THERE IS HOPE A STORY INSPIRED BY THE AKWESASNE FREEDOM SCHOOL

The women began to whisper amongst one another into a loud rumble. They began to silence their children and pointed to the men’s side of the house where a boy stood waiting for everyone to pay attention.

He began. “Ken kiokwa. Se wa ten hon si ios.” With the words total silence was gained throughout the Longhouse, Even though many of the younger people didn’t understand the language, everyone knew that the boy was instructing the people to listen to the words that he was about to share. The people knew the boy was about to gather up all the minds within the Longhouse to close another day after the ceremony in the same way it has been done throughout the generations. But this day was unlike any other the people had seen.

To give thanks was always the procedure to fellow when the people gather for any reason. It was this way for hundreds of years. We gathered our minds together to thank the Creator for one another and to all life for following the path as instructed. Everything living was given a purpose...our Mother Earth, the waters the foods, animals, birds, medicine, plants, trees. The Creator also gave instructions to our Eldest Brother the Sun and to our Grandmother the Moon, our Grandfather the Thunder, the winds that blow from the four directions and to the four sky dwellers, and we send them our thanks and greetings as well.

This Thanksgiving address was always used at the beginning and the end of the days gathering. This particular: day began in the usual way. A man stood up and the people suddenly grew silent. The man was respected as a leader. He held the title of Wolf Clan Chief. As he spoke, the thoughts of the people gathered. And after he greeted the people and thanks were given to the Creator because we were following the instructions of the life giver, the people all at once said “tho” because we were all of one mind. And when the chief spoke to our Mother and all life she sustains upon the Earth, the rivers, animals, plants we said “tho” because we were of one mind and were thankful that all life on our Mother Earth are following the instructions of the Creator. When the Chief addresses the Moon for orchestrating life by maintaining the bodies of the women for they give life on Earth, all the people said “tho” for the Thunders bringing our waters for the life on Earth.

We say “tho” when the Chief sends the words of thanks to the life giver, our Creator, that we will always live as instructed. On this day we are acknowledging the Maple tree-the leader of all trees.

When he finishes opening the ceremony with the Thanks giving, the Chief sits among the men on the bench. I begin to think of my brother who has just taken his seat. I am very proud of him because he is so wise. I do not wonder why he was asked to lead the Wolf Clan and represent the Mohawk Nation. Our parents must feel pride when they watch him from the Sky World.

When he sits, the people begin speaking to one another. You can hear the rumble getting louder. A Bear Clan Chief rises this time, and again the people become silent as he confirms that everything spoken was done so according to procedure and he begins t speak about the events of the day as we give thanks to the Maple Tree. There is much detail in the explanation of all ceremonies. As the chief continues to address the Maple, the children grow restless. Perhaps it is because they do not understand the language the chief is using.

I look across the house to my cousins the Bear Clan. I see a woman who is about the same as I am. She took the day off work to bring her children to the Longhouse for the ceremony. She is trying to listen for the words that she might recognize. It is not an easy task when you hear children crying and now even the young people begin to visit with one another. Her brother continues speaking and one of the Faithkeepers lets out a yell for the people to be silent. It’s sad that this now is a common and necessary practice. If only everyone knew the words being spoken, they would not allow such a treasure of knowledge to escape them.

The Chief is young. All the Chiefs are young here. When you think of the responsibility they have to the people, to the Nation, you have to wonder where did they find the time to learn all they know. It is knowledge that would take a lifetime to learn. They are speaking from a place where our elders spoke from. They don’t have the gray hair and the lines on their faces, which usually is a good indicator of their wisdom and life knowledge. As I look around I notice that there are very few old people left in the Longhouse and it’s sad to know where they have gone. But, more sad is the thought of what went with them.

It really isn’t fair that our people have had to go through so much. The foreign governments almost succeeded in our assimilation-genocide. There are very few people who know our own language and culture anymore. Our elders didn’t stand a chance. How could they know that continuing to be one with nature would be their downfall. Their bodies were not accustomed to the poisons in the air and the waters they loved so dearly.

The Bear Chief finishes speaking and you hear “tho” from all the people because we are in agreement that this is the way it has been for all time. Again I turn my attention to the woman across from me. We have children in the same school and we know we have much to do for the future. Like me, we feel bad that we have to place such a big responsibility on the shoulders of our children. But the children are the only hope for the survival of our Nation.

She is only five years younger than her brother who had just finished speaking yet she does not speak and understands very little of our language. My brother stands to speak on behalf of the opposite side of the house again. He is only five years older than me and I don’t speak the language either. This Bear Clan woman and I have so much in common with one another that you’d think we could find comfort in it but we don’t. I’d feel better if I knew most people my age spoke the language but the opposite is true. How could the people know it would come to this? Who will speak for us after our brothers are gone?

We were gathered another year to give thanks to the Maple. We drank the sap and we danced the Ohsthowa:kowa. We ate the food that each family provided.

Everyone knows it will be time for the closing soon. They are finished their soup and packing their baskets with the used bowls and spoons. Everyone is making their way back to their seats. I see the eleven year old boy as he walks back to his seat. My brother stops him by holding his arm and he talks to him. I see the boy nod in agreement and he smiles shyly. I think to myself that my brother is teasing him again-something the men tend to do to include young men.

The women begin to whisper and the whispers turns into a loud rumble. They point at the boy and tell their children to be quiet. Everyone is wondering if he really can do the closing. He begins, “Kenkiokwa. Sewatenhonsiios.”

He identifies everything in order. He doesn’t go into detail like the Chief did in the beginning of the ceremony. Perhaps he will some day. But for now, it is important that he acknowledges all life on Earth and in the Universe. The people again give thanks through the boy as he speaks to our Creator.

I can tell people are proud of him and find it hard to believe that he is so young and can speak the language. As he finishes, two old women make their way toward him. Usually, when a ceremony ends and the closing is finished, children and young people get up immediately and run out to play, relieved that the long day is through. Not this time.

This time everyone remained seated and watched the two women walk toward the boy. They were holding on to each other as if to steady their old bodies so they would not stumble. The women had tears in their eyes as they reached for the boy. They had to fight back the tears. They took turns to give the boy a handshake and a kiss on the cheek.

When I got to the car, the boy was standing there. As the people walked by, they patted him on the back and many said “ioianare”. It isn’t easy for Onkwehonwe to show their emotions, especially in public. Everyone showed how proud they were of that boy though and I took my turn.

I took him in my arms. My eyes were filled with tears and a lump was in my throat. I could hardly speak but he had to know that through him, there was hope for the future of our Nation. He looked in my face and said, “Ista, now I know why you and Rakeni want us to go to the Akwesasne Freedom School.”