#3 Song of the Day: Mi'kmaq Friendship Song
Performed by Kathy Neufeld
Thursday, April 9, 2020 - Nova Scotia, Canada

This song is traditionally sung by 1st Nations people sitting in a circle.  It is repeated many times, with different people singing the first line, and the others in the circle echoing it.  It speaks of friendship and community togetherness.  In the video you will see me singing outside in my yard, with Halifax Harbour in the background.  Although I am singing a Mi'kmaq song, I am playing a Boran (traditional Irish drum) and wearing an outfit from Nicaragua in South America. Peggie Wentzell, a Mi'kmaq Elder from Bridgewater, taught me this song in 2015.

Perhaps you'd like to keep the beat with me and join in singing.
Here are the words (spelled phonetically):
Yu ay hi ya. Yu ay hi ya. Yu ay hi ya. Yu ay hi ya.
Way hi ya yo. Way hi ya hey yo. Yu ay hi ya. Way hi ya, way hi ya, yo way!