Defend the Sacred (Ilocano Welcome Chant) — Nahko and Medicine for the People

Artist: Nahko and Medicine for the People

Title: Defend the Sacred (Ilocano Welcome Chant)

Year: 2020

Composer: Nahko Bear

Genre: Folk

An unexpected repeat in the playlist, this piece from a more recent Nahko and MFTP album encourages introspection. What is "the sacred?" And how do we protect it? For Nahko, this may very well be a direct connection to his native roots and many social justice pursuits. For listeners, there is no right or wrong answer.

In a world full of chaos, misery, and uncertainty, people can only truly come to know peace by staying true to themselves. Passions are sacred, values are sacred, goals are sacred. The thing that motivates a person to get up every day and keep moving forward is sacred. That is what we protect—that is what we strive towards.

Granted, this is no easy feat, even Nahko finds it difficult because it is not something we are used to doing (I wish I would have been taught to protect my heart). Oftentimes, we are our own barriers to achieving this peace as we try to defend [our] power and control [we] fear everyone [is] taking. Nahko's poem reveals that protect our hearts, we have to keep ourselves accountable and recognize our own wrongdoings so that we may repair [our parts]. In this way, we may Take Our Power back.

In the context of striving towards social change, it is disheartening when nothing is achieved. However, before we are quick to point the fingers at everyone else we must also ask ourselves where our own faults lie. We must learn to be vulnerable and accepting of the truth so that we may strive for better outcomes.

Connection to Playlist

This selection is an undeniable tie to God and the spiritual because of its mention of "the sacred." The spin this takes, though, is that we are "the sacred" and must treat ourselves as such. This view is what may help us feel more at peace.

Resources

Nahko and Medicine for the People, Defend the Sacred, (Ilocano Welcome Chant), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySbJaQChabk.