6 Nations symbols

She:koli Swakwe:ku/Greetings Everyone ;) ... what a wonderful Kohsla:ke/Winter we're having! lol ... most have trouble seeing the seasons' gifts, but this one is a time of reflection and development.
Yukhinulha/Mother Earth and creatures are in the re-birthing process. New life is on the way. Ta:ne tho niyotuha:ke ^kwa'nikula
... and so shall our minds be. [Say go lee, Swah gway goo go sla gay you key newl ha ... dah nay toe nee yo' due ha gay oo gwa' nee go la]

The colouring page I'm working on is part of the TRAVEL TURTLE ISLAND Colouring Book. It is an interactive workbook for cultural and language acquisition. This page will use cut-outs to sort symbols relating to Nation designations.

Yaw^ko Teyokokat/Thank you Melissa, for the beautiful Tsyoka/Raven feather. I used the beads you also gifted. Peote stitch on the quill with a leather lace to hang after each use in thanking and cleansing; burning tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, cedar. Onu'hkwat/Medicines ease our way to the spirit world. When we look up to the sky and see the Big Dipper straight overhead, it is time for Tsha'tekohselh^/Midwinter Ceremonies. We thank the Creator for all the gifts we've received throughout the year and ask that we may be blessed with the same in the year ahead.

Here's a mini "Eagle Staff" I make and use for teaching. This one has a medicine wheel, using the 4 colours along the shaft to hold the feathers. In a school setting I've also used the feather placement to incorporate the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Our grade two's practised cursive writing on a paper feather to impart the messages of the 7 teachings: Respect, Truth, Bravery, Kindness, Humility, Love and Wisdom. Using a simple stick of their choosing they decorated it when the writing process was complete. Each day brought a new teaching which we would engage at every opportunity. It is a simple and memorable activity that can be done at any time of year. Many wanted to make more staffs to give family members. :)

Ho'ia:n [ho yawn]/Happy New Year! Shown here is a tunic and skirt I'll wear to Tshya'tekohselha [jaw day go sale ha]/Midwinter ceremonies this wknd. The tunic has special signifigance as it is made from calico received in Wisconsin when we celebrated the Treaty of Canandiagua [1794]. For many generations now, Hotenoshone [ho day no shown eh]/Longhouse people have received calico, originally one 'bolt' per family as part of the treaty in payment for the land shared with the Europeans. We must continue to acknowledge this practise for our future generations. Nowadays, we receive approx. 1-2 yards; enough to make a dress ... so I made the tunic and a large lined bag. The skirt shown is one given by Khe'k^:ha[kay go ha]/my older sister: Yew^nano'tu [yea wah na node]/She likes to read. The design shows the celestial tree with rows of corn edging the front. These designs are ancient quill and bead symbols that have been passed down. Cuffs and collar are also edged in white beads; a usual custom.

Yosak^hslahehle [yo-sa-gu-slaw-hay-lay]/Sage may be burned at the end of the day to give thanks for what has been given. I usually make these small wreaths at harvest time to give during the holidays. This one also has a sprig of cedar with the ribbons in the 4 colours that represent the 4 directions, 4 seasons, 4 elements
usually seen on the medicine wheel: white-N-winter-light ... yellow-E-spring-air ... red-S-summer-earth ... black-W-fall-water. Sage is one of the 4 main medicines, beginning with the first in the eastern door and moving around clockwise: tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, cedar. When all four are used in thanksgiving prayer, they form a powerful link with the Creator.

She:koli Swa'kweku/Greetings Everyone: These are a few of the lanterns I was gifted with after a beautiful wedding [yaw^ko Jaz ;D]. They're the paper Chinese lantern in a faint mauve colour. To give a 'tree ornament' look I attached a ribbon around the center then hung a tassle matching the garland. There are larger ones hanging in the kitchen and front studio. It's a neat change of holiday decor, assisted by high ceilings ;) . CBC had a piece on the day after I hung the lanterns talking to a certain mall official about the lack of traditional symbols missing from the holiday decorating at their mall ... just thought it was interesting. My neighbour loved the lanterns too and her young daughter also, so we sorted them and shared.

Carol, Irene and Sylvia each won a Christmas Tree card respectively, and thank you all for such wonderful comments and compliments. I really enjoyed sharing and visiting with everyone at the "Crop for Cancer" event. Visitors came from near and far, even with a few flakes of our first flurries. Many thanks to our hostess, Brenda as well as the cast of lovely ladies who guided participants through with the warmest hospitality. Oh, and the T-shirt fit nicely:)