Origins: Ho ho watanay / Iroquois Lullaby

13 Jul 08 - 07:22 PM (#2388053)
Subject: Origins: Ho ho watanay / Iroquois Lullaby
From: GUEST,Guest

Hi,

I'm researching the early history of an Iroquois lullaby called "Ho ho watanay" or "Sleep, sleep, little one". Here's a link to a recording by Nancy Jilley:

http://www.nancyjlilley.com/mp3/WS7-HoHo-30sec.mp3

I know the song has been published many times in print and in recordings. The earliest source I have is from the 1950's when I gather Alan Mills heard the song on a reservation.

Does anybody know any earlier history of the song? Was it ever written down or recorded or published before Alan Mills' version?

Thanks so much for your help!

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13 Jul 08 - 09:32 PM (#2388117)
Subject: RE: Origins: Ho ho watanay / Iroquois Lullaby
From: katlaughing

I have a couple of sources I will check tomorrow.

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13 Jul 08 - 10:07 PM (#2388132)
Subject: RE: Origins: Ho ho watanay / Iroquois Lullaby
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Supposedly collected by Alan Mills on the Kahnawake (Caughnawaugha) Reserve in 1955.

Ho ho watanay (2x)
Ki yo ke na (2x)
(Repeated as often as necessary)
or in French,
Do, do, ma petite (2x)
et bon nuit (2x)

Various other words have been added or substituted. Other Canadian lullabies at www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002123

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