Ohenton Karihwatehkwen

Continued from last week…

We will now address the moon. The Creator named the night time sun Grandmother Moon.

Grandmother moon was instructed to be the leader of all females, and to orchestrate when all babies will be born. Her duty is to prepare the women’s body for the birth of a baby. Grandmother moon was also given the power to lower and raise the waters of the earth, and to shed some light upon us so that we can see in the night. Now we will put our minds together as one, and think of the kindest words and the purest thoughts, and thank Grandmother moon for allowing our nations to be born.

Now we are of one mind.

Now we will direct our attentions to the stars. The Creator gave each animal a star. The stars also tell what the winters will be like, even though we can no longer read them, they still appear each night. The starts also act as jewelry to the moon, to make her look more beautiful. Now we will put our minds together, and thank the stars with our most sincere and kindest words, we thank you for appearing each night, and for shining light on our path so that we may see. Now we are of one mind.

Our attentions are now directed to the thunders, which the Creator called the Grandfathers. He instructed the thunders to always roll from the west to the east and he gave them special arrows (lightening) and thunder (drums). With the thunder comes rain, which sprinkles onto the forests, therefore quenching its thirst and making the water fresh in the world. Now we put our minds together and think of the most grateful, kindest, words to thank you, grandfather thunder for protecting us and never failing to quench the thirst of the forests. Now we are of one mind.

We will now address the people. The Creator made humans from the dirt of the earth, but noticed that something was incomplete. He then commissioned 4 spirit beings to take care of all people and to protect them. They are not seen, they have no faces, but are there to avert danger away from us. We will now put our minds together, and think of the nicest words we can possibly think of, and to thank the 4 spirit beings for always being there to protect us. Now our minds are one.

Now we will address the forests of the world. The Creator made many different sizes, colors, shapes, and textures of trees in the forests. Every part of this tree had a purpose. The bark for medicine, the wood for fires and shelters to keep us warm and protected. Some trees were even made to produce food, like berries, fruits and nuts. Of all the trees of the forest, the Maple was named the leader, its wood is used for the fire which burns the tobacco use din all ceremonies. At this time we would like to bring our minds together as one, and thank your with our kindest thoughts, and our most grateful words for all that you give us. Now we are of one mind.

Next we will address the birds of the world. As with everything else, the birds were made in different shapes, sizes and colors. The Creator gave each bird a song and instructed them to sing their song when the sun comes up, to when the sun goes back down. They were also instructed to fly close to our heads so that we could hear them, and never become bored with life. Out of all the birds, the Creator chose the Eagle as the head bird. Now we will put our minds together as one and thank you with our purest thoughts and our kindest words for never failing to sing your beautiful songs from sun up until sun down, each day. Now we are of one mind.

Now we will address the animals of the world. The Creator created many different animals, and put them all over the world. They were different shapes, sizes, colors, textures and all were given different characters and personalities. He instructed them to go out into the world and make little ones so that their population would grow and that all humans would have something to eat when they got hungry. He also specified that there be no waste, all parts of the animal will have a use.

The fur for clothing, the flesh for food, the bones for tools and also to make medicines. Out of all of the animals, the deer was chosen as the leader. Now with our kindest words, and deepest thoughts, we thank the animals of the world for never failing to keep us fed, clothed and in good health. Now we are of one mind.

Next we will address the winds of the world. The Creator made 4 winds, north, south, east and west.

He instructed the winds to shake up the air of the world so we will always have fresh air, and instructed it to never stop blowing. Now with our kindest words and our deepest appreciation, we thank the 4 winds, for never failing to provide us with fresh air. Now we are all one mind.