{"id":3346,"date":"2010-12-06T10:29:52","date_gmt":"2010-12-06T15:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/?p=3346"},"modified":"2010-12-06T12:54:33","modified_gmt":"2010-12-06T17:54:33","slug":"kinzua-dam-in-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/2010\/12\/06\/kinzua-dam-in-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Kinzua dam in song"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, we reported on the Seneca Nation’s decision to seek the federal license to operate the Kinzua Dam in northwestern Pennsylvania.\u00a0 It will be a fascinating story to watch because, as Seneca president Robert Odawi Porter told me<\/a>, there’s a significant element of revenge at play.<\/p>\n

The Army Corps of Engineers built the dam in the 1960s despite strenuous Seneca opposition.\u00a0 600 Seneca people were forced from their homes; burial grounds and a longhouse were flooded by the rising waters behind the dam.<\/p>\n

As anyone involved in the St. Lawrence power dam relicensing knows, these things take years and require a give and take from dozens of interest groups and agencies.\u00a0 It’s too early to know how seriously the Senecas’ bid will be taken.<\/p>\n

The Nation at least has the lead in the American songbook.\u00a0 Alert listener Everett of Canton turned me on to Jim Pepper’s “Senecas (As Long as the Grass Shall Grow)”.\u00a0 It’s the story of the Senecas’ fight against the dam.<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

Turns out Johnny Cash recorded it, too, on his Bitter Tears<\/em> album, which is all about Native Americans (after Cash had learned he was part Cherokee). The lyrics are bitter:<\/p>\n

Washington Adams and Kennedy now hear their pledges ring
\nThe treaties are safe we’ll keep our word but what is that gurgling
\nIt’s the back water from Perfidy Lake it’s rising all the time
\nOver the homes and over the fields and over the promises fine
\nNo boats will sail on Lake Perfidy in winter it will fill
\nIn summer it will be a swamp and all the fish will kill
\nBut the Government of the USA has corrected George’s vow
\nThe father of our country must be wrong what’s an Indian anyhow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s Johnny Cash’s version of the song:<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

UPDATE: As alert reader “scompton” points out, the song was originally written and recorded by native musician, Peter LaFarge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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