Happy Native American Month, The Water Wars continue!
It is with appreciation for our dear sister, Salina Manson, who requested our participation in this important video message. At this time in history, Native American voices will not be denied! Supaman and Maimouna Youssef use their platform to educate and inspire us all, universally. Kaqinaliyuw to our First Nations sisters and brothers who allowed the cameras in. Enjoy! —Luhui
#Supaman #MiracleFeat #MaimounaYoussef #WaterWars #StandingRock #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #WishtoyoChumashVillage #FNECA
Many think that the movement at Standing Rock has come and gone, not knowing that was only a wake up call to what is happening around the world! Indigenous people continue to lead the fight against big corporations who only wish to profit at the expense of the people’s well being in the fight for clean water. In 2017 Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas pulled together some amazing Indigenous artist on a song and video titled “Stand Up” (For Standing Rock) which went on to win an MTV VMA award which veteran Native emcee Supaman was a part of. The fight continues in this hard hitting visual masterpiece where Supaman teams up with grammy nominated Maimouna Youssef from the Choctaw nation to inspire, educate, motivate, and encourage those still standing in the global fight to clean water. Mega talented emcee Supaman who is known for infusing Native culture and hip hop culture in his music, says “the video for Miracle featuing Maimouna Youssef is much more than a tribute to Water song. It holds so much more meaning and symbolism throughout, that the average viewer might miss. Right away you are presented with so many gems in the video. The women warriors dressed in the red elktooth dresses with war bonnets on, which are significant to Supaman’s people the Apsaalooke. The “red” gives tribute and awareness of the “Missing and murdered Indigenous women” which is an on going epidemic throughout the country. Supaman’s unapologetic verse flows over the self produced boom bap beat accompanied by the haunting violin sounds of Grammy award winning violinist Luisa Bastidas and paints a superb picture of family, unity, and prayer. Maimouna Youssef who was recently featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with Black Thought and also featured on Sway in the Morning, delivers flawless harmonies on the hook and talks about “the spirit of the Ghost Dance......” a movement that was started in the 1800‘s by Paiute medicine man, Wovoka. This was a spiritual movement of dance promoting hope, unity, and peace amongst the people. In the video you see the beauty of this movement by the many different cultural dances uniting for the same cause. Maimouna displays her uncanny musical gifts of singing and rapping while taking us on an empowering unprecedented journey of resilience with her verse with lines like “we gave them liberty and they gave us slaughter, no land of the free, for my fore fathers”. All and all “Miracle” is a timely masterpiece which reminds us of and captures the resilient power and value of the Indigenous people. A voice that demands attention in this day and time. Happy Native American Heritage Month!
Directed and Edited by Jihan Hafiz Production
Manager Salina Manson