The “Road to Your Name” fall program held four weekend workshops in the community of Six Nations of the Grand River from September to November.
The teachings focused on the Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee. In the Mohawk language, it’s called the Kayenerenkó:wa. Our Indigenous Knowledge Helper, Tehahenteh, facilitated the program with support from our other Indigenous Knowledge Helpers, Yvonne Thomas, Jan Longboat and Dawniss Aguonia.
The Great Law of Peace is the oldest democracy in the world, and, in fact, the United States modelled its constitution after this structure. We learned about the principles of the Great Law, including the good mind, peace, and unity. Tehahenteh shared teachings about the Haudenosaunee Creation Story, the Peacemaker’s Journey, the clan system, the circle wampum, the rafters of the law, the governance structure, and the consensus-making process.
Participants discussed issues facing the community and engaged in consensus-building governance as instructed by the Great Law. One of the program activities included making a personal wampum string that incorporated teachings from throughout the session.
Possibly the most valued learning came through the language learning component of the program. Tehahenteh shared many of the principles in Kanienké:ha (the Mohawk language). “Our language is the glue that holds our knowledge together,” he said.
For further information on the “Road to Your Name Program”
Contact: Lisa VanEvery
Yohá:te ne kahsén:na (The road to your name) Program Coordinator
c/t (519) 770-6666
lisa@aboriginallegal.ca