As time years passed by, Otetonia and Awenhaniyota, began to have children. Soon there families became numerous so that there was a large body of onkwe honwe living on their part of the floating island. They all knew from the stories they heard from their parents that Teharonhia:wako would return some day as he had promised.
As the years passed by, there came a time when the onkwe honwe seemed to be traveling around the earth with no purpose in life. There were no ceremonies to perform or business to attend to. They seemed to walk about the earth with their families aimlessly, and, pretty soon, everything began to be neglected. It was as if they were just going through the motions of living.
After many years of existing in the manner, the onkwe honwe heard a great noise from the west and Teharonhia:wako’s name being called out. They soon realized that Teharonhia:wako had returned but did not know where he was. Many of the onkwe honwe began to look for him until one day he appeared before them.
Teharonhia:wako told the onkwe honwe when they assembled, “I promised you that I would return when there would be many of you roaming the different places of the floating island. I have now come back to fulfill my promise to you. I have seen what had occurred since I have left. It seems that everyone is going about the neglecting everything, including their families. The onkwe honwe are standing around with no purpose in life, and that is the reason I have returned.”
He continued, “Listen all of you and pay attention to what I have to say. I will leave something upon the earth that I regard as extremely important to me, and it will be shared equally by all of you. They will be done into the future and will be known as the four ceremonies or rituals. You will continue to keep these customs and observe them always. The way you will do this is by assembling yourselves at certain times. The first time that you will come together will be during the beginning of the growing season. As soon as you see the new fruitage appear in the season, you will then assemble. You will take the first fruits and put them together in one place. Once assembled, you will rejoice and congratulate one another that so many of you have come to celebrate the new crops that you will live upon.”
“Next,” he continued, “you will give thanks to me in the order of the four sacred ceremonies that I am about to teach you. These have been patterned after the ceremonies performed by those who reside in the Sky World and which are considered extremely important to them. In fact, it gives them great pleasure to do so. I want you, who live below the earth, to appreciate the ceremonies and perform them the same way as those in the Sky World do.”
He continued, “The first of the ceremonies that will be carried on will be the Great Feather Dance. The second will be the skin-covered Drum Dance. Third, will the Personal Chant. Finally, the last will be The Strike Bowls or Peach Bowl Game. These four ceremonies will be carried on at certain appointed times during the seasonal year.”
He continued, “The first time they are to be performed will be when the season changes, and the crops that sustain you are ready for harvest. There will then be a great festival and feast. When all the crops are harvested and collected, it will be referred to as the sharing of the great foods. Every family will then contribute a small portion of their cooked crops as well as game meat, and, once that happens, the Great Feather Dance will begin. It will be at that time the onkwe honwe will rejoice and be thankful that the ceremony given by me is still taking place, and they will remember the time when I first returned. The onkwe honwe will then call out one at a time using these words, “I thank you always Creator, you who have formed my body and who lives in the Sky World. I give you thanks that it is still possible for me to perform this ceremony.”
Teharonhia:wako continued to tell them, “Customarily, you will perform all these ceremonies, and when you do you will make a circuit around the fire in one direction, from east to west. Do not let anyone make a circle in the opposite direction and never let the left side of the body be on the outside of the circle. This is only done in the Sky World where things are opposite from the Earth World. You will make the circuit around where the two singers are sitting, and at that time you will wear your ceremonial hat which will identify which family you are from. Once you have completed the four ceremonies, everyone should then be content and happy.”
Teharonhia:wako continued to explain to them, “Another time when you perform the four ceremonies is when everything begins to become cold and the days become shortened and what is left of Sawiskera’s power is at its fullest. The onkwe honwe will then say it is winter time. When that happens, the game animals will be one of the principal things sacrificed for the festivities. That is because when it warms up in the spring, the game animals are at their weakest, and their meat is not tender. This will always be a difficult time for the onkwe honwe. The reason for that is, by the end of the summer with the cold arriving, the meat of the game animals is at its best, and the animals have had a chance to renew their species. It is during this time when the animals are renewed that they are to be felled and their meat become the main substance of the ceremony. The onkwe honwe will know the time when this begins because when they look up they will see three of their ancestors hunting the Great Bear in the night sky. They will hunt only until the time when the seven brothers rise in the air at midwinter time. They will know then for a period of time resources will be few. Once the onkwe honwe have assembled themselves, they will refer to this as the midwinter festival. At their lodges, the onkwe honwe of the extended families living on each side of the fire of their lodges will put their hands over their fires and stir the ashes. Then they will speak in turn and give thanks for being alive and being healthy.”
He continued, “These are the words they will use, “Teharonhia:wako listen to me. I am thankful to you that its is possible that we are once again assembled at this place where you gave us this ceremony.”
He continued, “After they have said those words, the onkwe honwe will lament and sing and then dip their paddle into the ashes, stir them, pick them up and then let them fall back down into the fire once again. Their voices will accompany this action, and all will rejoice. When everyone has completed the entire ceremony, all their minds will be one in unity. Then it will be time to use the creatures, the white dogs, which we refer to as being trussed (bound), for they are my messengers that I have sent you. I will prize this ceremony as one of the most important done by the onkwe honwe of the earth who are clansmen of my father, the Great Turtle Man of the second order of things in creation.”
He continued, “The Great Turtle Man being is the grandfather of the onkwe honwe on earth. The performance of this ceremony will be greatly appreciated by me and bring me great satisfaction. The white dog used in the ceremony must be pure and unblemished. It will be dressed as if it were me soon to depart, and it will symbolize me. A person will be chosen to cast its body into the fire with the Real Tobacco. He will then direct words to its saying, “Today, you who live in the Sky World, continue to listen to us. Look at how many have come to the place where our father’s clansman first kindled a fire to you. Now continue to listen to us, as we who are alive on the earth will now speak.”
He continued, “As you can see, we now speak with one voice unanimously. Our words are placed with the thing that you prize the most and known as the trussed or white dogs, both female and male. The white dogs will tell the creator whether we have done things correctly. We, the onkwe honwe, have said our words to you our Creator and have sent it with the white dogs during your highly prized ceremony during the midwinter. We who are the offspring of our father’s clansman have done this ceremony in the way in which you told us that we must always observe.” (clansmen does not mean having clans, onkwe honwe matrilineal clans will come later)
He continued, “Now, all of us who have attended this assembly have spoken with one voice together and have performed our duty to you. We thank you repeatedly for allowing us to once again attend this sacrifice of these white dogs and the Tobacco Burning Ceremony. We ask of you, that all who are here be spared, to see the changes in the season when it will become warm on earth once again. We also ask that you send us the game animals, both small and large, as well as the things that grow upon the earth, that they may mature and provide for our children. We also ask that those many things that bear fruit, which you planted for your fathers’ clansman, will also grow and that we will see them come to maturity. Another thing, that we ask, is that you continue to send us children, so that they may be born on the earth and your wishes will be fulfilled so that the generations to come will continue to prosper. We, the people of the Earth World and our children, beseech you so that you know once again that we have attended this assembly and have marked this ceremony with our words and thoughts with the Sacred Tobacco which you have given us.”
Teharonhia:wako continued with the instructions and words with which the onkwe honwe were to address him, as well as the other cosmological beings. He said, “The onkwe honwe will turn their faces and speak in one voice and ask all those appointed by their Creator to fulfill their duties on behalf of the creation in the hope that those appointed will continue to listen and bring him prosperity.”
He continued to tell them, “They will then begin by saying to the earth mother these words. “Mother, upon whose body we stand, we give thanks to you and encourage you to continue your duty by bringing life to the earth, so that we may continue to be at ease within ourselves and with our children, every day and night. Elder Brother, the Sun, who travels on the visible sky continue to hear us. All of us onkwe honwe who remain alive have offered something to show our thanks to you. We encourage you to continue your duty, as designated by the one who gave us form, in keeping the earth bright and warm for us - Grandmother Moon, our nocturnal light, and our brothers and sisters, who make up the stars, give us direction in our life duties. All of us onkwe honwe who are alive on earth have offered something in order to thank you. We ask that you continue to fulfill your duty in keeping the night safe and bright for us, as long as the Creator of our bodies wishes it so.”
He continued, “We next ask our Grandfathers who come from the west, whose voices are heard all around and who are appointed to protect us, to continue in your duties. Everyone has gathered and offered you something and thanked you in order to encourage you to continue to do your good work in overseeing us, as appointed by the Creator of our bodies.”
“Finally,” Teharonhia:wako said, “We wrap together all the things in a single bundle who have an overseeing duty on earth: The grasses that grow; the growing shrubs; the different bodies of water; the winds and the air; the day and the night; the orbs of light; the stars; the thunders from the west; and you our Creator who completed our bodies. We thank you repeatedly.”
Teharonhia:wako then told them, “Next, you onkwe honwe will say to me, Teharonhia:wako continue to listen to us, as we want you to know that the ceremonies, most notably the four ceremonies you gave us, will be performed by us here on earth for the rest of time. You will see that when the ceremonies begin, you will be the principal being whom we will thank repeatedly.”
Teharonhia:wako then told them, “Early in the morning of tomorrow, the Great Feather Dance will begin, and the songs will be repeated three times. The day after the skin-covered drums will begin, and then someone will be chosen who will give repeated thanks. He will begin by thanking all the things that give pleasure to the minds of the onkwe honwe on the earth, as well as to those things that you have given the duty to oversee the earth, as well as to those things that you have given the duty to oversee the earth; and, I will be there among them.”
He continued, “Next, the chanting ceremony, which will be your own individual song which will tell of all the things you have accomplished, will begin, and during the singing of it you will give thanks to me once again. Finally, when the great offering Peach Stone Game starts, you are to take the thing that you cherish the most, that is the most useful item, and you will use it to wager. That will keep up the strength of the noise and excitement when the ceremony is in progress, and I will be entertained in this way by my father’s clansman, the onkwe honwe. It will also remind you that there is nothing on earth that is more important than giving thanks to me.”
Teharonhia:wako continued, “After you have given thanks to all the things on the earth, as well as the bodies I have formed in the sky, including myself, then, at your bark lodges by the fires where your families live, the eldest woman in your families will have a duty to perform each day. She will continue to give thanks as soon as she sees it is daylight. These are the words she will use at that time. ‘We greet one another as we rejoice in this new day. We unite our thoughts together to give thanks to all things that are important to our lives. We thank our Mother the Earth and the things that grow and sustain us. We thank the animals who live among us. We thank the Sun, our Elder Brother. We thank the Moon, our Grandmother. We thank the Thunders who come from the west. Now, all our families give thanks that our numbers are full and we are living in peace and good health and that we will again see a new day present. Finally, to you, who has made us appointed our duties for us, we give repeated thanks so that we may have travel from place to place and that we will continue to think in peaceful thoughts so long as the daylight continues. We beseech you that we may get through the days in peace and that when it becomes dark all our families that are at rest in their lodges may feel safe. And that peace should be foremost in their thoughts’.”
He then told them, “When it becomes dark, you will say, ‘I am thankful that we have passed through the day in peace. We now have made offerings of thanks because we have gotten through another day with our numbers undiminished. You upon whom we live, the animals and the foods of the earth, we thank you for sustaining us and allowing us to pass through another day in peace. You, our Elder Brother the orb of light, who gives us warmth, we give thanks that we passed another day in peace. You, our Grandmother the Moon, that gives us light in the night, we give thanks for helping us get through another day in peace now that night has fallen upon us. You the grandfathers whom we call the Thunders, we thank you for allowing us to get through another day in peace. Finally, you, who has formed our lives along with the bodies we have been given and who is overseeing the duty of protecting us, we thank repeatedly. We ask that you allow us to remain at peace throughout the night in our lodges so that when we awaken we will not be diminished in number when it becomes daylight’.”
Teharonhia:wako then told them, “It should be this way as long as the kinship groups and the earth continue to exist.” He continued, “There is one other important thing that I have to say. It shall be the duty of all onkwe honwe on the earth to be happy and content, to give thanks for all the creation, as you will all have an equal right to its use.”
Another thing he told them, “Whenever you go traveling and fires are kindled or whenever you may meet other male onkwe honwe traveling and you come upon their firesides, if it is at the dawn of the day, you will say to them, ‘I am thankful that you and I are alive in peace as a new day had dawned upon us both.’ Then you will move forward and give the person a hug. This will be the same if it is a woman. You will say to her, ‘I greet you with all my heart. I am thankful that we have met and that you and I can greet each other both alive and living in peace. Now, we will both give thanks to the one who formed our bodies.’ Then the other person will say, ‘I am thankful that both you and I are so fortunate as to see each other alive and living in peace’.”
“Another thing,” Teharonhia:wako told them, “if the day is half over and you come upon another person, you will observe the same procedure as I have just mentioned. You will hug each other and say, ‘I am thankful that you and I have come together alive and in peace.’ Then you and they will greet myself who has formed your bodies with a Thanksgiving offering. Then the other person will say, ‘I am thankful that you and I have again met in peace.’ If you both should separate and meet each other again when it is dark, you will greet one another and then hug one another as well. One of you will say, ‘I am thankful that you and I have passed through the day in peace as now the night has befallen us. We will now make an offering of Thanksgiving to the Creator that he should have pity on us and that there should be peace and health during the night so that we may awaken to another day’.”
Teharonhia:wako then said, “All of you have an equal right to the things which I have just mentioned. You will continue to comfort one another and greet one another with Thanksgiving when you visit each other’s lodges. Whenever you travel along the different paths and you meet one another, happiness should be the most important thing, and you should give thanks to all things as well as myself. In this way, it will affect everyone, so that all will be of peace of mind each day and each night. Remember these things I say to you for all time, because, if you don’t, a grave thing will happen to you if you ever forget about peace. You will cease to continue to live if you forget about peace, and that is the reason I have set things down this way.”
Teharonhia:wako then said to the onkwe honwe, “Now you will talk these things over with one another and be clear in your minds about what I have told you. The time is getting closer when my brother and I will disagree once again. I believe he will let loose on the earth something which will kill you onkwe honwe off once an for all, and that is the reason I have left these instructions for you to follow. In the days to come, there will be divisions amongst you and the other lineal families. There will be nothing but contentions among you, and you will continue to dispute with one another. In time, you will forget about the happiness and peace. You will also forget about me, and when that happens you will destroy one another. Your blood ties will die out, and you will see the Great Pathway in the sky divide, and then there will be two kinds of minds of human beings on earth.”
Teharonhia:wako finally ended by saying, “I am finished with what I have to say to you, and now I will depart for my home in the sky. I will be listening whenever someone wishes to speak to me. It shall come to pass that I will once again visit in the future, and if you ever stop living in peace with one another hopefully I will see you get through the ordeal. It is hoped I will be fortunate and be able to retain control of the creation from my brother who will attempt once again to try to control my handiwork. Teharonhia:wako then departed for the Sky World.
Otetonia then began to travel around the floating island, telling all who would listen about the instructions he had been given by Teharonhia:wako. Everyone took what had been revealed to him to heart. Pretty soon they were able to travel wherever they wanted in peace. The things that they lived on grew from the earth, and the onkwe honwe flourished. One day, they began to assemble for a ceremony they had been taught. This included everyone from the youngest to the oldest.
Otetonia then stood up and spoke to the crowd, “We will now commence with the ceremony that Teharonhia:wako gave us. Now that we are together, we are of one mind. We will first greet one another by giving thanks. First of all, we direct our words to the first of creation our Mother the earth upon whom we travel and live. We thank her for providing all the things that we need to live on. We thank her for fulfilling her duty in the way that the Creator had ordained.
He continued, “Next, we are thankful to the grasses and everything that grows from the surface upward, even though the species may differ in appearance from one another.”
He continued, “We also give thanks to the different bushes that grow, especially to those that give us fruit for nourishment.”
He continued, “We give thanks to the trees, especially those who give us fruits to live upon.”
He continued, “Another thing that we are thankful, for, are the springs and the streams of water. We greet them with thanks, as well as the other things that we have already mentioned, so that they will continue to live life to the fullest. That is because we have all been placed here together, and we must take care of one another.”
He continued, “Once again, we thank the wildlife who travel upon the earth. They also differ among themselves. Some of them are small and live close to us. Others have outstretched wings and fly above us. Still others are large and live in the forest away from us. We greet them with thanks because he who made us left us both to live together in this place. We wish that they also live peaceful lives.”
He continued, “Now again this day, we greet the light of our Elder Brother; we hold him in esteem. It is he who causes the floating islands to be lighted and to be warm. Through him there is peace and health, for the plants, the animals, and the human beings also on the earth. Day after day he continues to attend us. Now we must prepare to greet our Elder Brother the Sun by giving thanks repeatedly.”
He continued, “Now, we will turn our attention to the stars, as well as our grandmother’s head, the nocturnal orb of light the Moon. Our Creator intended that it would turn dark for half the time and so he appointed her to cause the night to light up. It is because of her that the dew falls on the plants to help them grow. We hold her in esteem because our lives are governed by her. We therefore greet her, as well as the stars in the sky, repeatedly with thanks. We do this so that our minds will remain content.”
He continued, “Now another thing, we greet our grandfathers the Thunders, who come from the west and protect us each day and night, that they will continue to care for the earth and everything that it contains, including us onkwe honwe. It is they who cause the mist to fall and the waters to remain fresh. Now we will prepare to greet them with all our thanks repeatedly.”
He continued, “Now again, another thing, we give thanks most of all to the one who created everything else and gave each thing a duty to perform. It is for that reason we think thoughts of peace. Now we will prepare to greet him who dwells in the sky with thanks.”
Finally, he said, “We end our words, now that we have fulfilled the ceremony he gave us concerning thanks. Now the ceremony for which we have assembled will begin. We will greet one another with thanks, and the songs of the Great Feather Dance will commence.”
The ceremony began, and all the onkwe honwe were happy, from the eldest to the youngest. They shook hands and danced happily during the morning. When the sun shone at mid-day, everyone stopped.
Otetonia stood up and said to the onkwe honwe who were assembled, “Now that we have completed the ceremony of Thanksgiving to our Creator, the plants, the animals, the water, the orb of light of the day and the nocturnal orb of light, and our grandfathers the Thunders who came from the west, we must now bring them all together and place them in one vessel and thank them repeatedly once again. All of us who have attended this ceremony are left with thoughts of peace. Once again we greet him who created all our bodies. Those of us who participated in the ceremony until its completion, we greet one another in repeated thanks.”
Then, Otetonia said, “We have started from the very beginning of the ceremonies that he gave us, that is, the giving of thanks from below to above. In the same way that we performed them this time, they will continue to be performed into the future. We began the ceremony of thanks starting with the earth that we stand upon and finished in the sky above where our Creator lives. The onkwe honwe will continue to use the same kind of words and perform the same ceremony in the future.”
Otetonia then told those assembled, “Everyone has a right to perform the ceremonies that the Creator gave us. It is our duty to prize them and make sure that they are always performed. In fact, all the ceremonies he has given us will be done during the different seasons at the time the Creator has designated for us.”
From that time on, the onkwe honwe held their ceremonies in esteem and made sure that they were done at the proper time. For a while, everyone was of one mind. One night, the onkwe honwe looked up and saw that the path was divided in the sky. Soon after, they began to argue with one another and began taking sides against one another. It seemed that they argued about everything, even including how and when to perform the ceremonies. It wasn’t long before they stopped doing the four ceremonies all together.
Otetonia assembled the onkwe honwe and said to them, “Teharonhia:wako told us not to forget to care for one another. He said that we would have pleasure in life, as long as we lived in peace and performed the four ceremonies. He also told us that if we ever forgot them, we would cease to exist. He said we would know that would happen by looking into the night sky and seeing that the path was divided as well. It means that there will be two types of human beings living on earth with two different minds. One will live with the creation and give thanks while the other will try to control the creation. One will live in peace while the other will live for killing. When that happens, we will no longer be able to reason with each other and we will stop doing the ceremonies that he has given us. That is why it is important that you urge one another to observe the ceremonies and that you have the courage to continue doing them.”
Even though Otetonia tried to speak to the people, they still would not listen or work with one another. Each day and night the extended families bickered with one another. This continued for some time. Soon after, strange things began to happen to the onkwe honwe. Frequently, one of them would disappear as they began to be killed. One day the orb of light that shone in the day underwent an unnatural change as it disappeared. Some of the children became lost, and no one knew where they went. The time had become so critical that the women of the extended families began to weep in fear.
Not long after, the onkwe honwe heard a loud noise come from the west. The thunders were heard and the winds began to blow. For three days it continuously rained. The onkwe honwe began to become fearful as to what it meant. They believed that something terrible was about to happen to them. After three days, the rain finally stopped. As they looked up toward the sky, they saw beautiful colors in the form of a ray of light. They seemed to begin on the earth traveling upwards toward the sky, and then returned back toward the earth on the other side. There were colors in it that the onkwe honwe had never seem before. In fact, they had never seen anything like it before.
One of the elders said, “Let us go and ask Otetonia about it. He should be able to tell us what caused the arch in the sky. No one has ever mentioned that this would happen.”
Many of the onkwe honwe gathered together to ask Otetonia about the strange occurrence that was taking place, and so they departed toward his lodge. When they arrived, an elder asked him, “What is the reason for the colorful arch that travels from one side of the earth toward the sky and then to the other side of the earth.”
Otetonia answered, “The reason that this has happened is that it is a sign to us that we have not fulfilled our duty to Teharonhia:wako and the rest of the Creation. I believe that Teharonhia:wako has returned to set things straight, as he has promised that he would one day if we became lost in our ways.”
The elder said, “Let us hope that it true so that we may see him again.”
It was not long after, that Teharonhia:wako arrived among the onkwe honwe once again. The people did not recognize him at first as he appeared to be changed in appearance.
He said to them, “I have returned to put a stop to the harm that you are doing to one another. It seems that there are now two streams of thought running in the minds of the onkwe honwe. It seems that even among the onkwe honwe, your minds are becoming divided, just as the path in the sky is. It appears that my brother’s power can still influence you. From this point on, there will be divisions taking place on the earth. There will be those who will continue to do the ceremonies that give thanks for the creation, just as there will be those who will try to subdue the earth. The path in the sky will become broader and fork out. I shall leave a sign to remind you of my presence, as well as of your duties that I have given you. I will manifest my power in the rainbow that yo see. As long as it appears, the earth will continue to exist. All persons will guide their lives by it. As long as it exists so will things that grow and the animals who travel on the earth, as well as everything that I have given a duty to perform. If you ever see it beginning in the sunrise and traveling in an arch toward the west in the middle of the sky that will be the time when the earth will come to an end. I have given the duty to the Thunders who will come from the west to help guide you as well. You will know when they come that the rainbow is near. It is their duty to help my Grandmother cleanse the earth so that it may be renewed. At that time you will see my handiwork receive new life and the great bow appear in the sky. This will continue as long as everything that I ask is accomplished.”
Teharonhia:wako then said, “There is a time when I was here on the earth and I received my power from the great bow. It was made from the things that come from the earth. The first of these was the Sunflower which was the color yellow. Next, was the Red Willow which was the color red. Then, it was the Great Bluebird who was the first of the creatures that were made. In these three things came the three colors from which I began making the creation. As long as you look up and see these three colors in the great bow, the earth will continue to exist. Whenever you hear the Thunders coming from the west and see the rain, you will know that the great bow is near and will shine above. With this sign, you will always remember me by; your extended families will continue to exist, and the orb of light in the sky will continue to shine bright.”
Teharonhia:wako continued on, “Now, I will renew the four ceremonies and add something to them as well. This will ensure that you will continue to do them once again. When the season changes and the spring begins, you will know that it is time for the wild strawberries to begin to grow. At that time you will gather the berries and assemble the entire community from the youngest to the eldest. You will then make a juice from the berries which everyone will drink. You will choose two persons a male and a female to distribute the juice. They will be of the age, just after they have been hidden under the husk (down-fended), when the boy’s voice begins to change and the girl has her first moon cycle. They will divide the juice among the assembly and those who drink shall do so from the same vessel. Before they take a drink, one will be chosen to sat these words.”65
He told them, “I greet you repeatedly with thanks. I also greet all the things that have been given a duty to perform with repeated thanks. I greet you who lives in the sky with thanks for bringing up once again the fruits of the earth. I also greet you with thanks once again, for allowing me to drink from this vessel.”
Teharonhia:wako continued, “When that is done, you may take a drink and then speak when you are finished. If you cannot speak then, it would be sufficient to say, ‘I am thankful that I am able to drink this juice. I greet with repeated thanks the one who created our bodies’.”
He continued, “If a person is not able to speak at all, then let them think to themselves these thoughts, ‘I am thankful to be alive and living in peace. I am thankful to you who has created my body and lives in the sky’. I will know their thoughts.
Teharonhia:wako continued, “Once, everyone has had a drink of the juice and has spoken their words, the Great Feather Dance will begin. Everyone will then stand up and dance around the fire. Everyone should be happy in their thoughts, thinking, ‘I am thankful that I am alive and living in peace. I now understand the time and the place for the ceremony and am grateful for being able to participate in it. Once again, I repeatedly give thanks to the one who dwells in the sky and has given us our life’.”
Teharonhia:wako continued, “You will say, ‘I will do the ceremony once again when the raspberries begin to ripen.’ At that time, you will do the same as you did with the strawberry. You will assemble the community and prepare the juice of the raspberry. You will then do the same ceremony that you did with the strawberry.”
Teharonhia:wako then said, “You will take some of the ripened fruit such as the mulberry and keep it for the ceremony of the highly prized foods, the Harvest Ceremony. At that time when the great dance of the four ceremonies takes place, you will prepare the mulberry juice. That will be the first thing that will go around the fire and everyone shall have a drink of it and say thanks once again several times. At the time that the ceremony will begin and the juice will have been prepared, it will be put in the middle of the assembly, and anyone will have a right to drink it if they think they are thirsty. As soon as that happens, they will greet everyone with repeated thanks once again. Then they will greet the one who gave them life and say, ‘I will do this ceremony again into the future’.”66
Now then, Teharonhia:wako told them, “Both the men and the women will work together to bring forth the fruit of a certain tree. I will assign this tree the duty to bring exude a sweet sap. When the juice is made, the sap will be used to sweeten it. The tree from where the sap will come, will be called the maple. At the time that the days on the earth begin to become warm once again, it will be then that the sap will be gathered and become sweet. You will then once again utter thanksgiving when it arrives and drink from it while it is still fresh. That will be called the gathering of the maple sap. At that time you will perform the same ceremony as you did during the gathering of the fruit.”67
Teharonhia:wako then said, “I have only one other thing to say to you. I will leave, but will return one day to the earth. I have placed in your minds the idea that you must take care of one another’s interests so that you can continue to live in peace. Now, I will leave once again for the Sky World.”
Teharonhia:wako then disappeared, and no one knew exactly where he went. The onkwe honwe made use of the things he had told them before he left. From that point on the people performed the ceremonies in the order he had given them and they remained content, enjoying what they were doing.
For many years, the onkwe honwe carried on the ceremonies, performing them correctly. Then one day they began to argue with one another over how they should be conducted. They began to use any means available to win their argument. Some would say that they must be done one way while others would say that they had to be done another way. Each tried to take control of the ceremonies, telling the others that they were in the right. This happened repeatedly, day after day, night after night.
Once again Sawiskera’s presence could be felt. Even the forests became more dangerous for the onkwe honwe. As they went hunting, strange animals would appear which were larger than the ones they had known before. Sometimes they would hunt them down while at other times they would be the ones who were hunted and killed. The Great Kwis Kwis, the Great Bear and the Great Mosquito appeared and killed many. When the people looked up into the sky, they saw that the paths had become even further divided. It came a time when there were only a few onkwe honwe left remembered the original ceremonies which Teharonhia:wako had taught them.
Soon after, even stranger events began to occur. Some of the onkwe honwe began to die in their villages for no apparent reason. This seemed to occur more and more often. The onkwe honwe had never had such a thing happen before, and the people began to grieve as more of them expired. Soon the grief began to become unbearable. It seemed that the ceremonies were not helping to provide for their needs. Just when things seemed to becoming unbearable and when everything seemed to be lost, a great noise was heard coming from the west. It was Teharonhia:wako returning to find out what had gone wrong.
When he had assembled the onkwe honwe, he said to them, “I have come for a short time only, and this will be the last time that I will set foot on the earth. After this time, the people will only have my name to remember me by. If anyone does want to see me in the future, they will have to work very hard to do so. Therefore, I will tell you something which will help you to continue to live on the earth while I am gone. This will be the last thing that I will do while I am here. After that, it will be up to you, the onkwe honwe, to decide what you want to do.”
He continued, “The time is coming when my brother will do his best to control and the minds of the onkwe honwe. He will try to spoil all the things that I have given you. The only way that you can protect yourselves from him is to continue to perform the four ceremonies and try to care for one another. You must always remember caring and peace. If you remember me every day and every night, you will be taken care of. I have now said the last thing that I wanted to tell you, so I will return home.”
Before he left, Teharonhia:wako helped get rid of the great beasts who were destroying the onkwe honwe villages by leading them between two cliffs. He then called out and rocks began to fall on the beasts, burying them.
Teharonhia:wako then left the Earth World. He promised that he would always watch over the creation from the Sky World. However, he had given the onkwe honwe the free will to make choices for themselves. He knew that over time, many would falter. Sawiskera’s power was strong, but not as strong as those who remained faithful in the things that he had given them.
As time went on, there were many onkwe honwe who remembered the history of what had taken place during those years when the earth was still young. Those who utilized the sweat lodge to forecast what would happen in the future became afraid as to what they saw in the future. In time, many of the onkwe honwe began to die off. They were both the oldest as well as the youngest in the communities. Others became insane because of their grief. There were those who began to gossip and lie against one another. The people of the extended families were no longer happy and content with their lives. They even began to kill one another; this was the worst thing that they could do. Soon there was little respect between families who sat across the fire from each other.
The onkwe honwe began to fear walking upon the trials, lest they were attacked by someone who was mad. Once again the four ceremonies ceased to be performed. There was only sadness and despair among the families. Pretty soon all that could be heard was the weeping of women and children. Even the fruit no longer grew like it had before. Each season there seemed to be less and less to provide their families with. The onkwe honwe began to starve, as there never seemed to be enough provisions. So great was the grief among the onkwe honwe and the expectation that a miracle would happen, that there were rumors that Teharonhia:wako had returned and was living among the people. They began to search for him but to no avail. They had forgotten how to ask for him the way Teharonhia:wako had taught them to.
Teharonhia:wako looked down from the Sky World and was saddened to see what was occurring. He felt compassion for the onkwe honwe and thought about what he would do. Suddenly, appearing out of no where and to everyone’s surprise, Teharonhia:wako appeared. In spite of this, the onkwe honwe continued with their self-destructive behaviors.
Teharonhia:wako called for an assembly to be held and when the onkwe honwe had come together, he told them, “It is time for me to tell you why I have come back. Once again you have failed in doing what I had asked of you. I told you that my brother’s power is strong and that you would have to be vigilant in the ceremonies. Now, you will truly be on your own. You will have to watch over your children and teach them what they have to do in life. You saw what can happen when you do not follow the instructions that I gave you. There are all kinds of things that can bring sorrow if you are not ready for them.”
He continued, “You onkwe honwe do not seem to care for each other in the way that you should. You do not seem to be aware of the reason that you act the way that you do. You should know by now that my brother is influencing you to do wrong. He will continually do this to get at me. He will work through you to spoil my creation. He is trying to control the creation by controlling your minds. In the end, his objective will be to destroy the creation, and he will use you to do it. He will use every devious means to do so.”
Teharonhia:wako continued, “The first thing that I have to say is that you must cease hurting one another. You will again care for one another and live in peace with one another. Remember, there are two paths that one can take. The first is for the onkwe honwe who follow the ceremonies and live their lives as good people and in peace with others. When their allotted days have expired on the earth, they will take the path that will lead them to the Sly World where I will be waiting to greet them. Upon arriving in that place, they will find happiness. There, they will find the four ceremonies continually being performed, for they help keep the universe in motion.”
Then he said, “The other path is for those who continually do wrong. When their days on earth are allotted, they will travel on the other path until it forks to the left. There they will come to my brother’s lodge. When they arrive in that place, they will see every manner of thing that is ruinous to see. They will witness disease and destruction like they have never seen before. This will be tenfold to what can occur on the earth. That is why you onkwe honwe have to continue in the duties that I have given you. Only through hard work will you get through. I wish it could be easier, but because of my brother it never will. If you fail in the duties I have given you, you will certainly perish on the earth, as well as in the sky. In fact, you will experience death twice. You must keep your mind in constant awareness, for it can deceive you.”
Continuing on, he said, “Each of you have a part of myself as well as my brother within you as we are from the same mother. Those who live on my brother’s island have an even greater task as they were the ones formed by my brother. Because I gave them life, they also have chance to live a good life in this world and the next.
However Sawiskera’s influence will even be stronger on them to control the creation. This is the way that it will be, as long as the earth continues to exist. There is nothing that you can do to change it, except what I have told you to do.”
He continued, “Now, I will give you something called medicine which will help you to continue to live. The reason that I will do this, is because there will be something that will travel around the whole earth called disease that will cause a lot of death and suffering. It is malevolent by nature and faceless. However, it has power to end the days of the onkwe honwe and the other human beings on earth. It doesn’t matter what age you are, it can strike suddenly and destroy my handiwork. It is my brother who has caused this to happen. If ever the earth becomes spoiled and you forget your instructions, there will be more disease to come. You must always take care of the plants for they will help you prevent its effects; with these you can continue to live your days in peace.”
Teharonhia:wako continued, “You will now go out and gather the various kinds of grasses, shrubs, and trees and bring them together here.” The onkwe honwe did as they were asked. They collected the medicines and placed them in a pile in front of Teharonhia:wako.
Teharonhia:wako stood up and spoke, “Now then, you must pay attention to me. All of you know the various kinds of plants as well as their names. I will take one and hold it up high in my hand and will then ask you questions about it. If you know what it is, you will say so and explain to us what you think it is.”
Teharonhia:wako then took one of the plants and held it high above his head and asked, “Does anyone know what type of plant this is?”
There were only a few that could pick it out and say what it was.
Teharonhia:wako then said, “This will be used to make medicine. It will help you counteract several diseases. Because there are only a few of you who took the time to know this plant when I asked, there will therefore be only a few of you who will be taught to use these medicines in the future.
Teharonhia:wako continued, picking up different plants and asking the people if they knew what they were. There were only a few who could respond in the affirmative. They were the ones whom he taught the different uses of the medicines. When he had finished showing them the medicines he told the crowd of people gathered, “You will have to go to these select few, if you want a cure for disease.”
He explained, “You will use the medicine plants, as well as the Real Tobacco to aid you in the future. Whenever you need help with a medicine, you are to take Real Tobacco as a thank you offering to the one who will make the medicine. When you approach the person, you will say, ‘I have come to you for help. Something serious is happening to me and it is sickness. I have chosen you to help me with this’.”
Teharonhia:wako then said, “Next, the medicine person will look for the medicine and pledge these words upon it. Once he arrives at the place that the medicine grows, he will say, ‘You have been selected because there is someone who is dependent on you for help. That person is sick and is unable to help himself. I am offering these words of thanks for your help in curing the person’.”
Teharonhia:wako continued to tell the medicine people, “You will then offer tobacco to the medicine plant and carry it back to the one who is sick. When you arrive, you will say to the sick person. Now I have brought you the medicine; I have asked that the medicine aid you.”
He continued, “You will then say, ‘You, who lives in the sky and has completed all things on earth and above, continue to listen to us. Both the person who is sick and myself pray that the medicine will aid him so that he may travel once again upon the earth in peace. We leave this to you to decide what to do, for it is you who gave us our lives’.”
Teharonhia:wako continued to tell the medicine people, “That is the way it should be done, and that is the way you will continue to do it into the future.”
“Now again, another thing,” Teharonhia:wako continued, “I will deliver the things that you need so that you may continue to live. At that time, you will have to set yourself up for some hard work. You will put your hands on them and care for them until the time comes when the ground becomes warm again. At that time, you will then place what I give you into the ground. Once you have them; you will never go hungry again, for they will care for you as long as you care for them in return.”
He then said, “There will be three things which I will give you. The first shall be called corn; the second shall be called the bean; and the third shall be called the squash. When the time comes for them to be planted, you will place them in the ground. When the time comes for them to be planted, you will place them into the ground. When that is done, you will assemble the people and give thanks to them repeatedly. You will then participate in the first of the ceremonies that I have given you, the Great Feather Dance. At that time, you will continue to greet each other with thanksgiving. When the seeds have sprouted from the ground, you will begin to care for them. Be careful that you do not spoil them when they are being attended to.”
He continued, “The next thing you must do is assemble all the people to participate in all the ceremonies. You will first gather up the beans, cook them, and set them aside. There should be enough to support all the people. After that you will choose a person to speak. He will begin with the preliminary ceremony of giving thanks, starting with the things that come from the earth. Then he will continue upward until he reaches those things in the sky who assist and protect you. Now then, you will continue to greet me by giving thanks for having been allowed to participate in the ceremony once again. At that time the Great Feather Dance will commence. Everyone will give greetings of thanks repeatedly. They will also greet me by giving thanks once again. Everyone should continue to be happy and participate in the ceremony by making a circuit round the fire. You will then divide up the beans so that everyone gets an equal portion and everyone will share in it. The same will be done when the corn and the squash comes up. When that is done, you will combine the three, who are sisters to each other and are your mothers, so that they can work together. At the ceremonial place you will gather the great food and rejoice with the four ceremonies.
Continuing on he said, “Now then, I have completed what I have to say on the matter of the things that you will be accustomed to do on earth. Whoever continues to hold the ceremonies in high esteem and continues to care for others will live in peace. When their allotted days are numbered on earth, they will take the path that will bring them to my lodge on the upper side of the sky. There, they will find the four ceremonies being continually performed, and there will be rejoicing forever. In that place, they will find that death does not exist. Nor is there any illness. They will find that they will not have to struggle in order to live, for there will be no sorrow. There are only things that give pleasure to the mind, which are never without end. There, they will find all kind of fruits, flowers and animals, including those who dwell in the sky whom you have never met on earth. When one does arrive in that place, they will be possessed by all kinds of joyous things; these will continue to give pleasure to one’s mind forever.”
Then he said to them, “Now, another thing that I will tell you onkwe honwe. I have said before that there are two kinds of minds. One deals with the things which I have left you. For those of this mind set, they will continue to use the things I have given. Those of the other mind set will utilize the devices that my brother has given. Those, who continue to use that which is not right and who show that they don’t care for others or of peace upon their departure from this place, will take the path to my brother’s lodge. There, they will see great suffering and famine. They will also suffer by sharing the same fate as my brother. Like him, they will not live in liberty, and like him they will be confined to that place. There, I have made him a fire ten times hotter than any you have on earth so that his anger can be controlled. The fire I made is eternal and is there to cool his cold heart and his power. My brother will never stop trying to gain control of the earth or the minds of human beings who dwell on it. Now, I have told you the way things exist. Whichever path you choose to take will be your decision, and you will live with the consequences of it.”
Finally, he told them, “Now then, I will tell you one more time, I will not return here. I have finished my three visits and have completed what I had set down to do. I have given you the way that you are to conduct yourselves here on earth for the rest of the days and nights to come. If there ever comes a time in the future that you forget to live in peace with one another and are without caring for one another, I will send someone to help straighten you onkwe honwe out. He will assist me in bringing you back to having a good mind. In fact, I will send someone in the future three times to assist you. When the third person appears , you will know that something is going to the earth shortly after he arrives.”
Continuing on he said, “The first thing that you will notice is that all the things that help sustain you today will begin to disappear. The things that grow in abundance will no longer do so. The same will be for the animals and the birds. The passenger pigeon, which are so plentiful that when they pass over they cover the sky, will cease to exist. The large animals on which you live will also disappear. When that happens, you will strange things happen on earth, and you will be awestruck by them. This will occur more and more each day and night. At that time, the earth will quake and release the things that have been hidden in the ground whose orenta can out match those of the human beings. All of these things that I am mentioning will take place. Even though my brother has been put away, he is still powerful, and he will try to seduce the minds of all the human beings. When that happens, everything will be spoiled and become destitute on the earth. He will even spoil the way that human beings live with the rest of the creation. He will turn your minds from me, by deceiving you with the sudden wealth, so that your minds are corrupted. Soon, I will leave to go back to my lodge in the sky once again, but remember these words.”
Just before leaving he told them, “Everything that I told you about shall continue to exist after I leave. They have been put there for your pleasure. I will make a path here on earth, and, If you follow it its end, you will find the corn, beans, and squash growing. Once you have found them and they mature you must care for them. Never waste them, for they will sustain you into the future. You will divide them up so that everyone has a suitable share for each of the existing extended families. You will always continue to live on these three sisters: the corn, the beans and the squash.”
Continuing, he said, “You will call to them before you pick them, ‘Oh! Our mothers.’ The reason that you will do this is because they will always care for you until your dying days. They will provide strength and bring sound minds amongst you. Your children will develop a healthy breath from them so that they can travel far distances when they get older. They will grow up strong, healthy and be of sound mind because of them. They will be like your first mother, Awenhaniyota, who first gave you life. They will help your children continue to grow in height.”
Continuing, he said, “I shall make a path which the onkwe honwe can follow to reach them. When I have departed, you will choose two young persons at the point of maturity to follow it. One of them will be a male while the other a female. The male will be of the age where his voice is about to change, and the female will be at the age where her body is going through a change and she is denied certain things. They are at the age which I will refer to as being hidden under the husk. Like the corn, you will find they are protected by the husk until they are fully matured.”
He continued, “You will ask them to follow my path to its end. There, they will find a mound of earth where they will see a corn plant, a bean plant and squash plant growing. The young woman will stand to the west of them and the young man to the east of them. The young man will then speak and say these words. ‘Oh, our Mothers, we have arrived. We both have been sent here by your children. We have come to take you with us, to live with our people. Now then, we whose bodies were made from this earth by our Creator will come together, and yours will help fulfill ours’.”
He continued, “At that time, the young woman will take the first standing corn and then the first bean that she sees. The young man will then take up the first squash. When they have done this, they will then understand the meaning of the open grave. Whenever the onkwe honwe departs from the earth at the distance where the corn, beans and squash grow from the village, their path will end where the ground is opened up. By keeping the opening at the distance, you have the responsibility of preserving the earth with your bodies. It will continue to be this way forever.” (After death the body rejuvenates the plant life)
He continued, “In the future, you will continue to depart from one another on this earth. When that happens, the one, who takes the lead in departing and who has exhausted their days on the earth, will always be the first to rest in this place. That is because each person is given a certain amount of allotted days to live on the earth. That is, each person departs from the earth at a different pace. You must therefore walk a straight line to the place where the path ends to where you will find the corn, beans and squash. If a member of the extended family comes to the end of their life in a place that is far from their village, that is the time they were intended to depart from, and that is the place where their bodies are to be left. At that time, you will bring some corn soup to them in a bowl at the place they departed. You will then guide their spirit back to the village where it will make its final departure after the ten day mourning ceremony. If that happens, I will leave it up to those who remain to take care of this matter. You have a duty to make sure that the generations who are coming ahead will live in happiness by dancing, feasting and celebrating their departure.”
Teharonhia:wako told them, “Now I must leave it up to you to care for each other. I have completed my work. I have established the things that are to be included in the creation of this world in order for it to exist. This includes: the plants, the animals, the onkwe honwe, the waters the four ceremonies, caring for one another, the Elder Brother the Sun, the Grandmother Moon, the stars, those that come from the west, the Thunders, the winds, and the medicines. These are things that you have a responsibility toward. As long as you fulfil your responsibility to them, they will continue to aid you. By way of these things, your bodies will continue to have life, so will the earth below and the sky above. One thing that I will do is hide from you the number of days that you have on earth. I will also not tell you where I have gone. Only when your days are ended will you be able to find me. I will never let anything come between us. I will always be looking down at you and watching how you are doing. I will be looking at the manner of how you think and will know when I am included in your thoughts. I will know if someone is asking for something of me or if they are offering thanks to me. Now then, you should have your eyes fixed on the direction that I will depart.”
Teharonhia:wako then departed from the earth for a final time. The onkwe honwe watched to see in which direction he traveled and saw that he went west. They soon lost sight of him. All the onkwe honwe marveled at what they had seen and heard from Teharonhia:wako. They regarded everything that he said to them with the highest esteem. The male elders of the village said, “It would be good if we attended to the things that were given to us and to hold them in reverence always. Now, we understand the way Teharonhia:wako put things in order for us. He has left it up to us to continue to observe them and to live in peace with one another. The first thing we must do is choose two young people to follow Teharonhia:wako’s path. They will find the corn, beans and squash that Teharonhia:wako promised us that will help us to live. The orenta of the young are at their peak. They both should be virgins and have been born with a caul. They will have the strength to follow the path that Teharonhia:wako has promised us, they are to be brought back to us, so that we may continue to live.”
The onkwe honwe elders decided that they would look for a young male whose voice was about to change and had been born with a caul. This was a difficult task but there were two children who had been born this way some twelve years before and lived in the village. One of them was a male and the other a female.
When they had found the boy they asked him, “Young man, do you think that you will be able to follow the path that Teharonhia:wako took when he left us.”
The young man answered, “I cannot promise you this. However, I will volunteer to try to find the three things that Teharonhia:wako promised us.”
Next, the elders sought out the young woman to travel with the young man. When they had found her, they told her. “You have been chosen to go with the young man who is following Teharonhia:wako’s path. When you arrive it will be your duty to pick up the corn and beans. It will be the young man’s duty to pick up the squash.”
The young woman answered, “If that is what has been asked of me on behalf or Teharonhia:wako, I will do as requested.”
One of the elders said, “We are fortunate to have found the two young persons, who are most capable, to do as Teharonhia:wako has asked. Now then, you both must pay attention to what I have to say. Each one of us has prepared to greet you with continuous thanks for what you are doing. We know that you are open-minded and ready for this mission; therefore, you have been chosen to carry out this important task. The two of you will follow his tracks on his path he has made, and, when they end, you will look carefully around. When you find something growing from the ground, which neither of you have seen before, that will be when the male will stand on the east side while the female will stand on the west side of it. The one standing on the east side will be the first to speak. He will say to the three, ‘We, who have been sent by your children, have arrived. We have come to invite you home with us, to live amongst your children just as Teharonhia:wako has asked.”
The elder continued to tell them, “At that moment the young woman will then pluck up the corn and beans. When she is finished, the young man will take the squash. You both will think deeply about the place where you will be bringing them to and why it is so important. When you are finished speaking to them, you will bring them back to us. We will be expecting you, so we will assemble everyone, from the youngest to the eldest when you arrive.”
The two young people began their journey. They saw the tracks that Teharonhia:wako had left, and they followed them. They traveled toward the west for some time. Finally, the tracks came to an end. They could see the three plants growing.
The young man said to his female companion, “We have arrived at the place that we were told about. There are three plants growing which we have never seen before this time. You must go stand to the west of them, and I will stand to the east of them. The young woman than stood to the east of the plants.
He then spoke to the plants saying, “Now that we have arrived at this place, we have been sent by your children and have come to take you back with us. We will return home together so that you may dwell among us.”
He then turned to the young woman and said, “Now it is time for you to take up the plants. “The young woman approached the corn and bean plants and pulled them from the earth. After she was finished, the young man pulled up the squash just as he was told to do.
He then said to the young woman, “Now, that we have accomplished the deed that we were sent to do, take a look at the place from where the plants grew that we picked up.”
They both looked, and it seemed to resemble where a person who had departed from the world had been placed down. It was about the same length as a person, and there was a mound of earth on top that extended from the east to the west. It had the same shape as a person, with the head appearing to be pointed to the west and the feet pointing toward the east. Teharonhia:wako had given up his body in order for the corn, beans and squash to grow. This would be how the onkwe honwe would be placed, when they departed from the earth. Their bodies would be returned to Mother Earth to help bring new life back to it in the future.
The young man said to the young woman, “We understand now why it is done this way, and we will remember in the future how it was done. It is at this place, where Teharonhia:wako’s tracks have ended. It is time for us to head back to the village.” They then began their journey back to the village.
When they arrived back in the village, they saw a large body of people assembled waiting for them. Upon seeing them coming, the elders made a fire and burned tobacco. They then with greetings said, “My children, you have returned. We give you thanks repeatedly for what you have done.”
One elder stood up and said, “I have been chosen to speak for the people assembled here. You two, who were chosen to follow Teharonhia:wako’s path have returned. You were asked to follow the path to its end where you would find something growing there. You were also asked to examine the features of the place once you arrived. Teharonhia:wako promised that you would find three things growing there. We have assembled here so that we can find out what happened and see what you have brought back with you. We want to know if you have brought back the things that will help us continue to live. Tell us what happened while you were gone so that we can end the anticipation that we have for what you have brought back.”
The young man and woman said, “We will tell you what happened to us while we were gone.”
The young man continued, “When we began to journey to the west, just as far as the eye can see from here, we found his tracks.” The young man pointed west and everyone looked.
He continued, “We hadn’t walked for very long before we saw his tracks come to an end. Once there, we saw three types of things growing from the ground. The young woman, that I was with, stood to the west side of then while I stood to the east of them. Then I said these words to them, ‘We have arrived to bring you three back to your children with us.’ The young woman then took up the corn and the beans. I then took up the squash. We looked at the place that they has grown from. The ground was in a heap, just as if there were a human being lying there, with his head to the west and feet to the east. It appeared that Teharonhia:wako’s tracks ended right where the dirt was heaped up. We then took the three sisters from the ground and brought them back here with us. She had two of them, and I have one of them. As soon as we deliver them to you, you will see them. Now then, that is all we cloud accomplish of the things that you asked us to do.”
The young man and young woman then delivered the three sisters to the elders. She presented the first two sisters and told the elders, “Here are two sisters which will help give us life.”
The elder answered, “That is what is called corn.”
Then she said, “Here is the second sister that I brought back.”
The elder answered, “That is called a bean.”
The young man then took out what he had brought back to him and said, “Here is the third sister that we brought back.”
The elder looked at it and said, “That is called real squash.”
The young man then said to the assembly, “We have accomplished everything that you set us out to do, and we have told you everything that had happened.”
When the elders received the gifts, one of them replied, “We have now seen the three sisters that you brought back with you and have heard you speak of the good fortune that you had on your journey. These are things that Teharonhia:wako had promised us. He intended that we should live by them. You both had to face difficulty in trying to attain them at the place where they first sprouted from the earth. It is important that you both know that we are going to burn some tobacco and thank you repeatedly for what you have done for us.”
He continued, “You both have brought our mothers back to live amongst us, and we are grateful so that we, adults and children, can continue our lives. Now, with one voice we give thanks to the ones who have provided for us. From now on, we will follow the path that they have given us. We have burned tobacco and have greeted you repeatedly. We are the first to see the new provisions that were given to us. We will devote special care for our mothers, the corn, the bean and the squash. upon whom we will live. We will continue to give thanks because, for as long as the extended families exist, we will live side by side with our mothers.”
He continued, “Now, we will direct our words of thanks to our Mother, the Earth; next. to the grasses that grow; and to the bushes and the trees. We also give thanks to the spring waters. Next, we give thanks to the animals. Now we will turn our words to those living above. In the first place, we give thanks to our Elder Brother the Sun. Also, we give thanks to our Grandmother the Moon. Next, we give thanks to the stars in the sky who guide us. As well, we give thanks to the Thunders who come from the west. Next, we thank the winds that come from the four directions. We give a special thanks to the assistants of the one who has created our bodies. We ask them to care for us each day and night. Now, we are all of one mind in these things.”
He continued, “We will now burn tobacco to greet the one who created all things. We thank him repeatedly, he who has gone back to the Sky World and has told us that he would hear our words when we speak of him. He has said that he would see everything that takes place below on earth. That is why we continue to thank him for the three sisters that he has given and that help to keep us alive and well. They now live among us, and we call them our mothers. Now, in reference to the three sisters, these are the words of Thanksgiving.”
He continued, “We will confirm what has taken place by participating in the Great Feather Dance. This is on behalf of the three sisters who have been brought here to give us life.”
Everyone stood up, both young and old and began to dance the Great Feather Dance, as they were joyous as to what was taking place. As they danced, they repeated aloud, “I am thankful that Teharonhia:wako has once again provided for us.”
When the ceremony had ended, one of the elders said, “Now that we have received this wonderful gift, it is important that we decide what is the best way to distribute them.”
Another spoke out, “I thought this out and believe that everyone has an equal right to a share of them.”
Another said, “In that case, we should all assist one another in the planting of them in the ground, as well as in the harvesting of them. The men can clear the field, and the women will do the planting.”
The elders thought about what had been said and agreed that everyone should take part in working to make sure the three sisters would continue to provide for them.
That year, the spring arrived earlier than usual, and the people assembled to discuss what they should do.
One of the elders said, “The very first thing that was done to help us live was the great gamble bowl game. We will play a game on behalf of the corn, beans and native squash. We will use the pit of a fruit to play with, and we will bet on behalf of the three sisters. When this is done, we will place our three mothers in the ground.”
Another person said, “That is an excellent idea as it will remind us of the time when Teharonhia:wako bet with his mother on who would control the things that grow from the earth. Therefore, we men will play the game against the women as a remembrance of it.”
The elders agreed with the idea and prepared the game. The males and the females both sat on each side of the bowl and began to bet on who would have control of the three sisters. The men won the first game played.
When the game was over, one of the elders said, “It has been decided, every spring, the first thing that we will do is play the great gamble game with our mothers, the three sisters, to be bet upon.”
The onkwe honwe then began to plant the three sisters. When they had finished the planting, they assembled and began to dance the Great Feather Dance. As they danced, they offered up their thanks for having finished planting their fields.
When the sisters began to sprout up from the earth, everyone came together and began to stir the soil. After this was done, they once again assembled.
One of the elders said, “Now then, we can see that our mothers are appearing from the earth. Those of us who have seen this take place greet one another with repeated Thanksgiving. We also greet with Thanksgiving all those things that were given duties to perform by the Creator. They will help us attend to our mothers so that they will grow to full maturity. Now then, we shall also greet with Thanksgiving the one who created our bodies.
