Safeguarding our heritage
A look at the Six Nations Confederation Chiefs gathering for a meeting. (Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)
Story told by Gordie Oke
I’ve held various leadership roles in Kanehsatà:ke serving as a hereditary chief, sitting on the council twice, offering political advice, and contributing to the health center's board. I believe it's crucial for us to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Upholding the principles of the Two Row Wampum is very important: it's about honoring our shared culture and understanding. There's a lack of awareness among our neighbors in Oka, and it's important for us, as a people, to educate them on our traditions and values.
Consider the Eastern Door – historically, it was the Mohawks' role as guardians of the east. Our ancestors were fierce warriors, but we fought for a reason. We fought for our people, to defend our land, for our existence, and to protect and preserve our Confederacy. This legacy holds profound significance for us in safeguarding our heritage and way of life, and it should be shared among not only our people, but others as well.
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Tewanónhstats ne tsi niionkwarihò:ten
The Two Row Wampum treaty represents the agreement made between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch people. It Signifies the three principles to live in friendship, peace, and forever. The purple rows indicates that each nation will exist side by side without interference from the other (Courtesy: Wikicommons)
Gordie Oke ROKÁ:RATON
Tóhka ó:ia' na'tekaio'tenhserò:ten's ohén:ton íktahkwe' ne Kanehsatà:ke tsi ní:ioht ne ronwaronkwén:ni roiá:ner, tékeni tewakanítksote' ne tsi ratitsenhaientáhkhwa', takate'nikonhró:ten' kaianerénhsera' orihwa'shòn:a, tánon' wa'tekherihwáhsnie'se' ne ata'karitéhtshera' rati'nikòn:rare'. Tkehtáhkhwa se' tsi ió:to'kte' tsi teiotonhontsóhon ne aietewatia'tarò:roke' tánon' ne orihwiiohón:we taietewahtharónnion'
Iorihowá:nen ne iaonsaietewatahsónteren' aietewaianénhawe' ne tsi nahò:ten' iorihwénhton ne Tékeni Teiohá:te' Kaión:ni: nè:'e wate'nientenhstáhkwen ne aietewarihwakwénienhste' tsi sha'tetewahá:wi tsi niionkwarihò:ten tánon' tsi ionkwa'nikonhraién:ta's. Kwah tsi ní:ioht ne iah tehonttó:kas néne tetewatenakerahserané:ken Okhahró:non, tánon' ionkwarihowanà:se', tsi shetewaià:ta, ne aiethirihónnien' ne tsi niionkwarihò:ten tánon tsi nitewaweiennò:ten.
Tsi iá:we ne Tsi Tkarahkwíneken's Kahnhokà:ronte' – ne tsi niiorihwawénhseron, Kanien'kehá:ka nen' nè:'e ronateríhonte' nahonte'nikòn:raren' ne tsi tkarahkwíneken's. Kwah í:ken tsi ronateriiohseratehtòn:ne' ne onkwahsótshera', nek tsi orì:wa' wáhi wa'onkwaià:tarahkwe' tsi wetewaterí:io'. Ontionkwe'ta'shòn:'a wa'ethiiaterí:io'se', aontetewáhnhe' tsi tewanákere', ne aietiónhnheke', tánon' ne aietewanónhstate' tsi Ionkwanonhsión:ni. É:so tsi ionkwarihowanà:se' tsi ken' niiorihwawénhseron tsi tewanónhstats ne tsi niionkwarihò:ten tánon' tsi ní:tsi tiónhnhe', tánon' nè:'e wáhi sha'taiétewatste' iah ne tsi nonkwá:ti ne ontionkwe'ta'shòn:'a, nek tsi ne akohrèn:shon ò:ni'.
Translated by Karonhí:io Delaronde