If you've arrived at this page from a search engine,
click the graphic below to visit the Wampum Chronicles homepage.
IV.
Skaniatar:io
Explains
What Happened
When He Was Taken to the Sky World
He continued, “The four messengers then said to me. You will now see the place where people are tormented by the deeds they have done. They took me on a path that traveled through the sky. There the path divided with one turning toward the right and the other toward the left. To the right was the road toward the Creator’s abode. To the left was the road that turned toward the place of torment. At the fork in the road were two gate keepers. If the person had lived a life of evil, the keeper of the evil-minded’s path would point in that direction. Automatically, the person ended up on the road toward the evil-minded’s place. If the person lived a life of virtue, the gate keepers of the path to the Creator’s place pointed to the other road. The person then ended up on the road toward the Creator. This is the way Teharonhia:wako made it, so that his brother Sawiskera would have his own place away from his.”
He continued, “It is true that the path toward the Creator has not been used very much in recent years, and the other path has been well-trodden. There are also times when it is difficult to balance individuals’ acts in life as to whether they were more good than bad. This is why those who take the path to the evil-minded may only be there for a day, a month or a year. Others may be there longer. The evil-minded can only hold someone so long, and then, when they have made their penance, they can take the road to the Creator. However, there are certain actions that one may commit which will prevent them from ever reaching the place of the Creator. They are for using witchcraft to try and destroy the spirit of others and the committing of a murder. Finally, the third thing is the killing of children both born and unborn. Those who commit these acts may never reach the Creator’s place.”
He continued, “The four messengers then took me to a house of many rooms. One of the messengers pointed his staff to the roof of the house, whereupon it disappeared and we were on top looking down at the rooms.”
He continued, “The first thing that I saw was a man who was haggard. His eyes were sunken and his body was half-consumed by everything he had been through. This man was a drunkard. The evil-minded one then called him by name. The man obeyed and was given a cauldron of red-hot liquid and commanded to drink it. The man drank from it, and one could see the steam rise out of his mouth. He then cried for help. He was then tormented to sing and dance, just as he had done while drunk on the earth. The messengers said, ‘Let drunkards take warning from this. Everything is enhanced in the Sky World, and Sawiskera’s deception is even greater there than on the earth.’”
He continued, “Others were then summoned, a husband and a wife. Sawiskera told them to act toward each other as they have done on the earth. The couple then began to quarrel with one another. They were so angry with each other that they got to the point where their words made no sense, and they seemed blinded to the other person. This is the way that Sawiskera uses the conduct of those on earth to punish them. In fact, they are only doing the same thing that they did on earth. The messengers said, ‘Be warned and live together in peace and harmony with one another’.”
He continued, “Next, the evil-minded called upon a woman who had been a witch. She was plunged in a cauldron of boiling liquid and then a freezing one. The messenger said that this woman will suffer from eternal punishment, for she has used her power on earth to unnatural extremes.”
He continued, “The evil-minded then called up a man who beat his wife. In front of him was a red-hot statue of a woman. He was then told to beat the statue. As he struck the statue, sparks flew in all directions, and his arm was consumed. This is the punishment in store for wife-beaters the messengers said.”
He continued, “I looked again and saw a woman who was skin and bones. She had been a seller of fire water, the mind changer, to the people. The flesh on her hands had rotted away. The messengers said that this is the fate of those who sell the mind changer.”
He continued, “Then I looked and saw Farmers Brother, a former friend of mine. He was removing a heap of sand, grain by grain. Even though he continually worked, the heap of sand would not diminish in size. This is what happens to those who sell their first Mother, the Earth.”
He continued, “Next, I saw a field of corn beside the house of torment. There was a woman cutting down the corn, and as she cut them more grew in their place. This is what happens to those women who work the lands and are lazy.”
He continued, “These are some of the things that I saw taking place. There is much more, and I have given you some examples. There are things that are more important to learn than dwelling on punishments.”
He continued, “The Creator made it so that the onkwe honwe would need to depend on one another. He made it so that they should be sociable toward one another. That means when a person visits you, set food out for them. If it is your next store neighbour, you should feed him. He will leave from your place feeling good, and he will thank you.”
He continued, “The messengers told me that stealing was wrong. The Creator will meet all your needs, and you only have to tell him what they are and they will be supplied. Children sometimes take things that are not their own. Let the parents be the teachers so that they may learn not to steal.”
He continued, “Our old people have lived a long time. It is important that they be given the proper respect and are treated with reverence. They have witnessed and felt much pain in their lives. Always be kind to the oldest and most helpless. Wash their hands and their face and nurse them with care. This is the wish of the Creator for the elders.”
He continued, “It has always been the custom to mourn a person for a full year. This is wrong, because during the time of mourning, the children are neglected from being cared for. Only mourn a person for ten days. Address the body and tell the deceased how much you cared for them. Respect for the departed is extremely important.”
He continued, “The four messengers then took me to see the Town Destroyer, George Washington. Upon the road leading to the Creator’s place, there was a light ahead which shone brilliantly. To the side was a cold water spring where we took a break. Then, there was a pleasant ground that spread itself out everywhere. Finally, we reached the abode of the Creator. To the side of the path grew berries of every kind. Their fragrance was so great that you could smell them in the air wherever you went. Just the taste of one was enough to fill one’s appetite. There were also fruits of every kind growing.”
He continued, “The persons who resided here spent their time amusing themselves and enjoying their surroundings. They were extremely content. Here, families were reunited and lived together in harmony. They possessed a bodily form and retained all their senses and remembered their life on earth. None of the light-skinned people ever entered here. They had their own place to be with their relations.”
He continued, “Just then I looked and saw a small hut near the entrance to the spirit world. It looked like a fort and within it was the Town Destroyer walking back and forth. By the way he held himself, he appeared to be a good man. During the wars between the great Crown and the Americans, he decided not to completely destroy us after the great Crown deserted us to the Americans. For this act, he is the only light-skinned being to make it this far to our spirit world. However, he can go no further for he has killed many and given much of the onkwe honwe’s lands away. Instead he is to walk alone and, there, live his life in contentment. It is also a reminder to you as you walk to the spirit world of the Creator to remember who now controls your lands. You took sides against one another, and now most of your lands are lost. Those onkwe honwe who pass by him see him but pass him in silence, as he never speaks to anyone. Always remember that he could have destroyed you completely but chose not to do so. If he had done so there would be none of you left and so he is left in peace.”
He continued, “The four messengers then said that unless the onkwe honwe do what the Creator has ordained for them, he will lose his patience with you. Then, he will be angry with you, and he won’t help you to continue to exist. If you onkwe honwe do not do as he asks of you, then how can you go on as onkwe honwe? You will be the cause of your own demise. You have been given your own belief system and language. If you fail in these, then there is no place for you left as onkwe honwe on Earth or in the Sky World. You will have to go somewhere else, perhaps with the light-skinned beings.”
He continued, “The Creator made both the light and the darkness. He asked our Elder Brother the Sun to give us heat and light in the day. He asked our Grandmother the Moon to shine at night and to cool the Earth when it becomes too hot. If we stop giving thanks to the Creator for the things he has given us, the clouds will be still. The spirit of the waters of the springs and brooks will no longer look after them for our benefit. The Sun will go dim and then darkness will cover the earth. A great smoke will arise in the air and cover all the earth. Then the poisonous monsters created by Sawiskera will appear, and the evil-minded will perish from the earth.”
He continued, “However, before this terrible event occurs, Teharonhia:wako will visit one last time and bring the good-minded back with him. First, they will lay down to sleep and when they awake they will rise and go home with the Creator.”
This was all that Shokentso:wane could remember of what he had been told about what Skaniatar:io revealed about the Good Message. He said that there was more, but that he could not relate it all in the allotted time. All of what he said was good. It would be up to others to decide what should be added. If they are to add to the message, let them do so in the spirit of the Rotinonshonni. Remember that Sawiskera is closeby listening and waiting to subvert the meaning of the good message.