A comforting feeling
Church members gather at the Saint Francis-Xavier Mission in Kahnawà:ke. (Courtesy: Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Vivian OKE
We were a religious family growing up when we lived in Kahnawà:ke. We would go to church in the morning and evening, plus Sunday School. On Sundays My mother was a leader in the United Church Women (UCW) and I became a Sunday school teacher. I led the children in song because I knew the hymns and the stories.
Church was just something you did. It was part of your week, and we always felt good about it. I remember our family had our pew where we always sat.
The experience of going to church became usual to me. When I think back, I wouldn't have used the word comforting then, but I do now. Once we were home for lunch, we would have cornbread and have it with either sausages or pork chops. All these little rituals were part of us being a family, and we enjoyed our Sundays.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION 〰️
Naiónttoke' tsi iakaon'wéskwani
Vivian OKE IAKOKÁ:RATON
Ionkwarihwiiostòn:ne' nakhwá:tsire' shiwakatehiahróntie' Kahnawà:ke shiiakwèn:teron. Ohrhon'kè:ne tánon' o'karahsnéha shos eniakwaterennaiénhna', eh karátie' ne Awentatokenhti'kéha Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa'. Né: Awentatokenhtì:ke, ohén:ton ié:tahkwe' ne United Church Women (UCW) nonkwá:ti nake'nisténha tánon' nì:'i Awentatokenhti'kéha iakorihonnién:ni wa'ká:ton'. Wa'kenèn:rine' tsi ronterennótha' ne ratiksa'okòn:'a ase'kén kerennaienteríhne' ne teierihwahkwà:tha' tánon' kkaraienteríhne' nokara'shòn:'a.
Iah othé:nen teiohtòn:ne' ne tsi ionterennaientáhkhwa' naionterennaiénhna'. Nek tsorì:wa kénhne' ne tsi nihsatiéhrha' ne tsi niiahià:khseres, tánon' tió:konte' wa'ontion'wéskwen'. Kè:iahre' tsi ionkwanitskwahra'tsheraién:tahkwe' wanitskwahrà:tsheres nakhwá:tsire' tsi nón:we tió:konte' eniakwanitskó:ten'.
Edited by: Jonathan Turenne - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde