Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

On Wednesday, October 16, 2013 the Kaieri Niioriwake Ronaterihonte (Faithkeepers), Rotiianeshon (chiefs) and Kanistensera (Clanmothers) came together in Kanonsesne( Long House) to set the date for kanenstowanen (Big Corn) or sometimes referred to as Ka’khowanen (Harvest) Ceremony. When the White corn is ripe (ionenharari) or hard (ionenstaniron) enough to put into the soup, is when the people should come and give thanks and greetings for the corn and iontekhwaroroke (gathering of the foods) from our gardens. Anyone of these names can be used in describing this ceremony about to be done at this time of year. The leadership set the date for Friday, November 1 to Sunday, November 3, 2013.

On the first day, Ahsen ni Karennake O’stoserakowa (the three feather dances) will be done. The first dance will start at 7:00am at Kanonsesne is for the Kaieri Niioriwake, Rotiianeshon and Kanistensera. They will lead the people in the dance. Then we will take a break and resume the ceremony at 9:00am with the second feather dance which is for the people and all of creation. The last dance is for Shonkwaiatison (Our creator). In between the three feather dances, kionhe:kwen (Sustenance Dance), and Tekonrashi’takaranion Karennakaion (womens shuffle) will be done. When this is finished a speaker is selected to tell the proceedings of the next day. We eat, close the ceremony and go home.

The second day starts at 9:00am with Kaienkento(tobacco burning) to give thanks for the foods that came out of the gardens this year and that we were able to see everything come back for another year. They will select a person from each side of the house to collect tobacco. Then they will select a speaker to burn tobacco at the stove. After he is finished, then we do O’stoserakowa to sanction it.

After the Tobacco burning, the Kaieri Niioriwake Ronaterihonte get the people ready to perform the Atonwa (Naming) Ceremony. A speaker is selected to open Atonwa called ionkwetakaion (the old Man) to speak to the people of the four corners of the long house. Once he is done, the men and young males sing their Atonwa songs. Then the Rotiianeshon, Kaieri Niioriwake and Kanistensera will work together to name the children on this day. When all the children are named, then the speaker who did the four corners to open atonwa, will close the ceremony. Once Atonwa is completed, we take a break and eat.

Next is Oneho:ron (Drum Dance). A song and dance is done with the water drum. A speaker is selected to speak on behalf of the people to recite the beginning of time to the present. He moves to the center of the floor when the singers cue him to speak. The people dance around him. Once this is completed, someone is selected to tell the people what will happen on the next day (if there is time). Then everyone is allowed to go home.

The third day is Kaientowanen (Peach stone game) will start at 9:00am sharp. The people are asked to bring something new or made, traditional clothes, lacrosse sticks, rattles or drums or wampum, or anything Konweneha (Native) to match up with the opposite side of the house. This game pleases our Creator. We play clan against clan. Once the bean counters and bean keepers and materials are collected, people are selected to play from each clan, the game begins. The game is usually played until 25 kahentas(all one side). The clan with the most kahentas out of 25 win. Once the game is finished, we sanction the game by doing O’stoserakowa, Kienhekwen, and Tekonrashi’takaranion Karenakaion, if there is time. Then a speaker is selected to recite what happened for the whole three days. Then he will ask the other side of the house, if there is anything that was forgotten. Then the other side may add to what he has said. Then everyone eats together. The traditional closing is done and everyone is allowed to go home.

The people are encouraged to wear your traditional clothing, bring washed corn, fresh vegetables, dried beans and meats for the soup, fried or corn bread, strawberries and eating utensils for all three days of the ceremony. Niawenkowa.