Album Notes

This CD has two stories. The first story is about a race in which all the animals ran a race around the Black Hills of South Dakota, which teaches mankind's connection to all other creations in this universe. The second story is told entirely in Lakota followed by the English translation, and is about identity.David Little Elk is a Lakota Sioux Indian from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. He is a Lakota Language & Culture Teacher and has written a book titled "WICOH'AN OTEHIKE", which means "the difficult way". This book is about the Lakota culture and contains many stories, including Lakota Star Knowledge stories, as well as commentary based on ancient Lakota beliefs regarding current issues facing the Lakota people.David has also written a Lakota language book titled "CANTE ETANHAN OWAGLAKE", which means, "speaking from the heart". This book has 7 accompanying CD's to help the Lakota language student to pronounce the language correctly. As of August 2002, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council proclaimed his Lakota Language book and CD's, to be the OFFICIAL Lakota Language materials of the tribe. David also composes music that promotes the Lakota ways, which develop complete health: physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. David has been playing guitar since he was eight years old. At nine years of age, he began his classical training on other instruments such as various brass, wind, stringed instruments, piano, among others. David has been writing songs since then, and he records them in his own recording studio.David's other spoken word CD is titled "Pte Hincala San Cannumpa", which is the complete story of how the White Buffalo Calf Pipe came to the Itazipco Lakota people.David believes that Communication is the transfer of medicine through our thoughts, feelings, actions, and words. The Lakota Natural Law of Generosity states that the medicine we use to communicate with others will return to us fourfold. Thus, when a person tries to hurt someone else, that person is only hurting him/her-self more because the energy he/she sent will return to him/her fourfold. And when a person does something healthy to others, that healthy medicine returns to him/her fourfold, too. This is the foundation of the belief that, "The Honor of One is the Honor of All." Therefore, it is Lakota tradition to communicate in a most clear and effective manner with each other. In this spirit, David composes his music and teaches his Lakota language and culture.