Muskogee (Creek) Duck Dance

Creek dances took place on open ground in a central square. This open are contained branch-covered structures for shaded seating, as well as lodges used by different ranks and clans within the tribe. Dancers circled counterclockwise in a simple dance step around a central fire. The leader alone played a rattle, and one or two drummers accompanied from a side position.

A dance always began with the leader circling the fire, playing his rattle. As soon as others joined, official dancing began, with men directly behind the leader, followed by women, the children who were learning the steps. The Duck Dance was performed tp repay the duck, called fetch (FOOT-coh), for helping the tribe. The Creeks also wished to keep the duck friendly to man.

Note: Final duck sound, “Kah, Kah, Kah,” the Creek equivalent of “Quack, Quack, Quack,” is open freely, moving from high to low pitches, and is repeated several times.

Duck Dance

He-ha ya-li-no-o,

He-ha ya-li-no-o,

He-ha ya-li-no-o,

He-ha ya-li-no-o,

He ha ya

We-he-ya he ya

We-he-ya he ya

We-he-ya he ya

We-he-ya he ya

We-he-ya he ya

[Repeat from beginning]

We-he-ya he ya

We-he-ya he ya

Ya-koi-he!

Ya-koi-he!

Kah! Kah! Kah! …

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