Clanology

Was a:se

The Thunder Dance and the Clans

In the Longhouse at Akwesasne the Thunder Dance is put through two times a year.

The first Thunder Dance is put on shortly after the very first thunder is heard. Usually, it is in the month of March or April.

A fire is made outside of the Longhouse at the western end. A Bear Clan man is chosen to lead the other young men and boys who portray the Thunder Beings whom we always address as our grandfathers.

Also, the Wolf and Turtle Clan chose one man each to represent or lead their men and boys in the Dance of Thunder.

A speaker is chosen to burn Oinkwa:onwe (sacred tobacco) on behalf of our nation to the Creator and to the Creator and to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers. The basic tobacco burning involves welcoming our Grandfather Thunderers back to Akwesasne and requests them to help us by bringing fresh water for our rivers, gardens and wells. When the tobacco burning takes place there will be corn soup and fry bread by the fire. This food will be shared with the Thunderers and the people. The food will sanction and make official the Thunder Dance Ceremony. Now the tobacco burning is finished.

The chosen singers begin to sing the Wasa:se song (Thunder Song) and lead all the people back into the Longhouse entering the west door. The people take their seats, the women on the eastern end. The two groups of Thunder Dancers, one group being the Bear Clan and the other the Wolf and Turtle Clans form two dance lines. These two dance lines of Thunder Dancers bring their dance lines close together twice and on the third, pass through on opposite sides. At the east end of the Longhouse there is a wooden bench set up with two baskets. One basket has fruits, candies and tobacco in it. The other basket is empty. Now the Faithkeepers, one by one, come forth and use a stick and strike the wooden bench. This loud noise represents the thunder and immediately the singers and Thunder Dancers cease their dance. Next the Faithkeeper addresses the Grandfather Thunderers, next the Faithkeeper takes a handful of the candy, fruits or tobacco and says, “Grandfather Thunderers, on behalf of my family I welcome you back to Akwesasne. The Creator gave you special duties to renew the water of the earth where we your grandchildren live. You quench the thirst of our gardens and will grow properly. We, your grandchildren, will have food for our families. So, Grandfather Thunderers, I offer these gifts to you. Now Grandfathers I ask that you acknowledge my offerings request by yelling.” The Faith keeper then strikes the wooden bench and the thunderers all yell in acknowledgement and continue to dance. All Faithkeepers do the same. The Chiefs and Clam Mothers are next and then all the people do the same.

One of the Thunder Dance Leaders strikes the bench and encourage all the people to hurry as they are only passing through and have much work to do in other parts of the world. At this point the two lines of dancers form into a circle and then pick up the basket full of gifts and the food prepared for them and out the door they go. Outside of the Longhouse all the Thunder Dancers then divide amongst themselves the gifts and bring the main pot of soup to share with the people in the Longhouse. The closing prayer is done and the thunder Dance ceremony is completed.