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Where White Men Fear To Tread

from Arco 71 by Aaron Kerr

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When you leave Minnesota on I-90 traveling west, there is a rise in the land past Sioux Falls. You get to Chamberlin, where you cross the Missouri River, and continue on through rolling, grassy hills and a long, flat plain area. Just pass Wall are the Badlands, and beyond that are the Black Hills. This is where my kin are from. My grandfather grew up here before the land was fenced. My grandmother lived on the range in a shack with a dirt floor. I've been here countless times, and this land is in my blood. My wife and I took a trip across the country before we had kids, and we spent some time here visiting relatives. I brought along a great book, "Where White Men Fear to Tread," an autobiography by Russell Means, and read most of it while in this area. Russell Means, who sadly passed away last year, was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation near the Black Hills. He was one of the founding members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and a well known Native American Activist. His story was absolutely stunning, and made me hugely interested in him. He starred in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans," which I went to see five times in the movie theater. He was a true maverick; an outspoken supporter of Native American rights, and a legendary figure. I understand why the Native Americans call this area of South Dakota home. The Black Hills are both mysterious and magical, which I've felt since my first memories there as a child. I really wanted to honor Russell Means with this song, and give a prayer to all Native Americans. His dedication in "Where White Men Fear to Tread" is a wonderful message: "This book is dedicated to to the young people of every American Indian nation. I fervently hope it will inspire them to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of their lives and to take courage from this proof that good things happen to good people when they persevere."

credits

from Arco 71, released August 7, 2013
Aaron Kerr--cello, percussion

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Emperor Penguin Records Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Emperor Penguin Records began in 2003 in St. Paul, MN and later moved to Milwaukee, WI in 2015. The label is run by musician/producer Tyson Allison. EPR enlists and caters to singer/songwriters, introverts, experimental weirdos, bookish people, and crafters that paint pictures with words and toy with your emotions on a well-placed chord. Thank you for your interest! ... more

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