A child that grew up in the arms of

Corn Mountain,

She woke to its majesty each morning …

Her name was Margaret Lewis Edaakie, she was Tsitda (Mother), Hotda (Grandmother), Kya-wu (Sister) and Kuywa (friend). Her Indian name was Laughing Eyes and it was a fitting name for such a beautiful woman who lived her life with purpose and with faith that could move mountains. She was my husbands beloved Grandmother and the memories of her amazing life continue to live inside of him as with the rest of his family.

She was born in Zuni Pueblo, a small village that sits at the foot of Dowa Yallanne (Corn Mountain) in New Mexico. The very essence of this prehistoric place called Zuni can be felt as you climb its mesa’s and breathe the juniper filled air. Laughing Eyes woke to the majesty of Dowa Yallanne each morning; she grew up in the arms of this revered mountain.

The top of this grand mesa, according to the Zuni creation story, is the place where the people took refuge during the great flood. Ancient petroglyphs tell stories from days of long ago when the ancestors made their home there.

Laughing Eye’s was respected and loved for her unselfish acts of kindness and generosity not only to her immediate family but also extended family and those she called friend. Reservation life had its challenges but there was no task too big or small that she wouldn’t give of her time. She opened her home to anyone in need and generously took care of the poor and disadvantaged. She was a pillar of strength and devotion to all those who knew her.

My sister Antoinette tells a heartfelt story of when she was eleven years old. It was 1957 and there was going to be a square dance at St.Anthony’s school where she attended. Antoinette became sad as the day drew near because she knew she would have to attend the event without a special dress. She couldn’t bring herself to ask for a dress knowing the family didn’t have much money so she remained silent about it. The day of the dance came and that evening Antoinette went to her closet and began to look for something to wear. At that very moment, Grandmother Margaret came in with a fine-looking white dress she had sewn, trimmed with silver ric rack and a stunning white petticoat to go with it. Every stitch was sewn with all the love she could hold in her heart for a sweet grand daughter. Antoinette said she went to the dance that night feeling like a princess.

Grandmother spent countless hours sewing traditional outfits and applying beadwork to them for her children and grandchildren.

A Grandmother’s love and care can make precious memories to last a life time.

Grandmother Margaret, Laughing Eyes, was a composer of songs and when she sang, the sound of her voice was that of an angel. She sang traditional songs she had learned from early childhood. Songs for the harvest, songs for the thunder beings and songs for grinding corn. She sang like a song bird that is born to sing a thousand songs. Laughing Eyes is the author of the famous “Zuni Lullaby” song which tells of a young Indian Mother soothing her little one, which has become an Indian standard.

My husband Fabian spent many nights singing our daughter to sleep with Grandma Song’s. After she’d already been tucked in I would hear her call out “Daddy, come and sing me Grandma Song’s.” The first time I heard the voice of Laughing Eyes was when the Library of Congress sent us some of her early recordings from 1946. None of the family had heard her sing since 1972 and when the CD arrived we all gathered around to listen and there were many tears.

Laughing Eyes was the first woman allowed to sing at the ceremonial opening of the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair. After the fair, she was summoned to Atlantic City, New Jersey to perform for Queen Elizabeth’s parents. In 1937 Laughing Eyes along with her family dance group from Zuni performed some traditional Zuni dances for the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

During World War II, she sang in the Hollywood Bowl to sell war bonds and she sang in New York at the dedication of the Santa Fe railroad’s El Capitan.

Grandmother was a seasoned entertainer and performed every summer at the Stand Rock Indian Ceremonials in the Wisconsin Dells along with her family from 1933 until 1972. She was skilled at making exquisite silver and turquoise jewelry and her beadwork was sought after.

It is my sincere desire that the song I wrote

for Grandmother Margaret called

“Song for Laughing Eyes” will help to nurture the memory of her in the hearts and minds of her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

As you can see, her accomplishments were many and stretched far beyond the boundaries of the reservation. She was a woman of status and well respected in her community and among her piers. If ever there was an ambassador for the village of Zuni it was Margaret Lewis Edaakie. She showed us all that holding onto traditional family values and the power of love is the glue that holds a family together.


                                                      
                                                                          Grandma Margaret

Song for Laughing Eyes

From the Album “Out of the Ashes”

A child that grew up in the arms of Corn Mountain

She woke to its majesty each morning,

In the sleepy Zuni morning

Her hair was as black as a moonless night sky

Pulled back by tradition to show her face,

The face of innocence

They called her Laughing Eyes

She could melt the coldest heart

They called her Laughing Eyes

Laughing Eyes …..

She grew old and wise in the arms of Corn Mountain

She sang songs of love to her children

She taught them to her children.

They called her Laughing Eye’s

She could sing an angel’s song,

They call her Laughing Eye’s

Laughing Eye’s ….

We still sing your songs …

They called her Laughing Eye’s

She could sing an angel’s song,

They call her Laughing Eye’s

Laughing Eye’s ….

Grandma, sing your beautiful songs …

When all was said and all was done,

And the road of life had been well traveled,

The Great Mystery gave her rest

In the arms of Corn Mountain

Dowa Yallanne

Shelley Morningsong ©