What is the bottom line?

The following are the views of Joey (Te’ho: ronio) David. He feels it is critical to communicate the importance of being supportive and understanding of our young people, because they are the next generation of leaders. He stressed adults need to be aware of the process from dysfunction to a healthy relationship for our young people by allowing them to express their feelings and emotions in a healthy way. The more they know, the more it will help them understand their role in our society.

What is the bottom line –what are everybody’s concerns and issues as a Nation? One thing most of us can agree on is we are all what they call Mohawks or what we would call ourselves [Kanienkehaka] people of the flint, whether we are Christian, Seven Nations or Longhouse People. There has been so much confusion as to how or what we identify ourselves today. Our community’s history plays a critical role in who we determine ourselves to be and we would go to great length to justify it. If that isn’t enough, some of us don’t know if we are part of the Original Five Nations Confederation. Most of us assume we are. Another thing we can agree on is, before Revolutionary War and European contact we would all know ourselves to be called Kanienkehake Nation of the Great Law of Land [Kaienehrekowa]. We would be also part of the Original Five Nations that was established by the Peacemaker. We were made up of three Clan Families [Otara Akwasire] called Turtle, Bear, and Wolf. During that time, each Village was identified by one of the Clans families, which a [Onkwehonwe] original person belongs to. The clan person identifies themselves as their mother’s Clan and should always follow that line. Shortly after they are born, a clan name is given to them from their Clan Mother [Iakoiane]. Our original land base was along the Mohawk River in Mohawk Valley, near what is now called Albany, New York. A lot has happened since then and we no longer live in that area. We now live in areas of northern New York, along the US and Canadian border, further up into parts of Quebec, and different parts of Ontario.

A lot has changed since then and so have our concepts and beliefs about our history. There has been lots of written history and interpretations of the Great Law. Some information was good and some was bad because it was made to confuse us. The Great Law was never meant to be written down because it was told and taught to our young people though our original language. Today, a lot of our people do not speak anymore. The way the Elders spoke of the Great Law was very strict and was a heavy responsibility to carry. You would live your life by a certain way, respect each other and live your life in Peace and Harmony with the Land. The people had to have gratitude and be content for what had been provided by the Creator [Shonkwaiatison]. Some of our people believed that it is too strict and too old and could not be carried on. One of the main values was to live by principles that were to honor and accept peace, power, and righteousness [Skennen, Kashastenshera, Kariwiio]. It is harder for Elders now, because they not only have to deal with changes, they have to deal with things the people had accepted that were not good. Elders that are no longer with us always reminded us to listen to what was being said and that one day we would be sitting there where they once sat along the benches. They knew what the future would bring and what was going to happen if the people didn’t pay attention to the seriousness what was being spoken of. One of the things the Elders spoke of was, not to ever be selfish with our decision making, because it would affect the Faces of the Unborn [Future Generations] that are still in the ground yet.

So, the bottom line is what are you going to do about it? It’s important to remember the intent has to come from the heart first, then to the mind. We always tried to solve our problems only using our minds but don’t deal with emotions because we are still hurt. You can’t have a Good Mind if you hurt. In order to create and move toward Unity and the Collective Minds, we have to address our grief. Through the process we should discover and find strength. When we know and own” Real Strength”, we will then have the key to begin to heal!