Pow Wow 2006 Notes

Maori Haka

The Haka is a war chant and dance, traditionally performed by the Maori people of New Zealand. The words are chanted loudly in a menacing way accompanied by arm movements, foot stomping and exaggerated face expressions. A haka was traditionally performed before battle, which encouraged the warriors and intimidated their enemies. I am quite sure that battles were averted and lives were saved by the fierce display of power.

In 2004 a friend of mine attended the Promise Keepers convention, where a whole stadium of men performed a version of the Haka. He was able to show a video of the Haka on the Promise Keepers web site. It appears that it is no longer posted on their web but I was able to capture the video, available for viewing below.

I was very impressed with the display of power, and it inspired me to see if the boys of Pack 2 could pull it off. I printed out the words below, handed them out to the boys and the parents (parents are never immune to pack participation) and we gave it a go. Turns out that the boys like to yell out the Haka very much thank you. I have been asked to lead the Haka many times since and it has become a Pack 2 tradition.

Promise Keepers 2004 Haka Video

Leader:
Waiata (why-ah-tahhhhhh...)
Waiata mana HI! (why-ah-tah-man-ahhhhhh... HIGH!)
Translation: Let us chant, let us chant with power and authority, One step up another step up.

Chanters:
Hu pane Kau pane Hu Hi (HOO pahnee KAU pahnee HOO...HIGH!)
A Hu pane Kau pane hu Hi (ah HOO pahnee KAU pahnee HOO...HIGH!)
Step upon step we will rise ... Hi!
Step upon step we will rise ... Hi!
Let the gates tremble that stand in our way,
We are forging the kingdom of light...HI!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Talk Like a Pirate Day: "I'm a Pirate" song

A Kid’s Pirate Shanty

by Mark "Cap'n Slappy" Summers
(can be sung to the tune of Monty Python's "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK" - or make up your own!)

Chorus

I'm a pirate! That I be!
I sail me ship upon the sea!
I stay up late - till half past three!
And that's a peg below me knee!

Yo Ho, my friends I have a tale
Of treasure, plunder, sea and sail
My story's bigger than a whale
It gets so deep, ye'll have to bail.

Chorus

I like to fish, I like to fight
I like to stay up half the night
When I say "starboard" ye go right!
Me ma, she says, "Ye look a fright!"

Chorus

I've got no hand but that's me hook!
I pillage stuff but I'm no crook.
Me booty's in this chest I took.
They'll write about me in a book!

Chorus

And that's all there is to this song.
I hope it hasn't been too long.
A pirate's life might just be wrong
So grow up nice and big and strong!

Chorus