A journey into Six Nations languages nearly destroyed

In this place that we call home," history precedes us, and the throbbing of that history, alive as ever, troubles the rhythm of our common purpose (if such a thing can be said to exist) as would the stutter of a faulty heart.

So we fumble our way - forward, one hopes - on unsure footing, amid land acknowledgments and genuine gropings toward reconciliation and reparation on one hand and relapses into ignorance, cruelty and stereotyping on the other.

Sometimes a right step is taken, on the unsmooth way ahead, and it seems good - like when Karen Sandy tried to reach out to publicly recognize someone who donated generously to the Six Nations Language Commission.

But she wanted the gift to remain anonymous," says Karen, of the Cayuga nation who is director of the Six Nations Language Commission. She said to me, it (her gift) is a small way to acknowledge what my people owe yours for living on your land."

Karen arrived at another path toward recognition and gratitude, another language around it, a reciprocity. It became a path for them both to thank each other. Perhaps a path for more of us in the future.

Karen invited the donor to visit the language program at Six Nations, to experience first-hand the work being done to preserve and foster the Mohawk and Cayuga tongues. The visit would also include a glimpse of the lay of the land, so to speak - the land of those whose lands we live on - with a stop at the Woodland Cultural Centre and a tour of Six Nations on the itinerary - both poverty and wealth, shacks and mansions.

The donor took Karen up on her invitation, but - and here's what happened next - the rendezvous assumed a much expanded character.

The donor showed up ... in a bus and a caravan of cars bringing 23 other Hamiltonians, most of them from the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton. They were hungry to learn, to turn to good account in some small way their values, including the eight principles of the Unitarian Universalists, which include respect for nature and opposition to racism and institutional oppression.

Karen was thrilled.

It was an amazing experience," says Nancy Willson , one of the group. They all were struck by the exciting dynamics of the students and the teacher, Amos Key, in the Mohawk and Cayuga language instruction they were witness to and participants in.

The students were ages 18 to 65 and the young ones were from Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo Elementary and Secondary Schoo, a Cayuga (Gayoghno) and Mohawk (Kanienkehaka) language immersion school on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

One young person read the Thanksgiving Address (in Cayuga) and it was beautiful," says Marion Sneyd, one of the organizers of the trip. The Thanksgiving Address, the visitors learned, is spoken before any meeting of Haudenosaunee people and it's a prayer-like poetic greeting and thanks to the natural world to which the people who meet bring one mind."

The speaking and answering back in the language instruction that day, featured pats on the shoulder, a lot of gesturing and outward movement," says Amy Soule, one of the Unitarian visitors.

It's part of the beauty of the language - that it seems almost performed in addition to being spoken and written and therein lies much of its meaning. In keeping with this, Amos and others led the visitors in dance.

The power of movement ... people don't realize when we move we are released into the stream of life and it becomes euphoric," says Amos.

So much of this approach was stifled, he says, along with language, in the name of so-called civilization.

His visitors that day? Oh, I had them dancing," he says. And they loved it.

But, says Beverly Horton, one of the Unitarians, it wasn't just the dance, language and culture that inspired but also their discussion of spirituality.

There is so much wisdom, such a richness of philosophy," says Beverly. There is a mass of teachings available. Indigenous cosmology" and so much else.

Of course, the Unitarians have their own spiritual/philosophical traditions and the group, together with Amos and others they met during their time in Ohsweken, enjoyed lively conversations. Many Unitarian Universalists are atheists and those who are theistic, Christian or otherwise, often reject the idea of original sin and hell. In that they are in sync with Indigenous spirituality which has no idea of original sin, hell or Satan.

Says Amos: Our kids are not afraid of the Creator."

I don't believe we are born in sin," says Walter Clement, Unitarian. There is a mythology of hell, spooky mumbo jumbo."

The visitors and their hosts differed over some male language, gender traditions and roles. But, Nancy Willson pointed out, in Indigenous spiritualty, women can be seen as closer to the Creator since they give birth.

I loved doing it," says Amos, who started language immersion in the 1980s and has a radio show on CKRZ 100.3 FM Voice of the Grand.

He loved the exchanges, the challenges, the agreements and disagreements, mostly the communication. So did the visitors. They left full of gratitude and a desire for more.

I would love to see more of it," says Amos. So would the visitors, says Janice Webster.

The visit also gave some Six Nations vendors, crafts people and enterprises, like Clint Atkinson catering, a chance to set up and show Ohsweken hospitality.

This was a pathway to vitality," says Karen Sandy. It happened because of a bit of synchronicity. I would love to do this again."

Priorities. A simple visit. It's not as far as Cozumel or Qatar. These are our neighbours, whose land we live on, whose side of history should be allowed to speak, in its own language; and our part? To listen.

Jeff Mahoney is a Hamilton-based reporter and columnist covering culture and lifestyle stories, commentary and humour for The Spectator.jmahoney@thespec.com