MOHAWK MARRIAGE

Published by the North American Indian Travelling College

In the middle of the Longhouse will be seated the couple to be married. At the side of the Bride will be the Bride’s Mother and at the side of the Groom will be his Mother.

Groom’s Mother, Groom, Bride, Bride’s Mother.

The couple will carry wedding baskets which they will exchange with one anoth­er. In the Bride’s wedding basket are materials or clothing which symbolizes her commitment to her husband and any future children they may have that she will mend and keep clean the clothes of her family.

In the wedding basket of the man is the wedding cake made of white corn (corn bread) mixed with strawberries. This basket and its contents will be given to his wife with the commitment that for the duration of his life he will provide food for his wife and any children they may have.

The Chiefs Council will select one of their members to speak on their behalf and conduct the marriage.

The very first thing to be done is the Opening Prayer or Thanksgiving Address. This prayer is what officially opens the marriage ceremony.

The Opening Prayer begins first by acknowledging all relatives and friends who have come together by greeting them and thanking them.

On behalf of the people, greetings, love and thanksgiving is given to our Mother Earth, then to the waters of the world

- the fish life

- to the food (corn, beans and squash) and all the garden food

- to the berries and their leader; the strawberry

- to the trees that make up the forests of the world

- to the animals, big and small and their leader; the deer

- to the medicine in the mountains, the fields, the rivers edge and in the forests that heal our sicknesses

- to the grasses of the world that provide food for the animal life

- to the birds who greet our eldest brother the sun with beautiful songs to bring satisfaction and enjoyment

- to us; the human beings

- to the Eagle, who is the leader of all bird life, we greet and thank you for your gifts

- to the four winds who bring the warmth and coolness; the changing of the four seasons for the people

- to our Grandfather, the Thunder, for renewing the lakes, the rivers and quenching our thirst.

We, the human relatives, give you our greetings and thanks

- to our eldest brother the sun for the light and the warmth, for all that grows and our children to live.

- to our Grandmother, the moon, for the birth of our children

- to the Stars for the deposit of the morning dew and their great beauty

- to the four Sacred Sky Dweller beings who protect and guide us, as the Creator instructed them

- to the ultimate, our Creator, who provided all that is necessary for our life

- to our Creator that only asked that we be grateful.

We ask you, our Creator, now, that the power and guidance be given to the people and this young couple who will be starting a life together as you so intended human beings.

Our Creator, your people are of one mind and we send you our love, greetings and thankfulness. The Creator made Earth. From the Earth, man was made. Man became lonely so woman was made to be a companion and the Creator put them together to populate his world. His wish is being carried on. Welcome to everyone who is here. We will be doing this traditional ceremony in our native language.

Tho (that is all)

Now the Marriage Ceremony is officially opened.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK