I realized our herring cd had no song at all from west coast of usa, and essentially no Native cultural appropriation. But i kept feeling that there was a song from Sitka Alaska. A new friend is writing a song that might involve a fisherman's lady from there, or perhaps someplace else or perhaps we'll never know. So anyway, here is a song about the herring roe tradition of Sitka, Alaska. I never knew this was so important to them. Tune is very beautiful, probably the most beautiful Irish song, Skara Brae Suantrai hiudai. on youtube. It has to be juggled a bit but it fits in general and it is nice I think to be cross cultural. I think fishers are so fluid no matter where they are from.

HERRING OUR JOY tune Suantrai hiudai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4d0UWZ54OU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4d0UWZ54OU

In the land of the seal and the great Sitka spruce
Herring were given to us for our use
Each year when the herring converge on our banks
We gather in gratitude dance and give thanks

Herring our living our hands to employ
Herring our heritage herring our joy

In spring to the edge of the water we go
And wait for the herring to deposit their roe
Branches of hemlock we’ll lay on their sides
for the herring to spawn on the incoming tides

Herring our living our hands to employ
Herring our heritage herring our joy

Our brothers and sisters across the great seas
Hope to have herring as plenty as these
That their nets will be filled and their bellies as well
Herring to eat and herring to sell

Herring our living our hands to employ
Herring our heritage herring our joy

For thousands of years your people and mine
Made sure that the herring stock would not decline
We pray the Great Spirit will prosper the run
And the herring will last until earth’s day is done

Herring our living our hands to employ
Herring our heritage herring our joy