Kanoronhkwáhtshera'
Members of the church participate in a dedication service for the new United Church on October 13, 1928. (Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center )
Story told by Robert Ronwahawata Patton
In the old days, the church looked at traditional people as outcasts. They would use the word “pagan”. I don’t like that word but that was how they referred to them as.
At the revival of the Mohawk language, people wanted to learn their language and their culture. The more and more they would learn, the more they would say, “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with who I am, there’s nothing wrong with me. There is nothing wrong with the way Shonkwaia’tíson’, or God, has made me. I am perfect just the way I am.”
In the 40 years of involvement within the United Church of Canada, we as native people have worked hard to tear down walls between Indigenous populations and the united church. The elders have shown us who we are and have even taught the church our own traditions, cultures, and meaning of our ceremonies. The church and Indigenous people are working hard to bring awareness of abuse and are in talks about understanding each other, hopefully paving the way to reconciliation.
I would hope for the united church to learn about different cultures and accept who we are as equals.
There is nothing wrong with me standing next to an Irishman, a Frenchman, or whatever.
As a church we work together, we live together, and there is a level of respect.
There’s a word in Mohawk, “Kanoronhkwáhtshera'” which means love. For me, I believe it is all about love, respect, and how we treat one another. Let us always treat each other with kindness, compassion and always be willing to help one another and those in need. To me, that is what it’s all about. That’s the way to live.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Kanoronhkwáhtshera'
Robert Ronwahawata Patton ROKÁ:RATON
Wahón:nise' tsi náhe', ononhsatokénhti tehonwatikà:nerahkwe' ne rotinónhses tsi ní:ioht ne wahonwatikèn:ron'. Enhontewén:natste' ne "pagan". Iah tekewennanòn:we's thí:ken nek tsi tho ki' ní:ioht tsi ronwatina'tónhkhwahkwe'.
Tsi thonatáhsawe' aonsahonnónhnhete' ne Kanien'kéha, ón:kwe teiakotonhontsoníhne' akowén:na' tánon' tsi niiakorihò:ten aieweientéhta'ne'.
Sénha é:so enhatiweientéhta'ne' sok enhonnì:ron', "Hé:, kwah iah thé:nen té:ioht tsi nitia'tò:ten', iah thé: tewatià:tawens. Iah thé:nen tewahétken tsi ní:ioht tsi Shonkwaia'tíson', tóka' ni' Rawenní:io, ratia'tíson'. Kwah iah thé:nen tetiò:to'kte' tsi nitia'tò:ten."
Kaié:ri niwáhsen niiohserá:ke onkwehón:we shiiakhiiatia'tará:ni ne United church of Canada, é:so ionkwaio'tèn:'en onkwehón:we aonsaiakwahniotá:ko' tsi tewahsónhtote' tsi na'tehóntere' ne onkwehón:we tánon' nononhsatokénhti. Thotí:ien's ionkhina'tón:ni tsi na'akwaia'tò:ten' nok ò:ni' wahshakotirihónnien' nononhsatokénhti tsi niionkwarihò:ten's, tsi niiakwaweiennò:ten's tánon' nahò:ten' kén:ton's tsi iakwaterihwahtentià:tha' taiakwatenonhwerá:ton'. É:so rotiió'te' ne ononhsatokénhti tánon' onkwehón:we ahatirihó:wanhte' nahò:ten' ne kakenhren'seronniáhtshera' tánon' tehotíhthare' ne tahonatate'nikonhraién:ta'ne'. Aiá:wens nè:'e aontakáhawe' taonsaiakwatenro'serí:io'ne'.
Kahská:neks nia'teionkwè:take tsi nihotiriho'tèn:shon ahatiweientéhta'ne' ne united church nok ahatiié:na' tsi na'akwaia'tò:ten' tsi sha'tetionkwátte'.
Kwah iah thé:nen tewahétken ne arishméhn taiatiatera'né:ken', O'serón:ni, tóka' ni' ok nahaia'tò:ten'. Tsi iakwaterennaientáhkhwa' skátne ionkwaió'te', skátne tiakwèn:teron, tánon' kwató:ken nitiótte' tsi kakwenienhstà:'on.
Kawén:naien' ne Kanien'kéha, "Kanoronhkwáhtshera'". Tsi nì:'i, tewakehtáhkwen akwé:kon kanoronhkwáhtshera', kakwenienhstà:'on aorihwà:ke, tánon' tsi ní:ioht skátne teionkwatawénrie'. Tiótkon akwé:kon tetewatatahrhò:ton, nok tiótkon eh tho naionkwariho'ténhake' taietewatatié:nawa'se' tánon' aiethiié:nawa'se' tsi niiá:kon teiakotonhontsó:ni. Tsi nì:'i, akwé:kon ne tho aorihwà:ke. Eh tho ní:tsi teiotonhontsóhon aietiónhnheke'.
Translated by Sahawisó:ko’ Arquette