[IPSM] MOHAWK STUDENTS PROTEST

[shelly]

FEAR OF THANKSGIVING!  WHO AND WHY?  MOHAWK STUDENTS PROTEST BAN OF PHILOSOPHY.  School authorities are calling it a religion

 

MNN.  May 25, 2005.   Wampum 7 of the Kaienerekowa/Great Law of Peace, the Constitution of the Kanienkehaka/Mohawk, provides that the "ohenton kariwatek:wen",  the opening thanksgiving, shall be recited at every gathering of the people.  It means "the words that come before every matter".  Every day we give thanks to all Creation that helps human life.  We thank the Kasatstenera:kowa sa'oiera, the great natural power, for producing these.    

 

The "ohenton kariwatekwen" is a philosophy, not a religion.  It is a form of consensus making that starts before any meeting or activity.  The addresser is responded to by the addressees with "henh" meaning "Yes, it's true".  We place ourselves within an interdependent system of relationships of all elements of the natural world which are all alive and equal, not above or beneath anything.  We thank the earth, water, animals, people and Creation.  The natural world is our family and we respect all our relatives.  

 

An elder explained, "Creation is perfect with all forces and facilities necessary to help the people".  The natural world is the perfect reality.  Our constitution, the Great Law of Peace, is based on this reality.  Once that consensus is agreed upon, we realize that there are things greater than our conceptions or grievances.  We do not pray or ask for things because the natural world has provided everything that we need to live.  We are taught to face reality and to give thanks.  That is why we must take care of the environment and our relationships for our future generations.

 

We do not accept that we are a minority on our own homeland.  The Europeans invaded and occupy our territory.  They have become the majority.  According to international law we have a right to learn our languages and history and teach them to our chidlren.   We must also teach the majority about our history from our own perspective.  As American schools are on Onkwehonwe/Indigenous land, we have an obligation to teach them the "ohenton kariwatekwen". The United States thinks it's above international law.  The judges refuse to respect it and school principles do the same.  Americans instead are trying to extinguish those elements that are contrary to their hierarchical ideology in which they co-modify every living thing and put a dollar value on it.  

 

The whole story is told in one brilliant scene.  On Monday, May 23rd, Glen Bellinger, superintendent of Salmon River Central School, Fort Covington, New York State, suspended some Mohawk students.  Around 60 % of the students in this non-native school are Mohawks from nearby Akwesasne.  For the past three years the Mohawk students have recited the "ohenton kariwatekwen" over the school loudspeaker.  Suddenly it was decided to interpret this philosophy as a prayer, which, they say, violates the constitutional separation of church and state.    

 

The students retorted that they are pledging allegiance to the circle of life while the non-natives are pledging allegiance to the U.S. Government and the flag.  We Mohawks have our own constitution and government. Giving thanks to the natural world goes back thousands of years.   Pledging allegiance to the flag is recent.  It was not part of the original U.S. Constitution.  The practice was added in the late 1800's.

  

The school authorities refused to allow the Mohawk youth to use the public address system.  They told them to go into the gym and say their "prayer".  The youth went there and completed the "ohenton karewatekwen".  Most went off to their classes.  About 40 remained in the gym.  The authorities turned the lights off and left the students in complete darkness.  Parents and Great Law Longhouse people arrived.  After discussions, ten students would not budge.  They could not compromise the "ohenton kariwatekwen" and were suspended.  

 

There is nothing more metaphorical than what they did to these young people.  What does this act of turning the lights off mean?  Instead of celebrating their brave action, the school authorities feared the intelligence of the Mohawk youth.  They cannot understand how a social order can be maintained when humans are treated equally.  This is a political movement of consequence linked to this concept of equality.   The establishment in maintaining their global mono culture must have similarity of language, belief and ideology across the globe, controlled from the top.

 

The opening address says it all.  It defines who we are and where we are.  Their hysterical reaction did not quiet the youth.  The youth were trying to remind them about the perfect reality of the natural world which has a momentum of its own.  To shut down the lights in the gym and to try to cast the children into darkness cannot stop the natural world.  It is a weak action by those who live in darkness, the darkness of their minds and souls.  They are trying to put out the flame, the voice of these young people.  But they can't.    

 

Why were the colonizers afraid?  In their confusion they tried to control the light inside the children who were defending the way of life, the culture and the language.  The newcomers to our land have been trying to kill our fire, our voice, ever since they arrived.  They sense it is glowing in our children today who are the progenitors of our nation.    

 

Our children are not in the dark.  The Indigenous people have seen it coming for a long time, that all humans must make the journey back to nature.  Our children are starting the journey.    

 

The actions of the children frightens them.  They are reacting by attacking the "ohenton karwatekwen".   They think if they stop the children they can continue to try to control the environment and the world.  

 

As an elder said, "Our people keep wanting to send our kids to white schools.  We have to create our own schools instead of mimicking the outsiders who have abused us and our children".  Education has always been used as a weapon, as a tool of indoctrination of people into their foreign culture.  Today they cannot force Christian religion and doctrines down our throats.  But they will try with any kind of excuse.

 

The pattern is shifting to what is real.  Everything will be played out.  Those who have been raised on the "ohenton kariwatekwen" will be able to see the big picture.  On Thursday, May 26th,  150 students protested in the school gym.  Five of the 6th grade students were suspended.    

 

(For comments and updates call 518-358-6012)

 

Kahentinetha Horn

MNN Mohawk Nation News

Kahntineta at hotmail.com

 
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