THE GREAT LAW

Reprinted with permission from Traditional Teachings by the Native North American Travelling College

…continued from last week

ADDRESS FOR FUNERAL OF A WARRIOR

50TH WAMPUM

We are of one mind as you start on your journey. Once you were a devoted provider and protector of your family, and you took part in the events requested of you for your people and nation.

(Funeral Ritual) We are of one mind as you start on your journey. We release you for we know it is no longer possible for you to walk together with us on earth. We lay your body here, and we lay it away. We say to you, “Pass on to the place where the Creator dwells, let nothing happening here hinder you, do not let action while you were alive prevent your journey, let not the things which gave you pleasure slow you down, while you were here many feasts were given for you. All these things that were yours do not let them trouble you. Do not let your relatives and friends trouble your mind. Go in peace, disregarding all things.” To the relatives of the deceased: “To you who were related to the deceased and those who were friends of the deceased, look to the path that will be yours one day. Because of this, watch yourselves as you go from place to place. Do not be idle in your acts or with your words. Do not give way to evil behavior. One year is the time that you must abstain from unseemly activities but if you can not do this for ceremony, ten days is the length of time to regard these things for respect.”

51ST WAMPUM

If a Clan Warrior acts against the Kaianerekowa (Great Law) while in the position of Clan Warrior, he may be removed by his female relatives or Sachems. The women or Sachems may act independently or together on this. The women titleholders will then choose another to replace him.

MESSENGER/RUNNER

52ND WAMPUM

When the Sachems of the Hotinonshonni take occasion to dispatch a messenger on behalf of the Council of the League, they wrap up any matter they may send, and instruct the messenger to remember his errand, to go with haste and to deliver his message according to the instructions.

53RD WAMPUM

If the message borne by a runner is the warning of an invasion, he shall say, Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah, twice and repeat at short intervals, then again at a longer interval.

If someone is found dead, the one who finds the body shall return home and immediately tell the people.

54TH WAMPUM

Among the Hotinonshonni and their descendants there shall be the following clans: Bear, Wolf, Turtle, Large Plover (Snipe), Deer, Pigeon, Hawk, Eel, Ball, Opposite Side of the Hand, and Wild Potatoes. These clans distributed through their respective Nations shall be the sole owners and holders of the soil of the country and in them invested, as a birthright.

55TH WAMPUM

People of the Hotinonshonni having the same clan shall accept one another as relatives regardless of the nation they belong to and they shall treat one another as relatives. Men and women of the same clan are forbidden to marry among themselves.

PROTECTION

56TH WAMPUM

Among the people of the Hotinonshonni a stick or small pole placed in a slanting position and pulled across the doorway of a home when the owners are out is a sign that no one shall go near the house. They will not enter for any reason either by day or night.

57TH WAMPUM

The lineal descent of the people of the Hotinonshonni shall run in the female line. Women shall be considered the founders of the Nation. They shall own the land, and soil. Men and women shall follow the status of their mothers.

58TH WAMPUM

A bunch of white wampum strings each two spans in length shall be given to each of the female families who are titled holders. The right of granting the title shall be hereditary in each of these families possessing the strings of wampum for all time, unless this family becomes extinct or dishonors their nation.

59TH WAMPUM

The women heirs of the Sachems titles of the league shall be called Clan Mother for all time to come.

60TH WAMPUM

The women of the 50 families shall be the heirs of the Authorized Names for all time to come.

61ST WAMPUM

If any group of female heirs of the Sachems title should become extinct but not the males of that family, the Sachem of the Hotinonshonni shall take the title of Sachem and put it in trust temporarily to the women of a sister clan of the extinct female family. The sister clan will not be able to choose a Sachem from their family as long as there are male members living of the original clan.

continued next week...