"Heavy Fog" - Traditional Shoshone Circle Dance Song by Bryan Hudson Jr.

This is a traditional Shoshone Circle Dance Song. Sometimes referred to as Ghost Dance or Round Dance songs, they accompany dances done for various celebrations including pine nut harvest, and social gatherings, festivals and "fandangos" typically done in the Great Basin. Circle Dance songs are poetic and often use forms of Shoshone words not used in regular speech.

I learned to sing in the circle dance style from my late auntie Judy Trejo from Nevada. I am proud, blessed and thankful I was able to learn from her and a few others as the opportunities for these songs to be sung and danced to at Great Basin gatherings continue to get fewer and fewer. In many Shoshone and Paiute communities around the Great Basin, these songs have not been passed on in a large number and are in danger of dying out completely.

This 'paa' ottsa' or "pitch water jug" was handed down in my family from my great grandmother's grandmother. She was a celebrated basket weaver from Saline Valley (Ko'ontsiamme) band of Southern Shoshones from which I am a descendant. It is from the Southern Owen's Valley, CA. Enjoy.

Aishen tsaan