STORIES / Okara’shòn:’a
A child’s question
The thing is, all these children and young people asking these questions don’t speak the language. It’s not their fault. And if they go to ceremony, it’s all being done in the language that they don’t understand, so how do you expect them to know? It’s very stupid.
Beginnings in the Longhouse
I had absolutely no inkling of the Longhouse or that it even existed. My mother didn’t make any effort to educate me about it because of the conflicts that were going on between the Longhouse and Band Council at the time.
Get that boy to a powwow
We drove there on a Friday, slept over and went to the powwow on Saturday morning. Grand entry was at 1:00 pm so we got there early. He wanted to get dressed right away. I said, “Kawerashatste, we got a 2 hour wait,” but no he wanted to get dressed.
It’s too heavy
I don’t take it personally. It’s not about me, it has nothing to do with me. When I do this kind of work, I’m just not here. It’s second nature to do that.
Something missing
John and Stephen McComber were the teachers for the guys. There was also Barbara Littlebear who taught us some beadwork and how to make our own moccasins. She did powwow dancing too.
Booze and Spirits
This is when we all get into fights, we are robbed or killed. Any kind of thing can happen when we are in that state. These are understandings I got from the old people. “Tóhsa shnekì:ra, don’t drink.” There’s going to be trouble because you are going to be attracting it - you are now in negative mode.
Head Veteran
I am proud to be a Mohawk Veteran; I take the responsibility with much pride and bring the knowledge I carry from my 21 years of service into the powwow circle for the benefit of our people.
Snaring rabbits
Every morning before school we would go out to the village and check the snares to see if we caught any from the night before. We had to go early in the morning because the rabbits are busy at night and we had to make sure that no dogs would get to it.
Marriage in Eagle Bay
I remember the crowd—so many came to celebrate with us. Ruth and the women lovingly sewed our wedding clothes by hand, each stitch a testament to care and tradition. Friends and family traveled from Kahnawà:ke to Eagle Bay, bringing joy and laughter.
Amateur naturalist
I am part of the Bear clan so I wouldn’t hunt a bear. Maybe if someone else offered me a steak from a bear they hunted I would accept but besides that I am not interested in hunting or eating it. I would only shoot it if I had to in self-defense.
Passing it on
I think it's important that people pass on the stories and the traditions, because I'm sure families have different stories and traditions that were passed down to them. They probably just thought it was old people telling them stories, but it's important to hear those stories because there was always a moral behind it.
Threading the Needle
In the winter months, the old ladies would come to our house. I don't know if they were really old ladies. But to me, they were old. There would be a lamp set in the middle of the table and a whole bunch of them would do beadwork.
River Fishing
We used to go fish down at the train bridge. We would ride our bikes there. We’d catch so many fish and tie them to a chain. We’d have a hard time riding our bikes with so much fish.
Christmas in Kahnawà:ke
My father used to go with his uncle and his friend up to Saint Lucie before Christmas to cut down trees and bring them back for his uncle, my grandfather and a few others in the family. It was an all-day process so they would only get back late at night.
Coincidence
I remember when we left Standing Rock, we were just taking a stroll and there were two bald eagles sitting in the tree very low. As we drove back home, we hit the state of Michigan, and I looked up at the sunroof in the car and there was a bald eagle circling the car making sure we got back safely.
Life in the big garden
We would also help with planting and harvesting. When you plant tomatoes and they get big, there are these large kinds of green caterpillars that get on them and eat the leaves. They’d be hiding under the leaf or whatever. We’d have to pick them off the tomatoes. That was scary.
Safeguarding our heritage
I believe it's crucial for us to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue. Upholding the principles of the Two Row Wampum is very important: it's about honouring our shared culture and understanding.