Creation of the Great Peace: part 13

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Creation of the Great Peace: part 13
Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “I decree that when they arrive there, the ones walking on the road, at the place where one has made a fire for them (near the thorny bushes), then they will stand up on the different sides of the fire, the chiefs, according to their Confederacy moiety affiliation. Thereupon the people, the old people and youths and children, everyone will stand up, lining up according to ranks.Thereupon on the other side of the fire will be the bereaved, these having appointed one who will walk back and forth alongside of the fireplace, doing so repeatedly and he will have a cane along.”Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, ” I decree that when he begins walking back and forth, this is what he will say; ‘Today, I suddenly became aware of your voices sounding across the forest. Approaching, moving across, barriers you saw it coming, traces of
them, our ancestors. As if just barely, it is becoming ominous, for smoke should still be rising at the place, the place where they used to smoke and where, formerly, we gained wisdom. There, as you came, you saw numerous signs of our
ancestors; and this, indeed, how can it be at ease, your mind, with teardrops falling as you came, my father’s kinsmen. We give thanks that now you have crossed the forest. Presently, together we assemble and then together we shall sit, my
father’s kinsmen. This in fact is ominous, for possibly, these might have killed you, the water holes. And these beings, actually, are everywhere, they having claws all over. This, possibly, might have killed you, where the ax is raised repeatedly,
This possibly might have killed you. We give thanks that, just so, indeed, now you have crossed the forest.’ How ominous, had it happened thus: had you fallen on the trail back then and they suddenly noticed, coming to a stop, they, becoming
horrified, saying, ‘Over yonder, bodies are lying there, they even have antlers on’ and they wondering, what, apparently, was done? We give thanks that now you have reached us safely. This is what they have decreed, our ancestors: They will kindle a fire for them near the thorny bushes and they will console them with the few words’.
Yonder where they referred the matter, they will cause it to lead them by the arm, toward the Council House. There they will seat them, at the Council House. There all matters will get accomplished, as they will rub down their bodies. Now moreover, you, the principals of your clans whose fireplaces were abandoned, where submerged
bushes tremble in gathering waters of rough currents. Thus the number of your clans: Wolves, now you two are Confederacy moiety brothers, the people stand they of the cattail place they of the sand place, the Oswego people thus the number of your clans, you two moiety brothers. Now your children: They from Oneida, Standing Stone,
the white one, and the Cayugas , thus the number of your clans of ancient times.”Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “Now I decree that these will speak first, the bereaved, saying, ‘On this day, at this time as he himself created it, a number of persons, you all, are arriving, my father’s kinsmen, and now we are assembled with you who
have walked on the path as decreed by our founders, our ancestors, Moreover your tears fell as you came, following the path, reaching the place they indicated, (Here begins the Wiping of the Tears Ceremony the requickening) the place where one will lay a fire near the thorny bushes, for the few words to complete them. Now, moreover, my father’s kinsmen, you will keep in mind what they will say, the Four Brothers; and this is the wonderful news, that now you have reached us here you, the
Three Brothers, who shed great tears, as you were coming on the road. Moreover, you
will keep in mind that he passed his hand through his tears, they wiping your tears
with this white, soft cloth they use when they wipe your tears. Then, moreover, you will look around calmly, and you will see them all about you, roaming around, your nephews and nieces, and then you will see the land again. Thereupon you will begin to think calmly again; moreover for at least one day, you should be thinking peacefully.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Four Brothers

Thereupon the wampum will cross over the fire towards the Three Brothers who will grasp hold of it, and continuing on, secondly, he will say, ‘My father’s kinsmen, thus it happens and it is dreadful that it should happen to one, that repeatedly
ones ear becomes plugged so that one cannot hear anymore, moreover, thus it has happened to you, my father’s kinsmen. So now they are carefully reopening your ears.

Now, moreover, they will be restored, and you will hear them speaking again, those moving about near you, your nephews and nieces. Now, also, you will hear again about how things are going at the settlement. Now, moreover, you will think calmly, and for at least one day you should continue thinking calmly.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Four Brothers.

Thereupon it will move across the fire, the wampum, and continuing on, thirdly, he will say, ‘This is the way it happens, it is dreadful for it to happen that one is overpowered by unhappiness. Thus it is repeatedly obstructing the throat, one grief, so that it happens to you that your throat becomes clogged by grief. So now they
free it from grief, your throat. Then, moreover, you will think calmly again, and then you will once more breathe peacefully, speaking out calmly, as we give thanks.

Thereupon you will think calmly in the future, and you should continue to think calmly for at least one day.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Four
Brothers. Thereupon he will end his speech and it will cross the fire, the wampum.

Thereupon the Three Brothers will answer, and their speaker will first say, ‘ We accept what you are doing, you who are downstream from us; moreover, you will attend to what is happening concerning your various words.’ Then, moreover, they will speak up, the Three Brothers; first they will say, ‘Indeed, it is not a one-sided matter
what has happened to you, for this is what brought them, the Three Brothers, this dreadful thing that has happened to you, the Four Brothers, which has caused a vacant spot in your relationship group, for now he has died, he in whom they used to place their trust, his now has become a vacant space. Now, moreover, a time of great tears has come to you, the Four Brothers.’ Then, moreover, the Three Brothers will say, ‘We are removing your tears.’ Moreover a handkerchief is what they use, and
‘when we wipe your tears, you will look around again, and then you will notice them near you, moving about, your nephews and nieces, and then you will once more see the land, and you will hear again what is going on in the settlement; you will be happy in the future and you will think peacefully for at least one day.’ This, perhaps, is the way they will do it, the Three Brothers.

Thereupon one strand of wampum will go back across the fire, they taking it back, their word. The Four Brothers, and the matter will continue on; then he will say, ‘It happens, and it is a dreadful thing, that repeatedly they get plugged, one’s
ears. Moreover this is what happened to you, for you cannot hear because your ears have become clogged.’ Moreover, the Three Brothers will say, ‘Now we will clear out your ears. Then you will hear them talk as they move about near you, and then you will hear everything that is going on where they live; you will be happy again in the future; Moreover, for at least one day you will think peacefully.’ That, perhaps, is how the Three Brother will do it.

Thereupon it will come across the fire, the wampum, the matter will continue on, and thirdly, he will say, ‘Thus it happens, and it is dreadful what will happen to one: repeatedly it may fail, one’s life, for repeatedly it gets clogged up, one’s throat, with grief; that is what happened to you, it got clogged, your throat, with grief.’

So the Three Brothers will say, Now we will remove the grief -caused obstruction from your throats, our uncles, you chiefs of the Four Brothers, and then you will rejoice again, then it will improve, your breathing; your bodies will get strong
again and also your mind. Thereupon you shall speak calmly. Thereupon we will thank one another. Moreover, in the time ahead, for at least one day, you shall think peacefully again.’ This, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers.
Thereupon it will go back across the fire, the wampum. Thereupon he will say, ‘These are the number of words they speak – oihokua’ a few words – the Three Brothers, and now I have finished it.’ Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “When all of them have found their way back to them, the wampum strings, to the Four Brothers, the bereaved ones, then the speaker will say, ‘ Now we have completed the task of reciting the Few Words, we have rubbed each other down. It is now done, the task of the invitation wampum which leads you towards the Council House where they will seat you and where everything will be completed that remains to us.

Thereupon the appointed ones, the warrior chiefs, these two will lead you there, and seat you where they had gone to prepare a seat for you. Thereupon the Great Hanging Tobacco warriors will cross over the fire, and the two will stand up in front where the other two are standing, the ones who will lead the procession, the singers for the Three Brothers. Thereupon the Four Brothers chiefs and the people will go back there towards the appointed place, and when they arrive back in the house, they will sit on one side, the Four Brothers will.

“Thereupon the appointed ones, the Great Hanging Tobacco warriors, then they will say, ‘Let us get started.’ Thereupon the one who followed the path(recited on the journey) will continue on from where he left off in his recitation when they got
back to the place where a fire was made for them near the thorny bushes: he will continue singing, and say ‘—‘ those name s of the chiefs that were not sung before are sung now in a complete way (if the road traveled happened to be short)

“When they arrive inside the house, the two leaders, the Great Hanging Tobacco warriors, they will go where seats are prepared, and there they will sit down, the Three Brothers chiefs, and there they will stand, the two who lead them by the arm;
then they will sit down, the chiefs, on one side of the house where all of them will be seated, all the People of the Three Nations, indeed, as they say, the Mohawk, the Seneca, and the Onondaga.” Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “And this one, who is
following the path, walking on the road, now he will, he will repeat from the beginning the narration of the founding of the League and he will walk back and forth inside the Longhouse, naming the chiefs of the several nations, the groups of tribal colleagues and of the opposite tribal moieties, and of the Confederacy moieties on both sides of the fire, repeating it in its entirety, naming them all,
and ending at the place when the task of establishing the League was completed.

Thereupon he will move back and forth inside the house. Moreover, when he gets to the part where he says, ‘That used to be the number of you who collaborated’, thereupon the chief, now he will shout, saying, ‘yo-heeee’. Thereupon all of the
chiefs of that Confederacy moiety, now all of them will say, ‘iiii.yeee.’. Then those on the other side of the fire, the Four Brothers, when he gets to the part where he says, ‘this used to be the number of you, you who used to collaborate, the chiefs will shout, saying, ‘yo-heeee’ Thereupon all of the chiefs will say ‘iiii..yeeea’ and that is how it will be until he completes the enumeration of their
several nations. Thereupon he will sit down again.”

Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, ” I have decreed that a blanket will be strung up halfway between their two sides of the fire, where on one side of the fire sit the bereaved, the Four Brothers, and on the other side of the fire the Three Brothers, the condolers. Thereupon they will put all of the fourteen strands of the Condolence Wampum up on it. (Previously they only talked of thirteen strands, this is the first time they have mentioned all fourteen strands)

Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “I decree that they will draft one man from the side of the condolers, the Three Brothers side, and then they will sing the Six Songs. Moreover, they will draft this one to raise up the song, and singing alone, he will
say:

(Kayanerehsra tes knohro hn e )’ ‘The Law, I come again to greet it,’

completing one song. Thereupon another man will repeat it from the beginning. Thereupon the chiefs, his Confederacy moiety brothers, all of them will sing and these, also, these will say

(Kayanerehsra tes khe nohro hn e )’The laws, I come again to greet them.’

And they will complete the song. Thereupon the song leader alone will sing again, saying this:

(Khe ya’t awe h tes khe nohro hn e) ‘My offspring, I come again to greet them.

And when he completes the song, thereupon the chiefs then all will sing the same song, saying,

(Khe ya’t awe h tes khe nohro hn e) ‘My offspring, I come again to greet them

And they will complete the song. Thereupon the song leader will sing by himself again, saying:

(yo ye kw ot o tes khe nohro hne) ‘Great Hanging Tobacco warriors, I come again to greet them.

And then the chiefs, all of them, will sing the same song, saying:

(yo ye kw ot o tes khe nohro hne) ‘Great Hanging Tobacco warriors, I come again to greet them.

Thereupon the song leader, alone, will say:

( Yak sa ha tes khe nohro hne) ‘My women, I come again to greet them.’

And he will finish the song. Thereupon the chiefs, all of them, will sing this same song saying:

( Yak sa ha tes khe nohro hne) ‘My women, I come again to greet them.’

And they will all finish the song song. Thereupon the song leader, now he again, will sing alone, saying,

(Ne ee Rhakstah’ha tes khe nohro hne) ‘They are our grandfathers, I come again to greet them.’

And he will complete the song. Thereupon the chiefs, all of them will sing the same one, saying:

(Ne ee Rhakstah’ha hoti rihw a’ ke) They are our grandfathers, their works

And they will complete the song.”

Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “I decree that this is to be the principal one, when they are singing the other five songs to their completion. Thereafter one man, the chief they appointed on the side of the condolers, that one will walk back and forth
the full length of the house and that we will call Over the Forest. Moreover, when he begins it will get raised up, the curtain. (the blanket)

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih, you two should listen, when they seek it, they who are the grandchildren that which now has grown old, that which you established, the Great Law.

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih, truly, it may happen that one listens again.

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih now, at present, in some way, I may perform it improperly compared to the way he used to do it.

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih all matters you have taken back with you, into the ground where you are lying again, on your mat, the Great Law.

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih is it not this that you have said: ‘This will endure, they shall carry on with it, our grandchildren.’

Haih, he is my grandfather.

Then all the Lords repeat the song,

You keep listening to them,

You keep listening to them,

You keep listening to them,

You keep listening to them,

They are our grandfathers, you keep listening to them,

They are our grandfathers, you keep listening to them,

You keep listening to them,

You keep listening to them, yo’ee

Then all the Lords repeat the song

Thereupon it will get raised up again, the curtain”

Thereupon Tekanawita’ said, “I have decreed that then he will stand up again, the appointed one, and he will move around, chanting, ‘Over the Forest.’ Continuing on from where he ended, saying:

‘Haih, he is my grandfather, haih; was it not this that you all said? ‘This is what they will use to strengthen the League, what we have accomplished, our symbols, the antlers we conferred on the chiefs; and if, presently, we are caught yet unaware as we return, then this, in fact, will disappoint us again.’

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih was it not this that they said? ‘As to this, as soon as someone is shaking with fever, then we will take care of the antlers, on the inner wall they will place them; actually, it is prohibited, for them to lie scattered underground. Should someone take them back there, he wearing the antlers in death, if thus it happens, we perish. Henceforth it will be the Law for this to be used to strengthen the League: We will add other persons to them or perhaps one
will make a mistake and one will suffer the consequences when we extend their body
therewith near the wall where it will rest in the dark.’

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih; was it not this that they said? Moreover, what indeed, if it happens that in broad daylight, someone meddles just everywhere they come from – perhaps then one will see it, beside the wall where it rests in the
darkness, and perhaps, standing up again, one is extremely frightened, and then one will ask questions, saying, ‘What has happened here unexpectedly? The (?antlers) near the wall, resting in the darkness, this actually, one may not understand, and when one asks questions then one will find out, and at once it will twist it in circles, one’s mind. Moreover, this, again will harm us

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih; was it not this that they said? Moreover, thus it will happen, we will uproot a pine tree, it taking much of the earth with it, whereupon we will drop it down into the intensely swift current, which will carry it
away, and then we will replace the pine, so that never again should they see it, our grandchildren.’

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih; was it not this that they said? ‘What we have accomplished, this is what they will use to strengthen the League; thus we all have on symbols of status, we, wearing antlers. Moreover, this is ominous, if presently,
we are caught yet unaware as we return, just then we will become quiet again.’

Haih, he is my grandfather, haih this is what they said: Thus, moreover, is how we shall do it: We shall extend a pole, we shall hang a pouch there of spotted fawn skin. Thereupon we will drop a strand of wampum there the short strand, for the ones
who are bereaved, Moreover, the clear-minded ones, this, now, they will remove, and they will take it to the road, walking there, to the place where they are in mourning, and there at the edge of the ashes, there one will stand up, saying words
of sympathy to raise their spirits. At once they will begin to feel relieved, the bereaved, and they will resume the path of the Great Law.

Now moreover, you principal one of the League, you Tehena’kaine’, and his offspring, it is you two who are the principal chiefs of your nations, you Ho’tatshehte’; and he who is father’s kinsmen to the former, you are the two principals chiefs of your
nations, you and Thatotaho’; and he who is son to the preceding, you two are principal chiefs of your nations, you and Haka’eyuk: and he who is fathers kinsmen to the preceding, you two are the principal chiefs of your nations, you and Skanyataiyo’: and he who is of the opposite tribal moiety you two are the principals chiefs of your nation, you and Tsha’tekaehyes. Now this is what they have considered carefully: adding to the rafters again. Haih, he is my grandfather, haih, now they
are humbled, they are your grandchildren, haih, he is my grandfather, haih.

Thereupon he will sit down again, the speaker on the side of the clear-minded.

When he stands up, that one, resuming the Thirteen Matters, he will say: it happens
in this way, and it is dreadful that thus it should happen to them repeatedly there is a great twisting around within ones body, there being much bile in addition to the displacement of the organs within the body, and eventually it will fail one’s spirit and one’s strength. Thus, moreover, it has happened to you, you who are downstream from us, and just so it twists around in circles, your mind, and there is
a lot of bile, your organs being displaced within your body. Moreover, they have ordained, our ancestors, the principal remedy for this is what they call (?) Then, moreover, they will pick it up, the Three Brothers. Then, moreover, they will say,
Now we are pouring in the liquid, the (?). Moreover, when the liquid settles down, it will begin to work in your body; it will strengthen your mind, and it will wipe away the widespread jaundice and readjust the twisted organs within your body. Thereupon you will begin to be happy again, and it will come right again, your mind and your future life. Moreover, for at least one day you should keep thinking calmly, you who are downstream from me.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Thereupon it will cross the fire, one strand of wampum.

Then again it repeatedly happens in this way, and it is dreadful that thus it should be happening to them, that, repeatedly, red marks are forming where oone has one’s space. Moreover, this has happened to you, red marks have formed at your space. Moreover the Three Brothers will say, ‘Now we are wiping off your red marks from where you have your space.’ Moreover they are using a handkerchief to wipe the red marks from your ceremonial seat. Moreover, now your space will be fine again, and only on certain days will they become divided again, our minds. Moreover, when you get back to where you have your antlers, it will be very peaceful once you take your ceremonial seat.

Thereupon you will think calmly in the future. Moreover, for at least one day you should be thinking calmly, you who are downstream from me.’ That, perhaps, is the way they will do it, the Three Brothers. Thereupon it will cross the fire, one strand of wampum, and the matter continues on.

Next another matter, ‘It happens, and it is dreadful that it will happen that way; thus, one may faint repeatedly, and one does not recognize things by daylight. That, moreover, is what happened to you, my uncle, you the chief, it has become dark for
you, and you can no longer see the light of day.’ So now the Three Brothers will say, ‘ Now we are wandering about your vicinity, your nephews and nieces, and you will see the earth and you will be happy from then on. Moreover, for at least one
day you should be thinking calmly.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will cross the fire, one strand of wampum, and the matter continues on.

Now, another matter, It happens and it is dreadful that it will happen to one in this way; thus, the sky disappears for one. Moreover, that is what is happening to you, my uncle, you the chief, the sky has become lost to you, and you don’t notice
the sky.’ So then the Three Brothers will say, ‘ Now we are clearing the sky for you. Moreover, you will see the sky. Thus when the sky is clear again, you can keep watching there. This, too: you will think calmly. Moreover, for at least one day you should continue to think calmly.’ This, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will cross the fire, one strand of wampum, and the matter continues on.

Then another matter. ‘It happens, and it is dreadful that it will happen to one in this way; thus, repeatedly, one loses track of the sun. That, Moreover is happening to you, my uncle, you the chief, you have lost track of the sun and you can’t
perceive the movement of the sun.’ So then the Three Brothers will say, ‘We are restoring the sun to you.’ Moreover, the next day when the sun rises, when it moves up over the forest, you will keep watching the sun move along. Moreover, when it is in the center of the sky, the sun, then it will shine all around you, and this, at the same time, will remind you – as it carries it here and there, your mind – you will remember your work for the people’s welfare, and then you will think
peacefully. Moreover, for at least one day you should continue to think peacefully.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will come over the fire, one strand of wampum, and the matter continues.

Then, again, there is another matter. ‘It happens, and it is dreadful that thus it happens to one. Thus, repeatedly it is there, one’s mind, something causing it to roll there, to the place where the grave is located. Moreover, this keeps happening
to you, my uncle, you the chief, it having rolled there, your mind, to the grave of the one you used to depend on, and there repose your minds, you of the Four Brothers. Moreover, now you will keep in mind that they are doing it properly, the
three Brothers, when they say, ‘Now we are stirring up the earth where the grave is,’ and they reach out and grab all kinds of vegetation, and throw it there, and just there they put up a piece of dressed lumber. Indeed, this is to accomplish two
things: on the one hand, great heat should not penetrate, and on the other hand, great rains should not penetrate, thus, peacefully, his bones will rest there, the one you used to depend on. Now you will think peacefully in future. Moreover, for at least one day peacefully you should be thinking.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will cross over the fire, the strand of wampum, and the matter continues on.

“Again, there is another matter: Every day it threatens us with a pole raised to the level of our heads, the Great Destroyer, who lurks in the darkness near the house, overpowering us with magic, scattering things about. Thus it is doing it, the Great Destroyer. Then the Three Brothers will say, ‘ We are restoring your land. Moreover, when they jumped away, we gathered up your bones, for this is what they decreed, our ancestors, that it will require the twenty matters. Indeed, when they pick it up, that is what we will use to tie up your bones, the twenty matters. Moreover, you will think peacefully in the future. Moreover, for at least one day you will continue to think peacefully.’ Thus, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three
Brothers. Then it will cross the fire, one strand of wampum as the matter continues on.

“Again, another matter: Indeed, every day its pole is raised, it is exceedingly powerful, and transforms itself, the Great Destroyer, so that one cannot recognize its features; it teases us, the faceless one, the Great Destroyer, they call it. Moreover, it is ominous, for it points at the place of the Standing tree Trunks, that is, the chiefs, it will carry off those they rely on. Thus it has happened to you, the Four Brothers, it grabbed someone you depend upon, and now it has caused a vacant space. Moreover, this one is doing it, the Great Destroyer; this is what cavorted there, and from the fire container it caused the firebrands to scatter; so now this has disappointed you, and you are bowing your heads, for it is dreadful, that thus it has happened to you. Moreover, we, the Three Brothers sway, we are gathering together firebrands again for your fire container. Moreover, when we rekindle it, smoke will rise again, beautiful smoke will pierce the sky again, and one will see the number of fires we have rekindled in the vicinity. Moreover, now we are raising your spirits again, you chiefs. We have repositioned you in the ranks at the fires we rekindled for you.’ Then, moreover, they will say, ‘Now you two should
work again in behalf of the Great Law. Moreover, you will think peacefully in the future, and for at least one day you should continue thinking peacefully.’ That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will cross the fire,
one strand of wampum, and the matter continues on.”

“Now there is another matter; this concerns your nieces and nephews, the women and the men. Indeed, he intends it, he who has created us, he has ordained, having so decided, that there shall be faithkeepers on earth he saying, “It shall be
established as I have decreed,” and this is how he has proceeded, the Creator. Moreover, he has given special importance to the women, decreeing that they will busy themselves around the fire, they being in charge of the foodstuffs. And this,
especially, he decreed that women will be the source of newly born persons, they being the one’s who will take care of raising the children. Moreover it is dreadful if death takes her from her lineage of related women, for it is just this that will create vacancy in ongoing relationship groups. This might have come to pass had things not happened as he had ordained. Moreover, when it dissolves, (she floating away) then they become saddened, our mothers minds. Moreover, there the people are
left standing around, the men who were formerly their partners, and who are now depressed in their minds. Moreover, now we, the Three Brothers, say, “Now we are raising their spirits again, those of the women and the men, so that now they may
think peacefully again and take in hand again whatever are their responsibilities, for from now on they will be thinking calmly again. Moreover for at least one day you should continue thinking calmly.” That, perhaps, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Then it will cross the fire, the one string of wampum, and the matter continues on.”

“Then, again, there is another matter: You, my uncle and your two nepotic relatives should continue to listen to one another for actually, it is a serious matter if it happens thus, that you leave your path from where it ought to lead you, you chief,. If this happens, she will look at you, your niece, for, actually, it is a fact that he has given her wisdom. This one, you will notice with surprise, standing in front of you, she will speak up, saying, “It is an amazing matter, my uncle, you who are chief, now you are straying from your path and you are not consulting with your colleagues; over there the people are left standing while you are alone, and now you are straying from your path; so I will ask you to return to your path, my uncle, you who are chief,” and that is how she will do it, she will warn you and it is a dreadful thing for you to disregard her warning.

And this man, your nephew, he will see you, you who are chief, willingly working toward the extinction of the people. Thereupon you will notice with surprise that he is standing there in front of you; then he will speak up, saying, “My uncle, you who are chief, it is an amazing thing that you are working towards the extinction of the entire group, for you are the one who is alone, you are not consulting them or working together with them for the Great Law. Moreover, I ask you to return to your path, for it is your responsibility towards your colleagues.” Thereupon he will turn back, for it is a dreadful thing if once he disregards the warning, for then it will be there, over the earth’s edge, that all of the people will come to hang their feet. As to that, no one is able to lift them up when it happens in this way, except just this one is able to lift them up, our Father, our Creator, the Ruler.

Moreover, when they see you – your two nepotic relatives – doing the same thing despite both of them having warned you to your face, you who are chief, then trying to cause you to return to your path, and you not having obeyed, thereupon they will summon the Great Warrior; they will all meet and you will notice them with surprise, standing up in front of you, he speaking up, the great Warrior, saying, “It is amazing, my uncle, you who are chief, indeed you have not accepted their warning which was spoken by both woman and man, indeed, you have not accepted it. I am removing your antlers and handing them back to her, the deaconess of the title name.

Moreover, you are free now, and cannot wear antlers again; now you are an ordinary person. Now, moreover, you can go away, wherever you wish to go. Thereupon the people, the number of your followers, now they will notice that you no longer are wearing your antlers, and then they will let go of you.” Moreover, the Three Brothers, they will say, “You two listen to each other, you and your nephew and niece.” Indeed, now, you should be thinking calmly in future days to come. Moreover,
for at least one day you should continue to think peacefully.” That, truly, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers, and then it will cross the fire, one string of wampum, and the matter continues on.

Then, again, another matter, this they will tell about the dreadful thing that is happening to you, my uncle, you who are chief; don’t let it cause you to lose control of your mind, for it is a dreadful thing if ti should happen that this will end your sanity. Actually, the earth is immune to majic, but of all the plants growing there, any one of these can kill one. Moreover, that is the reason that then
the Three Brothers will say, “We forbid it, don’t do it, for it will cause you to lose control of your minds, those of you who are still surviving among colleagues and those of your group who depend upon you.” So you shall think calmly from now on, and for at least one day you shall continue to think calmly. That truly is how they will do it, the Three Brothers.

“Then, again, there is another matter: Your torch has gone, and it is a dreadful matter that thus it has happened to you. Then, moreover, the Three Brothers will say, ” Now they should put their two poles together again, and there, on the poles,
they should replace the torch, and thus we are all of equal status. And so it will happen at some time that one will see that which causes our death; then we will take it down, the torch, and, without leaving any traces, one will run throughout the
territory of the League, reaching in a short time the Leagues borders, to inform the entire number of the Leagues fireplaces. Moreover, you will think peacefully from now on. Indeed, for at least one day you should continue to think peacefully, you
Four Brothers who are downstream from us.” That, truly, is how they will do it, the Three Brothers. Thereupon the last strand of wampum will cross the fire, the matter continuing, as you listen on, you Four Brothers, and then they are finished with
their speech, the Three Brothers.

“Then, moreover, they will tell you about what they have done, our ancestors, the Founders. This is what our ancestors have ordained: on either side of the fire there will be a chance that one of the Standing Tree Trunks, the chiefs will go down, and
their will be a vacant space where he used to have his seat, the one who is now dead. Indeed, they have said this is an opportunity to turn his face towards the chiefs and also the people, the one they will raise to replace this one, calling him
by the dead man’s title name. Moreover, this is what caused them to come, the Three Brother, that a seat has become vacant where he use to sit, the one they used to depend upon. Now as to that, it has gotten dissolved, his body, and been taken back. Moreover they will say, the Three Brothers, “Now, moreover, show us our new
colleague. Moreover, we shall keep him in mind that it has happened according to our custom. Moreover, it gets returned, our notification wampum and you will keep in mind that completes the number of our words.” Now, moreover, the Three Brothers have completed their speech.

Moreover, you will keep in mind that when they will pick up the cane again, starting to come back out of the Longhouse, to go to the edge of the forest, where they will crouch down again. Thereupon the Four Brothers speaker will stand up to say, ” My
father’s kinsmen, Indeed, be patient for a little while longer.” Thereupon the Three Brothers will sit down again. Thereupon it will get lowered again, the curtain, and the Four Brothers will place in front of them the thirteen strings of wampum, the
words of the Three Brothers. Thereupon the Four Brothers chiefs will appoint a song leader; this one will raise up a song, and they will sing the Six Songs.

Thereupon the song leader will sing by himself saying,

Singer: hai hai (nine times)

The Great Law, they come again to greet me (twice)

hai hai (four times)

hye’

Chiefs: same song

Singer: hai hai (nine times)

My father’s kinsmen, they come again to greet me

Hai hai (four times)

hye’

Chiefs: same song

The song leader will sing again, saying, Hanging Tobacco warriors they come to greet me

Singer: hai hai (nine times)

Hanging Tobacco warriors, they come again to
greet me (twice)

Hai hai (four times)

Hye’

Chiefs: same song

Singer: hai hai (eight times)

My women, they will come again to greet me
(twice)

Ai’ ai’ (four times)

Hye’

Chiefs: same song

Singer: ai’ ai’ (eight times)

Our Granparents, their works (twice)

Ai’ai’ (four times)

Hye’

Chiefs: same song

Keep listening to them,

Keep listening to them,

Keep listening to them,

Keep listening to them,

Our grandfathers, keep listening to them,

Our grandfathers, keep listening to them,

Keep listening to them,

Keep listening to them, hye’

Thereupon it will get f raised up again, the curtain. Thereupon the speaker will stand up, saying, “He has made this day, the Creator, the one who made daylight on earth, the one who has fashioned us humans, and as to that the number of us, who
will assemble, we and my father’s kin. So now you have finished your speech.”

“So now first they will answer, the Four Brothers, Moreover, this is what you will keep in mind, that we have accepted it, what you did in completing your words to us. Moreover, this is what they ordained, our ancestors who originated our custom that whichever side of the fire suffers the death of a chief, the clear-minded side shall go to the door of the bereaved. This, moreover, is the path you are following, my father’s kinsmen. Moreover, the matter is not one sided, for it happens to both our
moieties. Moreover, every day someone falls who is near to you, and they keep dying, your nephews and nieces and also your grandchildren. So then it continuously twists around, your mind. Therefore they pour medicine which settles down there and cures your entire body, and then you will think calmly in future, moreover, for at least one day you will continue to think calmly. That, truly, is how they will do it, the Four Brothers

Then the Four Brothers repeat the thirteen strings exactly as given by the Three Brothers

“Thereupon the Four Brothers speaker says, ‘Now your words are completed, my father’s kinsmen. You have not, indeed, acted thus, so that there is an opportunity, here among the people, for them to show his face? From among the people, they will
raise him up in front of the chiefs, who will call him by the title-name of the dead chief when they stand up the other one. Moreover, my paternal kinsmen, you will be aware that it will happen in the way you specified when you said, “Now show us our
new colleague!” So now, be prepared, this is the real thing, now you will see him; now we will show you your new colleague.”

“Thereupon they will call him, the appointed one, and they will stand him up there in front of them, and the speaker will say, Now you two, look this way; in front of you is the one they have appointed – they and the deaconess of the titles of their
clan – where a seat has become vacant, where the former chief sat. Moreover, as to
this one standing in front of you, they crowned him with the antlers, and he is the
one they will rename with the title of the deceased chief.’

Thereupon the speaker will say, Moreover, now their words will cross the fire, and they are unanimous, the deaconess of the title name, the tribal moiety colleagues, the cousins in the opposite tribal moiety, all have approved, as well as the Confederacy moiety colleagues, all have approved unanimously, the nations comprising
the Four Brothers.

“Moreover, now it will pass across the fire, it is on its way, their word, notifying you, my father’s kinsmen, you Three Brothers. Moreover, she is his guardian whom they placed at his back, and they were unanimous about this, all the deaconesses and
matrons of the title name, its joint owners, that this is one who will stand side by side at the head of their family’s clan when he stands up to become chief. Thereupon he will name her (Head Female of the Deceased’s family).

“Thereupon it crosses the fire, the wampum. Thereupon the Three Brothers will pass it around the group, the wampum, and all of the chiefs will take hold of it, the entire group of them.

“Thereupon the speaker of the Three Brothers will stand up, saying, Now, indeed, the matter is fulfilled: We are looking at the one to whom you have newly given antlers, the chief, and the one who is guarding him, the matron of the title, and both we accept as we were notified by your word. Now, moreover, the Three Brothers confirm you, whom they have raised up. Moreover, now listen well, you whom they newly conferred antlers upon, you chief.

“First the Three Brothers will say, ‘They thickened your skin which is now seven inches thick, which means that your mind will be strong and it will not let it pass through, a pointed object meant to puncture you when you work for the Good Message,
the Power, the Peace, and the Great Law. Indeed, actually now you are the one who protects your family and the various nations.’ Moreover, they will say, ‘You shall be a good person, and, especially, you shall be kind to all of the people, not differentiating among them, the people who are wealthy, and the poor ones, and the good natured ones, and the evil ones who sin readily; all of them you shall treat kindly, and you shall not differentiate among them. And as to your own fireside, never consider only yourself, you must always remember them, the old people, and the
younger people, and the children, and those still in the earth, yet unborn, and always you will take into account everyone’s well being, that of the ongoing families, so that they may continue to survive, your grandchildren. That is the number of words.

“Moreover, the one that guards you, the chief, that one you shall continue to obey. And as to you, you also must never spoil the affairs of the Great One of your family.

” ‘Moreover, you chiefs, be of one mind with the new one who has stood up, cooperating in your work of the Great Law.’ Moreover, that is the number of words; now they have finished their message, the Three Brothers.”

The Beginning to an End

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

AFN “PUTS ON THE DOG” AT “COLONIAL KENNEL PARTY” IN OTTAWA

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AFN “PUTS ON THE DOG” AT “COLONIAL KENNEL PARTY” IN OTTAWA

MNN. Dec. 7, 2006. Ottawa cuts education and basic health care to, as some people say, “pamper their pigs at the trough”. We prefer to refer to them as “taming the rez dogs”.

Band councilor of the colonial government are not just lap poodle show dogs. When our backs are turned they’re vicious junk yard guard dogs that will go for the jugular if any little kid happens to roll under their fence. They want to keep what they’ve got and they don’t care who falls along the side of the dirt road as long as their master is protected.

What went on in Ottawa at the Assembly of First Nations AFN conference was a disgusting display of raw colonial greed. Jim “Jonestown” Prentice must have been jumping with joy when he looked at the sea of former rez dogs yapping at his heels. They are the well-fed photo-op dogs that have come to sign whatever their master tells them to. The real rez dogs are back home in the poor Indigenous communities. At least these rez dogs are still roaming free.

It was said that you can tell the conditions of an Indigenous community by looking over the rez dogs. If they’re shaggy, dirty, skinny and mean, then the band councils have done a good job of keeping the people down. Over 100 Indigenous communities don’t even have decent drinking water. The most basic human right that the United Nations, another colonizing outfit, is attempting to ensure is decent drinking water in third world countries, those that have not been co-opted by the colonizer’s agenda.

Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world. You just have to wonder how it manages to have so many communities without basic human necessities that were here for everyone before Turtle Island became polluted by white “civilized enlightenment”. They look away from our Indigenous children who have to live in these horrible conditions.

Mongrel “Heinz 57” Prentice just cut education expenses. He’s hoping the current generation of educated indigenous activists will die off and that there will be no one with enough education to take our place. So they don’t want us to get out and see what’s really going on.

These well groomed rez dogs are trying to pass themselves off as high society lap dogs. They are wearing colonial style clothes made of the best leather and carrying fancy empty brief cases which they hope to fill with money from selling out our people. They wear artfully tailored suit jackets designed to make it look like the real imaginary Indians that every white person hopes to meet. They’re wearing so much “Indian” jewelry they look like a Christmas trees with turquoise and silver dangling all over them. It’s Hollywood gong show time! We poor Indigenous people back home have to be satisfied with homemade porcupine quill and beaded earrings and chokers, or nothing. Most of us have to wear hand-me-downs or hand-me-ups.

They’re staying in the very best hotels of the very best chains, which are all savvy about what’s going on. They’ve positioned themselves to cash in on the Ottawa peanut scramble.

In Ottawa the hotel suites have open liquor bars. There is an endless supply of fancy alcohol – no “Baby Duck” here. Then there are white women groupies stashed around the room. You can be sure that when the accounting is done, the cost of all these luxuries is going to be lumped with education and health care to try to prove there just isn’t enough money for basic necessities. The Canadian people will be lead to believe one more time that Indians are a parasite on the economy which will be heavily promoted by the corporate media.

In other words, Indian Affairs is run like a corrupt third world dictatorship. We do not mean to insult the African or Asian or Latin American people when we say this. All we’re saying is that these are tried and true techniques. Its part of a well known colonial strategy honed in the third world where corrupt dictators are kept in power to oppress the people. Behind all this is the military backed comic book super heroes who come in and pretend to straighten out the mess they’ve created. It’s really another take over.

If there is any resistance by the Indigenous people, you can be sure they get out the guns and declare martial, just like they did in Venezuela in 1994 and elsewhere. Speaking of dogs, don’t forget about what happened at “Abu Graib” prison in Iraq. The U.S. soldiers used shepherds and doberman to control the naked Iraqi inmates and to break them down to get information.

Here the fancy lap dogs are the only so-called “leaders” that colonial Canada will condescend to deal with. They want those who will party hearty in high style without raising any uncomfortable questions. These are the ones who have caught the “Jim Jonestown syndrome”. Watch out for the kool aid, folks, its spiked.

Meanwhile back home people are living in rat infest molding houses and drinking poisonous water with ten times the incident of diabetes 2, and other infections. That’s where a mother of 4 with a brand new baby is forced to stay in a shack because there’s no where else to go. She can’t make a living because of the imposition of the artificial lifestyle. The band council is too busy jet setting around and living it up. They have no time to roll up their sleeves, pick up a hammer and do the hard labor that’s needed to ensure that there is decent housing, clean water, a functioning school, health care and all the basic necessities, never mind keeping up with the standards enjoyed by the colonists.

What kind of a nut runs around primping and preening all day long. These chiefs suck, sniff and lick the top dog’s ass while chasing their white concubines. Every man should be providing for his own women and children of his community.

Indian Affairs loves the AFN. They’re such good pimps. They both pressure native girls to go to the parties when the Indians come to town. They always need a few Indian princesses to decorate their cake. We know this from first hand experience. One attractive mother with teenager daughters did not want to go to those parties. She was pressured to attend and to neglect her family responsibilities. That’s the game in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Vancouver, San Francisco, Washington and wherever the colonists throw their parties and where the honey flows.

These are not Indigenous people. We can’t even call them “apples” anymore, red on the outside and white on the inside. They’re white through and through. They’re moccasin-less colonial puppets wearing chicken feathers, with their guns pointed at their own children and the seven generations to come. They are nothing more than hired assassins who will do anything to keep the despots on the throne.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
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poster: Thahoketoteh

 

JIM “JONESTOWN” PRENTICE..

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OF INDIAN AFFAIRS WORKING HARD TO BRING ABOUT “FINAL SOLUTION”

MNN. Dec. 6, 2006. Jim Prentice, the Minister of Indian Affairs in Canada, has been continuing the program of proselytizing certain band council chiefs who are already his followers. They are handsomely rewarded. For example, James Gabriel of Kanehsatake can do no wrong. He was a court appointed chief with no limits to his oppression of the people. He thought that the taxpayers had bottomless pockets. Santa wasn’t going to cross anything off his Christmas list. When anyone objected, or tried to take him to court, Indian Affairs put up all the money that top lawyers and public relations firms needed to help him. He had carte blanche to do anything to keep the people in their place. Indian Affairs handlers know how to keep their dog on a leash.

He is not alone. Joe Norton, long time chief of Kahnawake, could get away with any kind of dubious activities. He now lives in one of the biggest mansions in ritzy Rockcliffe in Ottawa. Mike Mitchell of Akwesasne had unlimited immunity from his years of serving the master very well. David General of Six Nations walks around in his shiny suit and smiles at his victims.

We are informed that there are band council chiefs right across the country who have become part of this army of corrupt followers of Jim “Jones” Prentice and his predecessors. You can spot them at the airports on their way to the next conference or meeting, where a blonde date awaits them. [They must be thinking, “This beats the bush any day!”]

They have total control over the people who can’t taste the poison that’s put in their “kool aid” by their “great white father”, Jim Jones Prentice. They can cut off welfare payments, take their children away and keep them living in shanties if they don’t behave. They control every cent that comes from the Tower of Power in Hull Quebec. It is sometimes called the “Peoples’ Temple”, “people” being Jim Jones Prentice’s legion of Indians dressed like colonists standing at the turret pointing their guns at us.

Eventually these certain band council chiefs are driven to a state of unreality. It’s a psychological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power and omnipotence. It is also known as delusions of grandeur. Indian Affairs knows how to seduce them into catching this disease. It’s an aberration created by taking an egalitarian person and stuffing him/her into the hierarchy [a round peg into a square hole].

The colonists have been doing it since they landed here. They carefully select their pliable nominees. They are ignorant and willing to play the part of an Indian chief for the Canadian public. [“Stand here. I want yer picture, chief” Snap!]. Back home they are social outcasts. They are feared by their people, except those monkeys with tin cups they drop a few coins into. Don’t forget, they are also backed by the guns of the Indian police.

These chiefs become obsessed with grandeur and extravagance. It’s part of keeping the bootie in the war of keeping us poor on behalf of their cult leader. This can be seen as a manic or paranoid disorder. How dangerous are these people? Would they “follow orders” like keeping us in a state of ignorance, fear and willing to take the crumbs they throw at us? You bet!

Bill Wilson of Pine Ridge set up goons armed better than the marines, with the backing of the FBI. They murdered Lakota men, women and children. The government gives these people a false sense of importance and security. When they’re done with them, they throw them away. You can see them walking around in a daze like ghosts that nobody will talk to. Many have a great big bag of dirty laundry that the government keeps in its smelly closet. You better believe it isn’t just dirty socks and foul gym shorts.

Jim Jones Prentice’ cronies are programmed something like the “Manchurian Candidate”. I think they are dangerous. They are unconcerned about the welfare of our people. They have been seeing the gravy train for too long and all they want is to continue to monopolize the money that’s coming into the community. The oppressed have become the oppressors. We always thought that when they go outside of the circle, we could bring them back. Some maybe! Most are too far gone.

Has this happened before? Let’s look at what happened to the Peoples Temple. Jim Jones started out poor as a preacher of an evangelical religious group in Indianapolis. He began helping poor people by setting up soup kitchens, food banks, literacy programs and other social service initiatives. He set up a church to bring his followers together. As time went on, his charisma brought more and more people to him. He would get his followers to attack those who criticized him. He would give donations to those who supported him.

Jim Jones decided to move his flock to Ukiah California to set up a commune that he said would be the “perfect society”. Most who followed were poor people of color. There were some well-to-do groupies. He became more politically involved and drunk with power. Local and city politicians were paying attention to him. He never experienced such notoriety and unquestioning power over people before. This went to his head.

He acted like he was a king sitting on a throne. He set up systems of control like taking all the elderly people’s welfare and pension checks, demeaning the people in front of their community and forcing them to practice mass suicide by drinking a red liquid at his command. Although his wife stood by him throughout, he could have as a sexual partner any woman or man he wanted. There was just no limit to what he wanted and what he could get.

He became worried about the defectors who were pressing for investigations into the mistreatment, moral and financial situation in the commune. Jones decided that he would move about 1,000 of his people to South America so no one could keep an eye on him. He set up “Jonestown” in the jungles of Guyana, 400 miles from the city of Georgetown.

In June 1979 a congressman, along with his aides and media, flew to Jonestown to investigate the rumors of maltreatment and torture he had heard about. The controlled atmosphere there made it impossible for him to fairly assess the situation. He decided to return to the U.S. 20 dissenters decided to leave with him. While boarding the plane a tractor used for clearing the jungle approached them. Nine men dressed in camouflage disembarked and started to shoot them. 5 were killed, including the congressman, and many were wounded, some escaping into the jungle.

Back at the compound Jim Jones ordered everybody to drink the purple kool aid laced with cyanide, starting with the children. The authorities found 914 people laying on the ground with their faces down, dead and bloated from the hot sun. This disturbing picture shows you how sick hierarchical power can be.

Many band council chiefs found they can practically get away with murder. There are honest folk who get elected. They seem to be powerless. They typically turn their backs on politics in disgust. All that happens to those who follow Indian Affairs is that they get another shipment of kool aid.

How many more Jonestown do we need? This strategy is ongoing. They probably don’t have a picture of the “Jonestown massacre” tacked to the wall of the war room of Indian Affairs, but it doesn’t seem to bother them that hundreds of Indigenous communities are stuck with poisoned water. It makes us think that there is a plan. We can’t understand how they can take their coffee breaks in comfort when the majority Indigenous communities are living in a state of perpetual emergency.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

For updates, speakers, workshops and to sign the Women Title Holders? petition, go to news; category -General. Thank you.

 

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

Tom “Scalawag” Flanagan Indian expert?

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THE MAN BEHIND PRIME MINISTER HARPER’S “BREW CREW” ON INDIAN ISSUESMNN. Nov. 22, 2006. Guess what? The Conservatives want us to “sell” our homeland to help us get out of the poverty they’ve put us into. That’s what would-be comedian Tom “who’s-a-scalawag-like-his-zero-hero-Sir-Walter-Raleigh” Flanagan, a University of Calgary professor, said recently on the CBC. Did he ask us? No. “Selling reserve land could help solve poverty”, he said. How? We own all the land and resources of Canada, so why is he calling us poor? It’s impossible to count how many times we’ve heard this story before.

“One of the “only” ways to address poverty on native reserves is to enhance property rights”, said Harper’s former adviser [no wonder Harper’s in trouble listening to deficients like this]. Obviously, he hasn’t taken Indigenous Studies 101. This guy doesn’t seem to be familiar with the historical material in the Indian Affairs archives of Canada and the U.S. that shows we are the full owners of every square inch of Turtle Island.

Tom said, “The system in place is stopping aboriginal “Canadians” from improving their economies”. Yeh! You know who’s in our way? A bunch of ignoramuses like you, Tom “who-doesn’t-know-his-history” Flanagan. You say you’ve taken a “hard” look at property rights on reserves. Take a good look at the colonial usurpation of property rights over Turtle Island that has impoverished us. People like Sir Walter Raleigh and Humphrey Gilbert were selling millions of acres of our land long before they even came over here with their disease-ridden crew.

Tom “Acts-like-Eichmann” Flanagan says, “Here’s my [“final solution”] plan for you Indians”. Tom, you’re just another genocidal maniac. Why don’t you go back where you belong and stop teaching your off-the-wall stuff to another generation of colonial opportunists?

Guys like you left Europe because you messed up everything over there, including property rights. Instead of cleaning up your own house, you came here and messed up ours. Tom, you’ve inherited that mental disease called “greed” [owistah] and maybe some stupidity and certainly a lot of ignorance about us.

“The value of property on native reserves has gone up significantly”, you told the Ottawa corporate press, otherwise known as the “liar’s club”. They were sitting there salivating and rubbing their sweaty hands and their eyes were blinking chi-ching. “Especially on the outskirts of cities like Calgary” [where you and your oil buddies live]. Oh, my goodness! Where have we heard this one before? Any natives living on territories near major cities have to constantly watch our backs. We have to always stand ready to resist wave after wave of expropriation by governments and appropriation by your real estate vulture friends.

“Yet people on reserves live in poverty and their homes are falling apart”, said you. Isn’t that part of your plan? At least we have a house. If your plan goes through, we won’t even have a house. We’ll be dying on the streets of the cities of Canada. This happened in the US in the 1950’s and 60’s through the “termination policy” that completely wiped out over 100 Indian communities. They wound up dead. We’re on to your plan, Tom “Draco” Flanagan Lord of the Flies!.

You called us “dysfunctional” although you admit you’ve never been to an Indian community. You’re admitting you don’t know anything. You don’t need to. You work for the corporations to get your sticky palms on our lands for your backers, the real estate developers and resource robbers.

Eeek! How did you manage to call yourself an instant Indian expert? You must have been hatched from the same viper’s nest as Sir Walter Raleigh. There’s no difference between selling land you’ve never seen and writing expert opinions about something you know nothing about. You Conservatives have no inhibitions about waving the flag of your ignorance for all the world to see. The people running Canada seem totally detached from reality. After making a fool of yourselves in China recently and elsewhere, you’ve come back to Turtle Island to insult everybody’s intelligence.

“Under Canadian law, many people on reserves face restrictions when it comes to selling or leasing land”. Yes, the restrictions are supposed to protect us from vultures like you and your friends, Tom “Hannibal-the-Cannibal” Flanagan. You think some of these rules should be lifted so there is no protection at all? Yes, we agree something should be lifted. You should lift yourselves out of our sight!

“Aboriginal people should have the right to sell some of their land to business developers, who would make better use of their property”. Then after you’ve all the reserves what next? Are you going to start selling off chunks of British Columbia and New Brunswick? 99% of our land that you’re already squatting on hasn’t even been paid for yet. It’s all wrecked and it will cost more to clean your mess than what you stole from it. We can’t sell our land as we hold it in trust for our future unborn children. Now you want the 1% we presently live on.

Last night Canadian Hydro Developers went to a Six Nations band meeting to offer money for the north end of the Haldimand Tract. They are trespassing by having built 50 of their windmills on it and 100 more soon. They want to pay us $50,000 over the next ten years. Not in funds, but in scholarships for our people to attend their corporate universities that they will chose for us and which will give them tax write offs! They’re from Calgary too! Making that offer was recognition that we own the land. We know a thief when we see one. Do they think we’re that stupid?

Tom-Tom, you said, “I don’t think native people have much choice in the matter because they are maybe three per cent of the Canadian population.” Are you telling us that someone only has rights if they are part of the majority? We own all the land. According to your twisted thinking we have no rights because we’re outnumbered. You guys have more political, social and economic control and you have the guns to back you up. According to you, we have nothing. We won’t go to colonial courts which are stacked against us.

You said that we are surrounded by western capitalism everywhere. What do you mean by that? Are you openly declaring war on us now? Are you pushing the genocide policy? Is western capitalism what you call the guns that the police are pointing at us? That’s what the King of England said in 1738, “We shall beat the Indians through economy” as he waged economic warfare on us, the Iroquois. We’re still here, Tom “remember-the-French-and-Indian-wars” Flanagan.

Your comment apparently angered Wayne Courchene, an adviser to the Assembly of First Nations, a colonial government lobby group of sell-outs. He said your views are “narrow-minded”. “Narrow minded” is a strange name for genocide. His salary comes from the federal government. What can you expect from a dog on a leash? You can’t expect him to bite the hand that feeds him.

Tom “who-lives-on-our-real-estate-without-paying-any-tax-to-us” Flanagan, you question why First Nations should live in a tax-free environment with free housing. We are the greatest taxpayers on earth. Our real estate has been put up for the biggest economy in the world. So, shut up! You said that you’re not advising the government on aboriginal issues. If it’s true, thank goodness. But you are the mouthpiece for the corporations who want our lands for nothing. You’re planning to bulldoze us, put pipelines and oil wells in, take our trees and minerals and destroy the environment. Before you run away to make your next mess, pay for the clean up here.

Explain to us why Canadians aren’t paying taxes to the U.S. The law is that Indians don’t pay taxes. You want to change it. When Indian lands were illegally taxed, we lost everything. You can’t seize our property, so we can’t pay taxes. You’re after the wholesale destruction of our society and all of Turtle Island. It’s not going to happen if we can help it, Tommy boy!

Stop trying to get rid of us because we’ve been blocking all your evil schemes, Tom “Dr. Evil” Flanagan. We have always and will continue to fight your greed all the way. We will never surrender our interests to our land. If it wasn’t for us, all of Turtle Island would have been destroyed long ago. We will resist your efforts to remove us so your friends can come in and rape our land.

Tom “the-unfortunate-scalawag” Flanagan, come and visit us. You’ll need more than your cape to keep all that filth off your dirty feet, mind and mouth.

Tom, we hereby eject you from our homeland for conspiracy, fraud and espionage. If you’re not careful, we might put you away in that “Tower of Power” [Indian Affairs] dungeon in Hull. Your ideas about us are some of the lowest points we have seen in the last week. Don’t mess around with us. The gig is up, Tom “the-cat-is-out-of-the-bag” Flanagan. Don’t end up like Sir Walter Raleigh who made it back to England just in time to be executed on the 29th October 1618. You’re already there, Tom “will-bomb” Flanagan. You could end up like your zero hero, Walter. He ended up unpopular due to his greed, arrogance and skepticism.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

poster: kahentinetha

 

MYTH BUSTERS IN MONTREAL

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“MYSTERIOUS” DISAPPEARANCE AND RE-APPEARANCE OF THE ST.LAWRENCE IROQUOIS
– COLONIAL REPORTS ABOUT OUR DEATH AND DISAPPEARANCE ARE PREMATURE AND
SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. (MNN Museum Report)

MNN. Nov. 9, 2006.

At the last minute on Tuesday, November 7, we Iroquois found out there was an exhibit opening at the Calliere Museum in Old Montreal. It was on the “Mysterious Disappearance of the St. Lawrence Valley Iroquois”. They wish! Four of us from Kahnawake, Kanehsatake and Tyendinaga decided to go and look it over.

We were curious as to how they got the idea that we had “disappeared” or that there was any mystery to be solved. How would anyone feel if their so-called demise was advertised and put on exhibit? It’s like finding yourself invited to your own wake when you’re not dead. It really bugged us. Can you understand? It felt like a death threat. It reminded us of the way we were all told at school that our moms, dad, brothers, sisters, grandparents, everyone were all going to die out. We cried. By now we know a terrorist threat when we see one.

We arrived around noon. The banner outside indicated that this was sponsored by a whole bunch of Quebec, Canadian and international corporations. We were almost the first visitors there. Instead of welcoming us as the long lost Iroquois, they treated as though we were spoiling their party. The man at the front desk told us we had to pay $12 to go into the wake. We suggested that since we had disappeared and were ghosts in their eyes, we should be allowed in for free. Suddenly he started to speak only French to us. This is when we started to talk only in Mohawk to him. He got mad and started punching the cash register. Eventually, after arguing about the taxes on the ticket, we could see the only way to get around this extortionist was to pay him off. Then we went up to the second floor.

What we saw was a gross rip off not just for us but for the ignorant public that they hoped to ensnare with their fake account of history.

Some of the corporate perpetrators of these deceptions were the National Archives of Canada, the Birmingham Public Library, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, some patrimonie organization from Sorel Quebec, the Quebec Conservation Department, the National Archives of France, the National Capital Commission of Quebec, the ghost longhouse at St. Anicet, the Gilcrease Museum of Tulsa Oklahoma, the Huntington Library of San Marino California, Jefferson County Historical Society of Watertown NY, McCord Museum of Montreal, McGill University Osler Library, Michel Crepeau of France, Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, MODIS Rapid Response Project of NASA, Montreal Botanical Gardens, Quebec Museum of Civilization, National Science Foundation of North Arlington Virginia, New York State Museum of Albany, Point-de-Buisson Archaeological Park, State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg Russia, Trustees of the British Museum, Department of Agriculture in Washington and the University of Montreal. Yep, there you go! A whole bunch of people want us dead. Here we are, raining on their parade.

Why was NASA involved? Maybe they think we came from outer space. Or maybe that’s where they want to send us. Each of these entities must have had one little item to show that we had disappeared. Somebody had a big travel budget to visit all these bastions of colonial tradition.

The museum had the cash to rack up record numbers of air miles. Somehow they just couldn’t find the time to stop in Kahnawake or Kanehesatake on their way to the airport. Of course, the hour’s drive to Akwesasne would have been out of their way. When we asked why, they said they did speak to one young fella in Kahnawake about this, by phone! It wasn’t long distance so that was in their budget. They couldn’t
ask us because, in their minds, we had mysteriously disappeared. Their tour guide told us, “You are different Iroquois”, and “our scientists have archaeological evidence that backs up our claims”.

“Yes”, we said, “lots of people used to think the earth was flat”.

So, there! Apparently, even though we had disappeared, our horticulture lives on in the “descendants”! Isn’t this a contradiction?

On Sunday Oct. 3rd 1535 Cartier visited Hochelaga at the foot of what they call Mount Royal. He drew longhouses, a central square like in Spain, with avenues and maybe even street signs. There was a shaman’s house who lived apart from the “mere mortals”. Lol!

We apparently left Montreal before Cartier arrived for his second visit and were gone for good by the time Champlain came. Don’t they know we have relatives all over the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Valley, New York State and every where. We loved to travel too and go visiting. Myth busted! Another reason we left temporarily for 75 to 100 years was to leave the ground to fallow. Our idea was to use the ground and when it was getting depleted of minerals and nourishment, we would plant orchards, take down our villages and then move to our next site for 20 or so years. We had 4 to 5 regular sites. It would take from 80 to 100 to complete a rotation. By the time we returned, the earth would have regained its nourishment. We don’t put down hundreds of thousands of pounds of potassium nitrate to mock what the earth does naturally. This modern practice is destroying the earth. We certainly didn’t expect a bunch of foreigner to move in and defile it with asphalt and all the other pollution that has made this once beautiful place infertile for agriculture or man.

We were here when Champlain came in 1607. “I won’t look at them so I can say I didn’t see them’, said Champlain. They suggested we were the victims of diseases or a “Little Ice Age” that began around 1450? Then they said, “It was “intertribal warfare”. Their evidence for this is that we built “defensive palisades” around our villages. Well, we did grow our medicines right next to our longhouses and we erected these fences to keep out the creatures who might want to come and disturb them. We also had 3000 years of peace until the colonists brought their incessant warfare here.

We notice they sprinkled words throughout their texts like “appeared”, “might have”, “may be”, “probably” and “it would appear”. Their lawyers advised them so we can’t sue the pants off them for lying about us. They don’t want to acknowledge us because they say that the land was for the taking because nobody was here. This is coming from a culture that has no stewardship for the land. So where did we come from, under some rocks?

One exhibit entitled “To Pop or Not to Pop” is about pop corn, corn soup and all the cooking skills we had. They did not mention that corn, beans and squash, the Three Sisters”, provided all the nutrition one needed to live a healthy life. We got these at the beginning according to our creation story. They found we Iroquois were in the Bay of Gaspe and elsewhere. Cartier found us with corn like he had seen in Brazil. He said that this had convinced us to give up our nomadic ways and tie our fate to the soil.

Most of the articles on display were little pieces from pipes, pots and who knows what. They were tiny and under glass with texts on a red or white background in French first and then English. Nothing in Mohawk! Maybe they think that our language is not relevant. After all, its their theory that we have disappeared.

Really misleading was info that the clan mothers led the families and selected the chiefs. The people tell the clan mothers and chiefs what to do and say. The power is with the people. Their sham democracy doesn’t want to say that.

They refer to the “Creator”, implying we believed in their god. Our philosophy is based on our knowledge of the natural world. Gariwiio is the perfect reality which is nature. The kasatstenera kowa sa oiera is the great natural power which we can see and know exists. We have many symbols for the stories that we passed down to remind us of our history.

They minimize our world down to making offerings of tobacco and sacrificing dogs and eating them. In the glass were the bones of a dog. We did not use shamans to contact any forces. We made our relationships with and respect for the natural world and developed our awareness ourselves.

The shaman did not suck out the evil or sickness from a person. There was no evil when everything was part of the natural equilibrium. Holy hell! This is completely manufactured probably by a bunch of priests who are trying to hit up people for money. “The shaman would gaze into the fire and go into a trance by dancing, chanting, fasting or sitting in a sweat lodge”. We did not have shamans or sweat lodges. Where did this come from? It’s one of those phony Indian Affairs healing programs being used to pacify us? We were almost tempted to ask where the brown Baby Jesus in the cradle was.

Cartier said we loved games and gambling. Is that why they built the Montreal casino nearby? They found a lot of different colored potsherds in their digs, which they think might be ripped up off-track betting slips. We did have the peach pit game in a wooden bowl played by clans to decide who was going to win the gifts and do all the work until the next festival.

They definitely found no evidence that we played lacrosse. They want to steal this as a Canadian invented game just like hockey. Hockey comes from the expression “a-kee”, which means “ouch” when they hit each other with their sticks. It was played between villages as it is today.

As for fashion, they said that we ran around naked except for small skins to cover our privates! In the cold! Are they kidding? If we went naked, we bared it all. Afterwards, we did cover ourselves to protect us from European perverts.

We made necklaces from recycled pipe stems [that we got from the second hand stores in Old Montreal?] They said that wampum beads were the most precious item we possessed in the whole wide world. All Iroquois men smoked. Did they examine our lungs? We did for ceremonial purposes apparently until Cartier arrived. They say we started to smoke like chimneys like those French Canadians who drive over to our communities today. They’re all pale and desperate to buy cheap native cigarettes. It states that tobacco appeared in the new world in 800 AD and in Montreal in 1300. They know this because they found a whole lot of pipes dating from that time. Was this on one of the pipe stems they found? How do they know it was tobacco being smoked? Who was Cartier trying to impress. He just wanted to raise money to make another trip over here in his search gold, the fool!

This is a pitiful exhibit. Cartier said that Iroquois women were industrious and the men were lazy. He called us “nomadic”. How would he know? He hung around the skirtless women and didn’t go with the men into the forests or on trading, hunting and diplomatic expeditions. Who’s the lazy bugger here?

We wondered what all this was leading up to? Yep! The colonists found a new archaeological site at Cap Rouge River – “the remains of the very first French settlement in America”. Hoo-ray! Lots of money for diggers! It was apparently the fort built by Cartier in 1541 where he spent that winter. This is where the king had ordered a white colony be built. They found sherds of Italian faience. Wow! The public can see all this in 2008. This is how long it will take to manufacture the ancient artifacts they will put on display and celebrate 400 years of colonization.

We complained to the guide that we had not disappeared, that he was not staring at ghosts, that this whole exhibit was misleading and that we are definitely still here. In other words, we were unconvinced by the story of our death. Excited and
anxious, security was summoned. We were followed around for a bit. Then a short little women sergeant appeared and told us that the museum would refund our money.

We’d prefer they shut down this travesty. Or if the public sees it, they should be told it’s a fictional representation meant to mislead the public and justify colonization. Cartier was just a hack explorer like the heroes of the Harlequin romances. There were lots of Euros over here before him. But they didn’t try to scam the nobility at home into financing their misadventures.

Disappearing Iroquois Myth “Busted”

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

Letter to Governor General 11/7/06

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The Women Title Holders answer a letter from the GG’s Secretary. She is being asked to meet us on critical environmental matters at Kanekota [where the waters come from out of the earth].From: Rotinonhsonnion:we Women Title Holders

Nov. 7, 2006.

BY REGISTERED MAIL/EMAIL info@gg.ca

Right Honourable Michaelle Jean
Governor General of Canada, Rideau Hall, Ottawa

Att: Lisa Bryden, Office of the Secretary

She:kon

We are responding to your letter of September 21, 2006 to the Women Title Holders regarding the situation in “Kanekota”, the northern area of the Haldimand Tract. We appreciate your considered response. For your information, this is not a treaty issue, but a proclamation/contract to protect the Mohawk and all our posterity from any encroachment whatsoever for all time to come. This contract has been and continues to be breached by Canada. According to protocol, we must deal with Canada and its agents through the Governor General of Canada.

Our concern is that Kanekota is being environmentally destroyed. It is the highest elevation where all the fresh waters in Ontario begin flowing in all directions. This area is being devastated almost beyond repair by industrial and chemical pollution. Presently two multinational corporations, Enbridge Gas Distrbutors and Canadian Hydro Developers, are exploiting our land for profit. They are trespassing and do not have authorized permission from us to conduct business on our land.

We, the Women title Holders, according to our constitution, the Kaiahereh’ko:wa/Great Law, have the responsibility to take care of the land, water and air of Turtle Island. We are accordingly asking you to meet with us as soon as possible to resolve this issue. The desecration that is continuing to be committed to Turtle Island is tragic. Please help us for our sake and for the sake of the future generations.

We need to clean this area immediately. Then the land will clean itself the way it was designed. It must have clean water coming out of the earth so that it can carry out its duty.

We would appreciate your meeting with us at your earliest convenience. You represent the government that has given unlawful authorization to the polluters, Enbridge Gas Distributors and Canadian Hydro Developers. We need your help to stop this illegal encroachment on and destruction of one of our most environmentally sensitive areas.

Onen kiwahi, Women Title Holders of the Rotinonhsonnion:we

Kahentinetha /s/ _________________
Katenies s/s ___________________

Cc: Confederacy Chiefs Council, %Gayetweh, RR #6, Hagersville, On; Enbridge Gas Distributors Inc., 10 Churchill Drive, Barrie, Ontario L4N 8Z5 1-800-461-4480, grant.kilpatrick@enbridge.com ; Ann Hughes, Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., kent@canhydro.com, Suite 500, 134-17 Ave. SW., Calgary Alberta T7T 5S8.

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

Joseph Brant’s Skullduggery – Deposed by Six Nations in 1805.

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MNN. Nov. 6, 2006. Joseph Brant, born a Mohawk and educated by the British, became a British subject, violating Wampum 58.Under Wampum 35, he was appointed a Pine Tree Chief, a ceremonial position with no powers in council. Should any man of the nation assist with special ability or show great interest in the affairs of the nation, if he proves himself wise, honest and worthy of confidence, the chiefs of the League may elect him to a seat among them and he may sit in the council of the League. He shall be proclaimed a Pine Tree, sprung up for the nation, and be installed as such at the next assembly for the installation of chiefs. Should he ever do anything contrary to the rules of the Great Peace, he may not be deposed from office. No one shall cut him down, but thereafter everyone shall be deaf to his voice and his advice. Should he resign from his seat and title, no one shall prevent it.A Pine Tree Chief has no authority to name a successor nor is his title hereditary. His sole responsibility was to translate. The British and their marionette, Brant, illegally sold and signed away large tracts of Mohawk land in New York State and Ontario. He and the British knew full well he had no authority to do this. Therefore, all his transactions were and are fraudulent.Today Canada and Ontario are using Brant’s phony land sales and giveaways as the basis for their claims to our lands. They know very well it doesn’t hold water. The following deposition by the Six Nations Chiefs and War Chiefs was to inform everyone that Brant’s words and deeds were illegal. In 1808 he murdered his own son Isaac. He could never live with the Mohawks because of his treachery. Brant died in 1811 alone in his mansion in Burlington. Fifty years later, he was brought to Brantford where he lies in a Masonic grave. [The document is blurred and we have indicated on our transcript the illegible parts with a ? mark. We apologize for any indeliberate misnomers].

Brant Deposition, 1805.

Copy of a letter from the Chiefs of the Six Nations to Captain Parrish related to the deposition of Captain Brant in possession o.t.t.p.? in ( ceishok?of oBbuffalo)

Onondaga Village of Buffalo, March 30, 1805.

Brethren. It is (erst?) a few words that we, the Six Nations, wish to inform at this time, it is what have been saying at our fireplace in Buffalo Creek. As it is customary for the Six Nations to call Councils for the misconduct of chiefs so as to have all faults related here before such councils, we have learned from information that Captain Brant has not conducted himself to the satisfaction of the Six Nations and according to our Indian customs he is no more a chief. And we the Six Nations all of us agree is no longer to be noticed as a chief in the Six Nations. The following are the names of the principle chiefs in the Six Nations.

Mohawk War Chiefs

Servatoghkaronogaio

Oghnawoia

Oghwanghugawagh

Principle Onondaga Chiefs

Thatodaraho

Otyatarisosark

Tha—atgwane

Kaghnisyongoghto

Staskanishaugh

Otegwagghec

Ononweeghtireh

Kagoutenayen

Ateweanieei

Tkanighstate

Duestherighgoingh

Otsenonghyata

Osehahow

Skatraghthroinglid

Haerghko

Principle Seneca Chiefs

Hari—Brethren

? ?

Yorsing King

Thatekarongas

Kanyatarigo

Thithoyou

Deghohonghtanyand

Dekanaghglonghishen

Kaghskaotern

Deyogengkoohen

Doenghisoase

Aniwaon

Satyonaonton

Ahentyeya

War Chiefs

Diskakee

Karontowanen

Dayoaghgwatekane

Kaneugaraton

Shanakane

Then ne agh gwa

Ska on waghske

Shatekayenton

Diskake

Onwatosogaghtoro

Katserote

Dekagh swaeghston

Oghoiyo

Deghagoughstoudaghgou

Arenghariskou

Aserik

Kahaste

Kanyataryo

Dawaghghiwaghskan

Kataragenyast

Theaghsontagoot

Oghanionyoto

Thagenjowaane

Shisnenatohe

Otyenagwen

Oghnightagowa

Jastotatya & Dekaentye

Principle Chiefs Oneida

Okawa, Joseph

Oghshonwaghtaggtto

Ateriyaghs

Dekagkae a tanagen

Shay hough hast

Kangenghtaghgo

Oersianysentera

Ataweriniese

Thonaghtorgen

Principle Cayuga Chiefs

Thouonwes

Detsinondawesho

Dekawenyon

Atag a seronne

Deyathoreyghgon

Thoronghyougo

Dyanweianon

Otsistone

Tuscarora Chiefs

Aghsbigwasisae

Dewaghtaghgoot

Shaghradowane

The above letter is endorsed on the back Chiefs’ letter respecting Captain Brant, April 15, 1805. In the handwriting of Captain Parrish.

The British had this on file from the earliest times. This proves that the Six Nations have the law on our side and the documents to prove it.

MNN Mohawk Nation News

Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

For updates, workshops and speakers on history and contemporary Mohawk issues, and to sign up, go to  http://mohawknationnews.com

 

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

Part 2. THE PATH HOME: “Warriors – Why we stand up”:

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Part 2. THE PATH HOME: “Warriors – Why we stand up”:MNN. Nov. 5, 2006. Introduction: Sa-o-ie-ra; warriors in other Indigenous nations; why we went off the path; our effect on non-indigenous society; criticisms; who was Karonhiaktajeh; history of the warriors; the goal of peace; ganistensera; role of clans and women relatives.

Tekarontakeh, an elder Renskarakete, outlined some of the historical background on how the “Warrior Society” was re-established. He said, “It was always here because the people were always here. For a time it just wasn’t visible”.

Sa-o-ie-ra

“Sa-o-ie-ra” means it’s a natural instinct instilled in us by creation. Every creature on earth has this natural instinct to protect itself, its species, its territories and everything that sustains its life. We do what we must do to survive. A warrior doesn’t have to ponder whether he should protect himself, his people, his clan, his land, water and everything that helps to sustain his people. These are our sources of life. Our full understanding of the natural world is how we will survive. When we are attacked, our instincts tell us that we have to defend ourselves as fully and completely as possible. That’s how Creation made us.

All Indigenous nations have warriors.

The colonists are alarmed that our People are picking up this warrior image no matter what Indigenous nation we come from. Why? They thought they had destroyed us through colonization, genocide, fear and all the strategies that have been applied elsewhere in the world. Our will comes from nature. Even the non-natives depend on that too. To destroy us they destroy themselves.

A lot of time and effort is spent trying to dissolve this positive image of the warrior. At Six Nations at the beginning of the reclamation of “Kanenhstaton”, in the confusion of people rising up to defend the land, efforts were made by a few to not fly the “warrior flag”. We argued that it signified that we want to fight for our survival as a people and to carry out our instructions. In the end, not only did one or two flags come out, but the whole community put the flag in front of their homes and on their cars. The colonists are trying to discourage our people from identifying with us. More and more are coming to understand our position. We have no choice but to live according to the men’s duties as outlined in our constitution, the Kaiannereh’ko:wa/Great Law of Peace.

What took us off the path? It was the genocide we went through.

The colonists came here to conquer. They brought their strange religions and hierarchical institutions. These were contrary to how we see life. We saw these as “man-made beliefs”. Rather than relying on ourselves, they wanted to pacify us. They wanted our decisions to be made by someone somewhere up on the hierarchical ladder. They attacked our spirit in many ways so we lost confidence and could no longer defend ourselves or what was ours. They did not want us to defend our lives that creation had prescribed for us. Our knowledge is based on our observation of natural ways. This confusion destroyed many of us.

These invaders immediately tried to take over Turtle Island. One of the first strategies was to use us for commerce and military allies. In the meantime they worked to kill us off. After a while they successfully killed off 99% of us throughout the Western Hemisphere. 115 million of our people died off. We are the descendants of those few whose ancestors survived the biggest holocaust in all mankind. They had to make some crucial decisions for us to be here today.

Non-Indigenous society must learn too.

What brought us back? It was the minds of our ancestors who thought about how we were to survive in this news state of affairs. Our ancestors willed themselves so that we would be here today. We have to educate ourselves about this past history and how we got through it. It was the Kaianereh’ko:wa – which is modeled on the ways of the natural world. We just have to look at what it does, think about and discuss it. Then we will find our answers.

The time has come for the non-Indigenous people to learn why we are standing up as we do. We can’t educate only ourselves. We must educate the settlers too. Many non-native people are interested in who are the real Onkwehonwe? It means “the real people forever” because nature is here forever. At one time these non-natives had ancestors who were indigenous somewhere else once too. They need to understand the world view we are coming from. Maybe they have an instinctual desire to find a home. Many of them are sensitive enough to understand that when you are in someone else’s land, you have to tread carefully. What happened to us is the guests came
here and tried to kill of their hosts. This is bad manners and a violation of nature. A parasite will die if it kills what it is living off of. You could disrupt something and not even know you’re doing it.

Criticisms of the Warriors

We hear a lot of provocative statements about the warriors by those who don’t know very much about “Rotiskenrakete”, the carriers of the soil of Turtle Island. Colonial society translates this to mean “warrior”. They are not a legend. Warriors are real. Warriors are part of the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Great Law of Peace.

There is not only a lack of understanding but a deliberate misrepresentation of the warriors. White society is designed to control its people. To do this they have to instill fear in everybody. The “warriors” have been stereotyped to evoke fear in the non-native people.

Because of this lack of understanding, at the Six Nations reclamation of our land and other sites of resistance, our men have had to cover their faces. The warriors of old did not have to deal with media manipulations, high tech police surveillance techniques, files, wanted posters over police wires, or phony charges to criminalize them into submission to the colonial system. This is the price we have to pay for carrying out our duties to our people.

The Rotisken’ra:kete did not fail in their duties. As a matter of fact, they have been phenomenally successful. Had they failed, we would not be here today. Currently the colonists are spending millions of dollars to discredit our Rotiskenrakete. But we are still here and our flag is still flying. If the Ongwehonwe are finally destroyed that is when the Rotisken’ra:kete are destroyed”.

The warrior flag is flown in many part of the world by people who resist tyranny and totalitarianism. The designer of the flag, Karonhiaktajeh, originally called it a “unity flag”. It was the settlers who called it “a warrior flag”. On April 20th 2006 when the Ontario Provincial Police tried to invade Six Nations and beat up our women and children, they awoke the lions. Those flags went up right across Canada. Not one group, band council or anyone condemned it. They knew that what we did was right. The propaganda to destroy our spirit was lost. There have been continuous weak attempts here and there to defame us.

Karonhiaktajeh

Karonhiaktajeh was a mentor to the Rotisken’ra:kete. He was vilified during his lifetime. Now he is revered and has become a legend because he adhered to the philosophy of the Great Law. His book, “The Warrior’s Handbook”, has been read by many Rotisken’ra:kete everywhere.

The warriors had become dormant for sometime. But they always existed underground. When the women resisted the imposition of the Indian Act in Kahnawake in 1889, the warriors were right there behind the women when they made objections to the government. They were always there supporting the people who stood up for the Great Law.

It all started back in Kahnawake in the 1950’s with the formation of the Singing Society. We know that the place of the Rotisken’ra:kete is imbedded in the Great Law. In our past the Rotisken’ra:kete were always respected.

The young Rotisken’ra:kete went to the traditional council in Kahnawake. We needed guidance from the older people. We found very few around to help us. Many had forgotten the traditional role of the men in Indigenous society. Many had put our history aside.

Historically

Historically warriors have been outstanding soldiers. This is only one aspect. There are examples like the battle of Chateauguay where 250 Mohawks stood against 7000 Americans and repelled them. There are many other instances such as when 80 stood against 2500 at Queenston Heights while the British ran away north to St. Catharines Ontario. At Michilimakinac only a few canoe loads of warriors fought against thousands. Many colonists did not want to fight the Rotisken’ra:kete. Some adversaries would just give up and leave. The only real adversaries were other
Indigenous nations. Both nations respected the specific rules of war as outlined in the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Great Law of Peace. The Law states that the “war is not over until it is won”. Many make the mistake of saying, “We will fight until we die”. But it is really, “We will fight until we win”.

Many of our tactics were imitated by the settler society. Guerilla warfare was adopted by the Europeans. For example, the elite covering themselves in black so as not be seen in the forest is one of our tactics.

Peace is Warrior goal

We always look towards peace throughout any of our battles. There is always a plan for peace. This does not mean making another nation subservient. It means that the nation we fight must understand that we will fight them until they agree to live peacefully with us under the Great Law.

We never set out to destroy the other nation. They must agree to live in peace and equality. If not, then we absorb them and they are no more. No nation wanted that.

If they agreed to the peace, they would retain their language, culture, government, land and ways.

In our minds, we always wanted to make peace. If the adversary did not want to make peace with us, then the black wampum string would be dropped. This meant that we would then fight until we won. The war is not over until we win. In 1784 the United States sued the Confederacy for peace. This is because they had done so much harm to the Confederacy, so we continued to fight with the newly formed United States. Being a peaceful minded people we agreed to enter into a peaceful agreement with them which we have lived up to and they continue to violate.

The Rensken’ra:kete is not a soldier for the king. He is a soldier of all the People. His name comes from okenra tsi rokete – the soil that he carries in his pouch to remind him of who he is – a son, a man, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather. It reminds him what his duties are as a man. He must show utmost respect to the female. The two combined – the male and female – is the continuation of life. He carries the soil in his pouch which he hangs around his neck. When he is away he touches this to remind himself of the land and the people he comes from.

Ganistensera

All the warrior’s power begins with his mother – ganistensera. He is connected to her through the onerista, the navel. This is how he is connected to all the women relatives on his mother’s side. The istenha is the one who carried him and gave him life. That is who his “creator” is.

Importance of the clans

The clans oversee the development of all the children. They watch the children closely throughout their lives. Each one has brought some qualities and gifts with them to help the people. We don’t know what these are. So we must watch them and help them reveal their special gifts to us.

We looked for qualities in each child. For example, Ayonwatha’s family is the record and wampum keeper. The young men learn all the rituals they need to have a strong memory. The Tekarihoken family are the Turtle. They are taught to be neutral and to look at all sides. The Wolf listens to both sides. The War Chief comes out of the Wolf family. Once he takes that position he must carry himself as though he has no clan because he is there for all the clans. He is given the title of Ayonwes who interacts with the outside nations. The clan mother of the Tekarihoken carries the title of the Tehatirihoken. They learn how to separate things and identify the elements for what they are. They examine everything totally. If a Royaner/chief should die, they can replace him immediately. The chiefs are trained and raised for certain titles. Every clan has particular attributes. It is everyone’s responsibility to develop them.

Our Clan Mothers

Te-ha-ti-ka-on-ion are the people who observe these young people and find the ones with special qualities. Both boys and girls are trained for basic responsibilities and for particular duties. They must all learn the basic aspects of Indigenous life. Some are found to be better than others in carrying out certain responsibilities. The women are especially adept at finding the required qualities in a young person to be trained for certain duties. Some might have knowledge but not the temperament. By observing them, their special qualities emerge and come to the surface. This becomes clear to the community as to what talents this young person brought with him or her to help their people.

Our Women Relatives

In their early years, the young males spend all their time with their women relatives. This enables them to know the duties and responsibilities of the women. They develop a profound respect for the women and all people. They also spend a lot of time with their grandparents, listening to them, looking for plants, animals and fruits. The whole process of developing their observation skills starts from birth. (to be continued…)

MNN Mohawk Nation News Series

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

How the British came to Ontario

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There is so much said about the British granting us the Haldimand tract. The truth is we granted them Ontario under Gushwenta. The British were never here until we defeated the French and Huron in a 92 year war. We participated in the 1701 treaty of Peace in Montreal with France and her remaining allies. In that same year we agreed to split the territory won by right of conquest with the British. Our chiefs were invited to London as guests of Queen Anne and were promoted as “The Romans of the New World” to the courts of Europe. We still have the silver Queen Anne presented to our chiefs we keep it at Tyendinaga. That is how the British came to live in Ontario. Following is a copy of the Original Nanfan Treaty, our gift to the British

A DEED FROM THE FIVE NATIONS TO THE KING, OF THEIR BEAVER HUNTINGGROUND, MADE AT ALBANY, NEW YORK, JULY 19, 1701

To all Christian & Indian people in this parte of the world and in Europe over the great salt waters, to whom the presents shall come
– Wee the Sachims Chief men, Captns and representatives of the Five nations or Cantons of Indians called the Maquase Oneydes Onnandages and Sinnekes living in the Government of New York in America, to the north west of Albany on this side the Lake Cadarachqui sendeth greeting – Bee it known unto you that our ancestors to our certain knowledge have had, time out of mind a fierce and bloody warr with seaven nations of Indians called the Aragaritkas whose Chief c?d was called successively Chohahise –
The land is scituate lyeing and being northwest and by west from Albany beginning on the south west side of Cadarachqui lake and includes all that waste Tract of Land lyeing between the great lake off Ottowawa and the lake called by the natives Sahiquage and by the Christians the lake of Swege and runns till it butts upon the Twichtwichs and is bounded on the right hand by a place called Quadoge conteigning in length about eight hundred miles and in bredth four hundred miles including the country where the bevers the deers, Elks and such beasts keep and the place called Tieugsachrondio, alias Fort de Tret or Wawyachtenok and so runs round the lake of Swege till you come to place called Oniadarondaquat which is about twenty miles from the Sinnekes Castles which said seaven nations our predecessors did four score years agoe totally conquer and subdue and drove them out of that country and had peaceable and quiet possession of the same to hunt beavers (which was the motive caused us to war for the same) for three score years it being the only chief place for hunting in this parte of the world that ever wee heard of and after that wee had been sixty years sole masters and owners of the said land enjoying peaceable hunting without any internegation, a remnant of one of the seaven nations called Tionondade whom wee had expelled and drove away came and settled there twenty years agoe disturbed our beaver hunting against which nation wee have warred ever since and would have subdued them long ere now had not them been assisted and succoured by the French of Canada, and whereas the Governour of Canada aforesaid hath lately sent a considerable force to a place called Tjeughsaghronde the principall passe that commands said land to build a Forte there without our leave and consent, by which means they will possess themselves of that excellent country where there is not only a very good soile but great plenty of all maner of wild beasts in such quantities that there is no maner of trouble in killing of them and also will be sole masters of the Boar hunting whereby wee shall be deprived of our livelyhood and subsistance and brought to perpetual bondage and slavery, and wee having subjected ourselves and lands on this side of Cadarachqui lake wholy to the Crown of England wee the said Sachims chief men Captns and representatives of the Five nations after mature deliberation out of a deep sence of the many Royall favours extended to us by the present great Monarch of England King William the third, and in consideration also that wee have lived peaceably and quietly with the people of albany our fellow subjects above eighty years when wee first made a firm league and covenant chain with these Christians that first came to settle Albany on this river which covenant chain hath been yearly renewed and kept bright and clear by all the governours successively and many neighbouring Governmts of English and nations of Indians have since upon their request been admitted into the same. Wee say upon these and many other good motives us hereunto moveing have freely and voluntary surrendered delivered up and for ever quit claimed, and by these presents doe for us our heires and successors absolutely surrender, deliver up and for ever quit claime unto our great Lord and Master the King of England called by us Corachkoo and by the Christians William the third and to his heires and successors Kings and Queens of England for ever all the right title and interest and all the claime and demand whatsoever which wee the said five nations of Indians called the Maquase, Oneydes, Onnondages, Cayouges and Sinnekes now have or which wee ever had or that our heirs or successors at any time hereafter may or ought to have of, in or to all that vast Tract of land or Colony called Canagariarchio beginning on the northwest side of Cadarachqui lake and includes all that vast tract of land lyeing between the great lake of Ottawawa and the lake called by the natives Cahiquage and by the Christians the lake of Swege and runns till it butts upon the Twichtwichs and is bounded on the westward by the Twichtwichs by a place called Quadoge conteining in length about eight hundred miles and in breath four hundred miles including the Country where Beavers and all sorts of wild game keeps and the place called Tjeughsaghrondie alias Fort de tret or Wawyachtenock and so runns round the lake of Swege till you come to a place called Oniadarundaquat which is about twenty miles from the Sinnekes castles including likewise the great falls Oakinagaro, all which [was] formerly posest by seaven nations of Indians called the Aragaritka whom by a fair warr wee subdued and drove from thence four score years agoe bringing many of them captives to our country and soe became to be the true owners of the same by conquest which said land is scituate lyeing and being as is above expressed with the whole soyle the lakes the rivers and all things pertaining to the said tract of land or colony with power to erect Forts and castles there, soe that wee the said Five nations nor our heires nor any other person or persons for us by any ways or meanes hereafter have claime challenge and demand of in or to the premises or any parte thereof alwayes provided
and it is hereby expected that wee are to have free hunting for us and the heires and descendants from us the Five nations for ever and that free of disturbances expecting to be protected therein by the Crown of England but from all the action right title interest and demand of in or to the premises or every of them shall and will be uterly excluded and debarred for every by these presents and wee the said Sachims of the Five Nations of Indians called the Maquase, Oneydes, Onnandages, Cayouges and Sinnekes and our heires the said tract of land or Colony, lakes and rivers and premises and every part and parcell thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto our souveraigne Lord the King William the third & his heires and successors Kings of England to his and their proper use and uses against us our heires and all and every other person lawfully claiming by from or under us the said Five nations shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents–In Witness whereof wee the Sachims of the Five nations above mentioned in behalf of ourselves and the Five nations have signed and sealed this present Instrument and delivered the same as an Act and deed to the Honble John Nanfan Esqr Lieut to our Great King in this province whom wee call Corlaer in the presence of all the Magistrates officers and other inhabitants of Albany praying our Brother Corlaer to send it over to Carachkoo our dread souveraigne Lord and that he would be graciously pleased to accept of the same Actum in Albany in the middle of the high street this nineteenth day of July in the thirteenth year of His Majty’s reign Annoque Domini 1701.

Source: “A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 – 1875” U. S. Serial Set, Number 4015 begining at page 552. Available “on line” from the American Library of Congress (alc.gov)

poster: Thahoketoteh

 

“Beam me up Captain Bush”

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TREKIES TAKE OVER U.S. FOREIGN POLICY!
BUSH & HARPER LOST IN SPACE TOGETHER!

MNN. Oct. 21, 2006. U.S. President George Bush signed an executive order to conclude his ascendancy over, not just the earth, but the whole universe. Read the “U.S.A.F. Counter Space Operation Doctrine”. Never mind the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies”. Never mind the American agreement that weapons should not be used in outer space. That was 1967. Georgie has his own plans.

President Bush has given himself the right to eliminate anyone who opposes him. He thinks he’s the lord and master of everything. It’s a common delusion. It’s running rampant on Turtle Island. And it’s dangerous. Psychiatric hospitals and jails are full of folk with these kinds of wild ideas.

It seems like this condition comes from the top of the hierarchy and trickles downward. It manifests itself openly among the weak-minded. They have delusions of grandeur. They think the whole world is their video game. Bush has so little contact with real life that he has no sense about what he?s doing. He’s convinced that he’s right.

Meanwhile sane and responsible people all over the place, and even ordinary Americans, are now wondering if there is something wrong with him. Some people are saying right out “He’s sick in the head”. But they’re afraid to say anything because he’s surrounded by a circus of handlers who seem to be just as unhinged as he is.

Remember Joseph Stalin at the beginning of WW II? He and Hitler had signed a “non-aggression” pact. Believe it or not, Mr. Ripley! Hitler completely ignored the agreement and decided to attack Russia. “No fair” yelled Stalin. He was such an egotistical self-centered S.O.B. that he didn’t want the war to be started by Hitler. He wanted to start it himself. “Me first!” he screamed. “There can’t be a war unless I say so. Your bombs don?t count! Ouch!” But Hitler went ahead and started it anyway. When Stalin heard about it, he said there was no war because he didn’t start it. As a result Russia got creamed at the beginning of the war. Stalin was such a screaming, tyrannical bully that nobody wanted to tell him anything for fear of being eliminated.

So here we go again. Bush is terrorizing the world. Anybody who says anything will be visited by his “black special ops” choppers to hover over their houses. When this happened to me this morning, I thought, “Oh, oh! Somebody must be mad, having a tantrum”. I stepped outside and waved. Suddenly they took off.

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper has caught the same syndrome. He is trying to act like the big kids on the block. He wants to tame the press in Ottawa so he dictates who’s allowed to ask him questions. He’s terrorizing his cabinet. He’s duct-taped their mouths and threatened to take away all their lollipops. They can’t speak to the press or anyone. He wants to do all the talking. If anyone gets out of line, he kicks them right out. Garth Turner got the treatment last week. Stevie told him, “Nobody’s gonna be your friend anymore, not in a million gazillion years! So there!!!” Garth made the mistake of exercising his own free mind against Harper’s orders. Tsk! Tsk!

The People who survive in the Harper gang are known as “sycophants”. Technically speaking, this means they’re either ass-lickers or brown nosers. “You’re so great! Stevie! We’re gonna conquer the whole wide world. We’re gonna rule everything”. But with Bush, Harper is just a little panting puppy dog. When Big Daddy came up here to talk about space, Stevie jumped right into his lap to get stroked. That’s when Big Daddy Bush said, “Hey Stevie, I gotta have the major planets and the Milky Way but I’m gonna give you Pluto and a Mars Bar!”. “Yip! Yip!” yapped Harper.

The circus continues because the sycophants want to keep their jobs. So they keep bowing down and they keep kissing feet.

Why is all this crazy stuff happening?

What was left of Bush’s mind got twisted when he was initiated into the “Skull & Bones Society” at Yale University. Those who pass muster are told they are going to rule the world. He said, “Right on. That’s for me, man! Pass the beer and gimme another toke.”

Harper, on the other hand, was just a straight ‘burb kid from the “ticky tacky” outskirts of Toronto. Suddenly he’s at the top of the heap and he thinks it?s the CN Tower. He just doesn’t know what to do in this position. He’s not even sure how he got there. It hasn’t occurred to him that he is supposed to represent a democratic state. He seems to think he’s playing “I’m the king of the castle”. So he’s become Bush’s dirty rascal. Those who claw their way to the top of the dung hill have to make sure no one comes anywhere near them. They’re scared shitless, so to speak. Jees, someone might even cry “Scaredy cat. You’re a brat.” How could anyone deal with that?

So then this guy comes up from Texas, puts his paws on him and tells him, “I’ll show you! You and I are gonna take over the world”. Little Stevie thought he was saved. He bought into the lie and now he’s George Bush’s greatest disciple.

Bush isn’t sticking to his cow pie. He’s staked out an aggressive claim on outer space. Forget all those formal treaties and agreements signed in the sixties. Forget government by the people and for the people. Forget democracy. Forget life. He’s gonna do what he wants and he’ll zap anyone who gets in his way. He must be surrounded by a bunch of drunken cowboys. Or maybe they’re just a bunch of teen-aged video-maniacs. The U.S. Strategic Command has protocols that sound so corny and cardboard that they must have been snatched out of a script for Captain Kirk of the Starship “Enterprise”. Remember Star Trek?

But let’s face it, the man is dangerous. He’s got his finger on the button that could annihilate the world. The guns are real. He’s saying “I double-dog dare you” to all comers, real and imagined. But this is no game.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

poster: Thahoketoteh