Cultural heritage expresses who we are and how we live. Anishinaabeg have shared language, stories, and songs for generations in Pimachiowin Aki.
This is the Pimachiowin Aki song—a sacred song created to recognize that Pimachiowin Aki is the land that gives life and is vital to the spiritual, emotional, and physical survival of Anishinaabeg as a people:
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey Ya Whey Ya
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey
Whey Ha Why Oh Whey Ya Whey Ya
Anishinaabeg dibaajimowin (This is an Ojibwe Story)
Gaagige bimosemagan (It exists and travels through eternity)
Pimachiowin Aki (On the land that gives life)
[The verse is sung four times]
“That song is forever going to sound in this world. And it’s going to sound all over, and the wave that travels to every part of the world, that song will travel to. Our people’s voice needs to be heard. The knowledge that Anishinaabe people have is vital to our own survival. And vital to mankind.”
Eric Courchene, Sagkeeng First Nation
