Clanology

Aton:wa Ceremony

(Name Raising)

The Aton:wa Ceremony is referred to as the personal thanksgiving chant; it is also known as the name raising, or confirmation of the names given to babies. The ceremony of Aton:wa is originally intended for the males. In Akwesasne the girl babies are also included except that they don't have a song sung for them when they get their name confirmed.

Aton:wa comes from the word Atonhets which means your soul, your spirit, or your life-giving force. The Aton:wa ceremony is the first official initiation of the babies to the spiritual life of the Mohawk Nation.

Basically, a person is chosen to sing the Aton:wa song and to recite specific speeches at four distinct directions in the Longhouse. This is what officially opens the Aton:wa. In the second part of Aton:wa the males of the various clans-beginning with the Faithkeepers, then Chiefs, then elders and finally the general population of men including little boys sing their personal Aton:wa song as they march to the center of the Longhouse. During the individual Aton:wa chant the women clap their hands while the men stomp their feet and chant in acknowledgement of each individual's song of thanksgiving.

The third part of Aton:wa is the reaffirming or the coming back home to the spiritual beliefs of our people.

The fourth part is when each clan leader asks the women's side through the clan mothers, "How many additions to our family are there? How many babies are to have their names raised or confirmed?"

Now the baby to be named is brought by the clan mother and the baby's mother to the leader of the clan. Along with them is the uncle of the child to be named. The uncle's responsibility is to sing for his nephew. This delegation consisting of five people proceeds to the middle of the Longhouse. The women clapping their hands, the men stomping their feet to the rhythm of the Aton:wa song.

In the center of the Longhouse the Roia:ne say, "We are fortunate that the Creator had sent us this new baby. The Mother's name and which clan they belong to. The father's name and his clan. The baby's (chosen name), when you see this child playing you will call him this name. It could be that the Creator sent his child to be a Roia:ne (man leader), a great singer, a great lacrosse player, or a great runner. Now if this child should require medicine, the medicine will now recognize this child by his name," The child's name must be mentioned at least three times for his name to be official and legal.