the sun shines
As long as the river flows, through this land of ours...


Part 1 of 4 "Treaty Walks: My Unsettling Journey from Bully to Benevolence and White Back Again" at Provoking Curriculum, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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