The opening lines to Mercedes’ new song, called Auntie Vibe, can be heard over the backing of a lo-fi groove guitar. “I don’t know what I’m doing / I’m just gonna go for it”, along with the calming sound of water lapping away on a shore layered into the song, giving it a light and uplifting mood.
The song — like some of her other creations, is passionately connected to her work as an activist in Indian Country. Mercedes has been singing her traditional songs and spreading messages of unity and positivity in places like Standing Rock, North Dakota, during the height of the No DAPL demonstrations. Since then, the Dakota Access Pipeline was ordered to shut down. Months after the Standing Rock protest, Mercedes continued to spread the message of protecting the earth’s water, travelling coast to coast in a bus with the Rolling Resistance, a group of indigenous water protectors. These days, she’s working on new projects, putting the encounters and experiences she faced throughout her life, into her music.
At eight-years-old, she began singing traditional Mohawk songs, and by 17, took a step into hip-hop music, recording in studios out of Syracuse, NY. When she moved back to Akwesasne, she began working with local artists and producers. Later, after many years of activism, Mercedes has become an “auntie”.
Mercedes says being an auntie in native culture isn’t simply just the act of being a relative. Young Akwesasronon take the journey in their traditional rites of passage, known as Oherokon, which challenges them mentally, physically and spiritually to come out “under the husk” as a Mohawk woman/man. The aunties and uncles of those who go through Oherokon are a vital part of the process. They tend to the young adults with their lodge or to help with their fasting during this time.
“Being an Auntie as an Indigenous woman holds a lot of responsibility and strength. We’re all teaching and learning from each other as a nation and as a community. Showing all the nieces and nephews the old ways we were taught growing up so the traditions don’t die out.”
Didn’t you know this was an auntie vibe,
& all these Karens are the Anti-Christ
In the next line of Auntie Vibe, Mercedes mentions the name Karen – a complete contrast of what an Auntie is. The term “Karen” has become a hugely popular meme on the internet, giving a name to the face of problematic women who are quick to call police on people of color for non-emergencies. So much so that San Franciso recently passed the CAREN act, stopping racially biased 911 calls. Mercedes says these lyrics were inspired by a video that went viral of a woman who slapped the face of someone who allegedly made racist remarks to her in a gas station.
The rest of the lyrics are short, but clearly sum up how Mercedes feels about the political climate surrounding police brutality in the U.S. In 2016, Mercedes says she experienced brutality at the hands of hired security firms and police during her time as a water protector.
“The lyrics express how I feel about authority figures in Minneapolis for what they did to George Floyd. It also expresses how I feel about the police in our own community as well”.
Terrance goes on to express her disdain with unsolved murder cases in her community of Akwesasne. She believes the local police need to be more vigilant in solving cases involving their own residents.
The song’s final lyrics “this is an anti-vibe”, is a play on words. Mercedes Terrance emanates anti-racism and anti-brutality and spreads that message through singing and storytelling as an ‘Auntie’.
Check her out — listen to her music in the links below.
