A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Hotinonhshion:ni people believe that people are a part of Earth, as are the plants and animals, the air, water, racks, and sky around us. Most stories use nature to teach about relationships between people, and between people and the gardens of Earth. Hotinonhshion:ni people build a close relationship with nature rather than trying to control the natural world. So the Hotinonhshion:ni of the Earth, plants, animals and people are all related. This is why they care so deeply for the cycles of nature and what the cycles provide to the interconnections of the natural world to Creation. The Earth is sacred, and is considered our family.
Hotinonshion:ni society is based on kinship. Kinship ties, expressed in terms of clans, defined a person moving to a new community not as an isolated individual but as part of an already established group. These relationships tended to bind together individuals of different villages and nations as well. The number and names of clans varied from nation to nation, but three--Bear, Wolf, and Turtle--were common to each member of the Confederacy. A Cayuga of the Wolf clan, therefore, was accepted as kin by Mohawks of the same matrilineal clan.
Hotinonshionni people have always relied on kinship as a way of life for the upbringing of children. We will discover the connections of the natural world to the Mother Earth as a kinship to creation.
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
lethi ‘nisten Ohontsia
Mother Earth
A long time ago, the Creator made the world. First, he made the Mother Earth. She takes care of all the people because we are her children. She gives us food. She gives us a place to rest our feet when we are tired. She loves us very much. Just like our own mothers.
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Iethi’nistenha Ohontsia
Mother Earth
The Earth is our Mother.
She takes care of us.
She gives us medicine
.... when we are sick.
She gives us food
… when we are hungry
She loves us,
Just like our Mamas and Isten:’as do!
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Rake’ni:ha Karonhia:ke
Father Sky
The Sky is like a Father.
He is big.
He watches us play.
He watches us swim.
He watches us run.
He looks over us!
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Ehtshitewahtsi:’a Karahkwa
Brother Sun
We call the sun our Brother.
He is like a big ball of fire
His rays of sunshine give us light
And keeps us warm.
He helps make things grow on the Mother Earth.
We are glad to have a brother like him!
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Ahsen Nikontate’ken: ‘a.
Three Sisters
The Three sisters are Corn, Beans, and Squash.
We plant them together in a mound.
They grow together and they help each other.
Just like sisters do!
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Iethisotha Asontenehkha
Grandmother Moon
The Moon is our Grandmother.
She gives light, to the night sky.
She wears stars like a necklace.
She takes care of all the children.
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Tshitewasotha Rawe:ras
Grandfather Thunder
The Thunder is our Grandfather.
He brings us water.
We drink it.
We take a bath in it.
We swim in it.
We are so lucky!
EARTH FAMILY-MY FAMILY
Otsistonohkwa’son:’a
Stars
Stars are the storytellers.
They twinkle in the sky.
They shine like the moon.
Tell us a story. Star.
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