The following two songs are from the CD: ‘GENERATION to GENERATION’.
Recording/Remix: Featherstone Productions (co-founded by Gordon and JoAnne Bird)
PO Box 487
Brookings, SD 57006 605-693-3193
Song: Buffalo Boy
Lyrics by: Jackie Bird
Instrumental: Gordon Bird
Song Compositions: Gordon Bird and Jackie Bird
Granted soul, where do I go
I see a world in need of help
Little red buffalo, won’t you come with me?
Here I am, newborn child
It’s cuz of you I’m buffalo boy
Little red buffalo, hey what do you feel?
Listen to the trees, here’s what they say
The land’s becoming dangerous
Newborn child, here’s what we must do
Teach the old ways, share the knowledge
For all are part of the universe
Newborn child, that’s what we must do
Granted soul
Oh, oh, oh
We are the ancestors, returning to you
We are all from the past
Little red buffalo, we were born together
Granted soul, now here we go
Reminding all our relatives
Song: This Is Your Moment
Lyrics by: JoAnne Bird
Instrumental: Gordon Bird
Song Compositions: Gordon Bird and Jackie Bird
You can do what you think you can do
You can go where you think you can go
You can be what you think you can be
Like an eagle, you can be free
(chorus)
This is your moment
This is your time
Love one another
Give all the time
Go out and greet the morning sun
For it’s time we all know we are one
What you believe in your heart you will be
As an eagle, you can be free
Gordon Bird
Gordon Bird is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arickara Nations also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes headquartered in New Town, North Dakota. He currently resides in rural Brookings, South Dakota. His father, Jacob Bird, was the son of Steven Bird. Steven Bird was the son of Crow Flies High, a leader of the Hidatsa. Crow Flies High was sometimes referred to as chief. Crow Flies High Butte, which was named after him is located a few miles west of New Town, North Dakota. The butte is overlooking the Missouri River. Gordon’s mother was Pansy Parshall. She is the daughter of George and Ruby Parshall. Pansy was well known for her artistry in beadwork and sewing. Gordon’s grandfather George Parshall worked with a surveyor. The town of Parshall, North Dakota was named after him. The present-day location of the Three Affiliated Tribes, also known as the Ft. Berthold Reservation, has a varied beautiful landscape. It ranges from plains to large rolling hills. The reservation also encompasses a portion of the Badlands of North Dakota.
Gordon grew up with the traditional ways of his people, which consists of singing traditional songs and participating in traditional dances. Today he does vocals and his main instrument is the guitar.
Gordon attended BIA boarding schools the first through the eighth grades in Pierre, South Dakota. He attended the Flandreau Indian Vocational School in Flandreau, South Dakota for his high school education. He gives presentations of his personal experiences of his childhood, school years, tribal stories, and historical events.
Gordon, his wife JoAnne, his daughters Jackie, Sherry, Lori, and their grandchildren make up the family performing group BIRD! His repertoire of Indian music includes a variety of social songs, intertribal songs, and honor songs using vocals, drums, and flutes. The contemporary music repertoire includes Blues and Rock ‘n Roll using vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drums.
Gordon and JoAnne founded and own Featherstone Productions, which is a music production company that records other people’s stories, languages, and music. This includes Martin High Bear’s telling of the White Buffalo Calf Woman story.
Presentations and performances are given to Indian and non-Indian groups of all ages. BIRD! Performances are done in a concert setting, which have consisted of colleges, universities, schools, theaters, and various other venues. Gordon’s personal presentations can be done in classrooms and various settings.
Gordon Bird
PO Box 487
Brookings, SD 57006
605-693-3193 bird@itctel.com
