Song of the Month

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Hee Na Nee Na
traditional Maidu chant - ages 3 and up

This song /game has been so popular in my Western concerts, that I wanted to share it with you. Younger and older children love it, and will want to do it over and over again. Younger children can hide their hands behind their backs to make the hiding easier. 

This traditional chant comes from the Native American Maidu tribe which lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the California Gold Era. Children would play a little game while singing the chant. Follow the directions below.

Hee Na Nee Na
(sung 4 times) 

Hold a treasure ( a penny works well ) in one hand, covered by the other. Turn closed hands over, back and forth while singing the chant. At the end separate hands into fists, and have the rest of the children guess which fist holds the treasure. Let children take turns trying to “trick” each other.