Promises made in heaven
(Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Geraldine Standup
There’s a reason why Mike came to be my son. These are promises that are made in heaven. When he was born, I never thought that he was going to be a healer. I never thought that I was going to be a healer.
When I was bedridden in my mid-30s, it was very difficult for my sons because they witnessed what I was going through. I would wake up from a nap and find my son laying on the floor. He was guarding me and fell asleep.
He’s very in tune with his inner being, which is a prerequisite for being a healer. To be a spiritual person is to be able to meditate and connect with your inner being and know your greatness.
He’s very introverted and always has been. He wasn’t the type of kid that liked to be rough and tough. It set him apart from the rest.
When you’re a teenager, you like to be a member of the pack. He was never a member of the pack; he was always himself.
During 1990, people came to my house and never went home. They were terrified, especially with the army coming into town. I was swamped and couldn’t handle the sheer numbers, so I asked Mike to give me a hand. That’s when it started with him.
He came to be a healer. In the Spirit World, we are the authors of our own life story. There’s a reason why we’re here in this time and place, bringing with us what we can from the spirit realm.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Kahrharatstánion Ne Tsi Tkaronhiá:te
(Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Geraldine Standup IAKOKÁ:RATON
Orì:wa tekahnerenhátie ne tsi ní:tsi riièn:'a rotòn:'on ne Wíhse. Kahrharatstánion kí:ken ne tsi tkaronhiá:te. Shahatón:ni', iah nonwén:ton tewakanonhtonniónhon tsi atétsen'ts ratónhsere. Iah nonwén:ton tewakanonhtonniónhon tsi atétsen'ts katónhsere.
Shonkenaktanén:take' kak tsi ní:ions ahsén:nen nón:we tsi áhsen niwáhsen nitewatién:tahkwe, é:so tsi wahotirihwanorónsten' ne kheien'okòn:'a áse' kenh wahontkáhtho' tsi nahò:ten tewakatohetstonhátiene. Éntie' tsi wakí:ta's tánon thenkatié:ren' enhiia'tatshén:ri' riièn:'a oswen'karà:ke raia'tión:ni. Kwah ratia'tanónhnha'ahkwe tánon iahó:ta'we'.
Kwah tokèn:'en ska'nikòn:ra ronatòn:'on ne rao'nikòn:ra tánon ne ki' ne ioterihwíson aiehá:wake' ne atétsen'ts aión:ton'. Ne aie'nikonhraién:take' ne ki' kén:ton tsi iakokwénion ne tha'taionte'nikonhrató:tate' tánon tatiatahsónteren' ne ako'nikòn:ra tánon aieienteríhake' tsi niiakoia'tanehrákwaht.
É:so tsi rotshé:iaron tánon tió:konte eh shihaia'tò:ten. Iah tho tehaksa'to'tèn:ne néne ahaon'wéskwen' ahaterí:io' tánon ahatahkátstate'. Kwah nè:'e wa'thotikháhsi' ne ronátia'ke.
Nó:nen iawén:re nitisá:ien, son'wéskwani ahsià:tarake' kanèn:rakon. Iah nonwén:ton tehotià:tare skanèn:ra, tió:konte raonhahstsíhon kèn:ne.
Tsi niióhseres ne 1990 niiohserò:ten, ón:kwe wa'onkenónhsara'ne' tánon iah nonwén:ton teshonahténtion. Kwah tokèn:'en rotíhteron'skwe, sénha tsi ratihsotá:r tahón:ne kaná:takon. Kwah wa'tkeweienhnhá:ra'ne' tánon iah teiotòn:'on ken' niaontié:ren ne tsi nihá:ti ne ki' tiorì:wa wahirihwanón:ton'se' Wíhse ahatié:nawa'se'. Thò:ne ki' tahotáhsawa'se'.
Atétsen'ts wahá:ton'. Tsi nonkwá:ti ne atónhnhets tsi ionhontsá:te, ì:'i tewaia'takwe'ní:io tsi niionkwakarò:ten tsi tiónhnhe. Orì:wa tekahnerenhátie tsi kén:tho ítewes ne ken' nikahá:wi ne ken' nón:we, titewahawíhtha othé:nen ionkwakwénion ne atónhnhets tsi ionhontsá:te tká:ien.
Edited by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde