How to Have A Social Dance

Continued from last week.

Reprinted from Rotinonhsion:ni Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Social Dances booklet.

The Fishing or Canoe Dance

Iontahrio:tha

The Fishing or Canoe Dance is another fun dance. The women dancers form a circle around the singers and stay in their position; they do not move. The men form a circle around the women, and do a stomp dance when dancing around the women. Half way through the song the singers will give a signal to the dancers to start pulling the women into their circle and then the singers give another signal for the women to get back to their own circle again. This goes on for a least seven verses and at the seventh verse, the song will turn into a stomp dance with men and women forming one single circle. The musical instruments used for this dance are the water drum and the horn rattles.

Medicine Society Songs and Dances

There are other non-public songs and dances not mentioned in this book. These belong to the medicine societies. There is much respect given to the people who conduct, sing and take part in these activities.

Four Winds Song

Dream Songs

Moon Dance Women’s Songs

Medicine Face Calling Song and Dance

Medicine Face Renewing Song and Dance

Comhusk Renewing Song and Dance

Ohki:we’ Dance

Other Non-Public Dances

Bear Dance

Eagle Dance

Rib Dance

Dark Dance

Buffalo Dance

Otter Society

Little Water Society

Shaking Pumpkin Dance

Social and sacred songs. The songs and dances are written in the Mohawk language as well as in English.

1. Watahtshero:ton - Standing quiver or stomp dance

2. Ahtahkwaka:ion - Old Mocassin Dance

3. Tsiohthwatase:tha - Round Dance

4. Tsionahthonwisenhneha – New Women’s Dance

5. Tsiskoko’neha – Robin Dance

6. Kentsionhneha – Partner Fish Dance

7. Sorahne:ha – Duck Dance

8. Tekanionton’neha – Alligator Dance

9. Atironhneha – Raccoon Dance

10. Tehahonhtanekenhneha’ – Rabbit Dance

11. Ononsta’keha – Shake the Bush

12. Othorc’keha’ – Cold/North Dance

13. Karennaka:ion Kentsionhneha – Old Time Fish Dance

14. Orite’neha – Passenger Pigeon Dance

15. Ahonte’nio’thi:iate – Sharpening the Stick Dance

16. Atero’serahneha’ – Cousins or Friendship Dance

17. Kanehwaien – Delaware Skin or Stick Dance

18. Atshihna’neha – Garter Dance

19. Kitkineha’ – Chicken Dance

20. Kariahta’neha – Mosquito Dance

21. Iontahrio:tha – Fishing or Canoe Dance

Sacred Songs

Karonhia’kehkha Karenna’shon:ah

1. Ohstowa’ko:wa – Great Feather Dance

2. Ioneho:ron – Drum Dance

3. Aton:wa – Personal Thanksgiving Chant

4. Kionhekwen – Three Sister Song (food)

5. Karennaka:ion Tsionahthonwisenhneha – Old Women Dance

6. Tsionahthonwisenhneha – Women’s Dance

7. Ohki:we’ – Deceased People’s Dance

8. Wasa:se – Thunder Dance

9. Tehon’kenhrawenrie’ – Stirring Ashes Song

10. Hato:wi raodren:na – Grandfather Medicine Song

11. Shatsi:sha’ – Corn Husk Face Dance

12. Ohkwari’neha – Bear Dance

13. Akwaksneha – Eagle Dance

14. Rontahshontanonhna – Dark Dance (Little People Society)

15. Tsisdkeriiakon’neha – Buffalo Dance

16. Nikahneka:a’ – Little Water (Medicine Society)

17. Ratihik:tos – Pumpkin Dance (Medicine Society)