The Land Remembers

This song was commissioned by the Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque Iowa as they crafted their Land Acknowledgment Statement, honoring the Indigenous peoples who inhabited this land before them. This land holds the history and memories of those peoples, and their practice of right relationship with all creation has been handed down. A land acknowledgment comes out of a profound respect for the earth and speaks truth. This land belongs to the Creator, and we are now the grateful inhabitants of it. The Community researched the history of the land and noted the names of the Indigenous peoples who made their home along the Mississippi River. I crafted a song for their congregation which could also be adapted to other locations and Indigenous peoples. When I read their Land Acknowledgment statement, I instantly saw phrases and words that would sing beautifully. A tone, melody line, and chords came to me quite rapidly with the intention of keeping the song reverent and honoring the sacred of all cultures. Once approved, Buddy Skipper arranged it for piano, staying very close to the accompaniment I provided and enhancing it with richer chords and refined definitions of rhythms. David Heitler-Klevans arranged the song for choral 4 part, which you hear in this recording of the premier at Clare Chapel in Dubuque. David also provided a guitar arrangement and a simple piano arrangement, and I arranged a version for 3-part women. Thank you to the "Dream Team" of sisters, led by Marie Cigrand, OSF for the honor and joy of working with you to offer this to the world. (In the melody, space has been left for others to include the names of their region's Indigenous peoples.) To read their full Land Acknowledgment Statement please visit www.osfdbq.org.