Giving thanks
A glimpse of the Saint Francis-Xavier Mission Catholic Church in Kahnawà:ke, circa 1912. (Courtesy: Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Gordie Oke
When I was growing up, my parents always made me go to kindergarten and church. My mother was a teacher, and she would take me with her. We celebrated most holidays like Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, but they had more meaning back then.
Now, holidays are too commercialized, and you tend to forget about their spiritual significance. Easter used to be a day filled with stories about Jesus and God. You don't really see that anymore. Now, it's about finding specials on a good ham. At Christmas, the focus is on who can get you the best gift.
This isn’t what holidays are about. What we’re seeing today is a very non-Native way of celebrating these holidays, whereas we have our own celebrations at various times of the year. What we really should be celebrating and giving thanks during the holidays to is the Creator and all things in life.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Teiontenonhwerá:tons
Inside the Saint Francis-Xavier Mission Catholic Church during an active service. (Courtesy: Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Gordie Oke ROKÁ:RATON
Shiwakatehiahróntie', iontièn:'a tió:konte' iahónkhreke' akaterihwaienstà:na' tánon' ne akaterennaiénhna'. Iakorihonnienníhahkwe' nake'nisténha, tánon' ieniontia'ténhawe'. Wa'akwatonhnhà:ren' thóha akwé:kon tsi ní:kon wentanó:ron's tsi ní:ioht ne Shotonhnhé:ton, Rotón:ni, tánon' Tsi Na'teiontenonhwerá:tons, nek tsi sénha orì:wa' tekà:nerenhkwe' neh shitkahá:wi'.
Ok nòn:wa, sótsi ronthwistonnià:tha' ne wentanó:ron's, tánon' watié:sen naonsaiako'nikónhrhen' tsi niiotirihò:ten atonhnhetsherakón:ha. Eh niwenhnisero'ténhne' ne Shotonhnhé:ton tsi ní:ioht kwah tetkakaráhere' ne tsi nihoia'tawénhseron ne Ié:sos tánon' ne Rawenní:io. Iah teiotkà:te' thahsatkáhtho' thí:ken nòn:wa. Ok nòn:wa, nek tsoteríhonte' naiaké:sake' tó: ní:kon tewatiesénston ne ka'wahrákon' kwéskwes. Ok ne Rotón:ni, nek tsoteríhonte' ónhka né: naonhà:'a tkaharahtsherí:io aiontatháhrhahse'.
Iah nè:'e teionateríhonte' ne wentanó:ron's. Kwah iah onkwehonwehnéha té:ken ne tsi ní:ioht tsi iontonhnhahéhrha' wentanó:ron's tsi nahò:ten' tewatkáhthos òn:wa wenhniseraténion, ionkwá:ien' ki' wáhi ì:'i onkwá:wen kátke tetewatenonhwerá:tons iokwenhrá:ron tsi niióhseres. Ó:nen'k tsi teiotonhontsóhon ahtshitewatonhnháhehrhahse' tahtshitewanonhwerá:ton' Shonkwaia'tíson' tsi niwenté:son's ne wentanó:ron's tánon' akwé:kon naho'tèn:shon konnónhnhe'.
Written by: Jonathan Turenne, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by: Karonhí:io Delaronde