Chapter 5
”Knifewing”
The Zuni Indians practice their traditional beliefs and demand that the young of the tribe, as long as they remain on the reservation, follow the directions of their elders who are on the top of the tribal hierarchy. The Zuni people are Pueblo Indians and their village is located in the middle of the Southwestern New Mexico.
“ Knifewing “ is the hero of one of their legends, an ultimate sort of warrior who also may be regarded as the Great One. He reveals himself only to the warriors who protect the village to give them wisdom, strength and courage.
One day Knifewing Segura, a Chiricahua Apache arrives at the Zuni village as a permanent resident. His marriage to a Zuni woman was dissolved and their children had to remain on the reservation to learn traditional values.
At first he felt like a prisoner. Then the Zuni Magic came to life. “ I started to receive blessings from having made the appropriate choices. Having resigned myself to leading a restricted life on the reservation, phenomenal things began happening!”
First he apprenticed to become a Navajo jeweler, and in a short time he had awards for his works which attracted attention across the country.
Then, by chance, he turned to music, and before knowing it his music genius had far surpassed his own comprehension. “ I had made the official decision to walk away from a darker world, and immediately things began to fall into place”.
His music is based on traditional instruments including the Native American flute, traditional bells, rattles and one of the country’s largest traditional drums. Knifewing’s sound is unduplicated and makes a deep impression also outside the Indian communities. He was chosen the Native American Male Vocalist in 1995.
His lyrics are deeply connected with his roots and he writes songs to honor ancestral leaders. He also wants to heal the memories of a devastating historical past, but also to use his gift of music to help heal the wounds of abusedand abandoned children. In this way he clearly bridges the responsibilities for the past and the present of the Indian society.
Without knowing at the beginning, the journey into traditional values and music became a journey into himself. In the process he has revitalized contemporary Indian music and become a legend himself through his accomplishments. The Zuni village has received the blessings of another Knifewing reviving the pride in being a Native American.