The  Mohawk Peoples   Page

A MOHAWK THANKSGIVING ADDRESS
MOHAWK SYMBOLS
THE DREAM CATCHER
MOHAWK WEB LINKS
OJIBWA AND IROQUOIS CONSTELLATION AND STAR LEGENDS
A LOON STORY
THE STORY OF NANABUSH - AN OJIBWA LEGEND
THE TRAVOIS - A NATIVE AMERICAN METHOD OF TRANSPORT
LACROSSE - A FIRST NATIONS SPORT
MOHAWK ANIMAL STORIES: HOW BEAR LOST HIS TAIL, RACCOON AND THE CRAYFISH, HOW VULTURE GOT HIS FEATHERS, CHIPMUNK AND BEAR, THE BOY WHO LIVED WITH THE BEARS , TURTLE'S RACE WITH BEAR, TURTLE MAKES WAR ON MEN, RABBIT AND FOX, OWL'S LESSON
MORE ON THE MOHAWK PEOPLE

A MOHAWK THANKSGIVING ADDRESS

The People: May we now gather our minds as one and give one another greetings and thanks that we are gathered here in good health and in peace.

The Earth Mother: We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time.

The Waters: We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans.

The Fish: We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water.

The Animals: We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests.

The Food Plants: With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Trees of the Forest: May we now gather our minds together as one and give greetings and thanks to the trees of the forest for the fruits we eat, for the shade in summer, and for the shelter of our homes.

The Birds: We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

The Four Winds: We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength.

Grandfather Thunder: The Creator instructed Grandfather Thunder to put fresh water in the rivers, lakes, and springs so to quench the thirst of life. So with one mind we give our greetings and thanks to our grandfathers.

Eldest Brother The Sun: We are the younger siblings and our brother sun shines the light so we may see and radiates warmth that all life may grow. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life.

Grandmother Moon: We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth.

The Stars: We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home.

The Creator: Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Closing Words: We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

MOHAWK SYMBOLS

Eagle: The Eagle is the protector of the Peace and has great vision to watch over all of the Iroquois Nations. It will warn of impending danger. He sits atop the Tree of Peace to sound alarm if danger approaches the Confederacy. The eagle is the messenger to the Creator and is considered sacred. This is why the Haudenosaunee (or Iroquois Confederacy) wear eagle feathers in their headdress, to symbolically connect to the spirit of the eagle.

Wampum Belt: This belt symbolizes the six nations in the Haudenosaunee. The Wampum has the power to make a good mind.

Tree of Peace: This is said to be a great white pine tree, and was planted when the Peacemaker came to visit the people. It brings the good message of peace, power, and righteousness. Under the white roots, which spread in all four directions, all the weapons of the Iroquois people were buried for purposes of creating an everlasting peace. The pine represents the Great Law of Peace that unified the Five Nations under one law to form the Confederacy that is the oldest constitutional government in the world that is still in operation.

Clans: Bear, Wolf, and Turtle are the three main clans of the Mohawk Nation.

• Bear: Taught gentleness and strength.   It takes more strength to not raise your hand to strike someone than it does to strike them.
• Wolf: Taught one to use our ears and be watchful.  Has a strong sense of family.
• Turtle: Taught one patience and to never give up.  Offers strength and solidarity.  As an elder is wise and well respected.
• Other clans include the Deer, the Hawk, the Snipe, the Eel and the Beaver

Arrows Bundled Together: This symbolizes brotherhood and unity for the original Five Nations. The Peace Maker took one arrow and showed how easily it broke. He then took five arrows, wrapped a cord around them, and showed that it was impossible to break them. United in thought, belief and action, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) would be strong.

Circle: Symbol of unity, strength and cycles of life. The Peace Maker gathered the original chiefs in a circle around the Tree of Peace. he told them to hold hands to make their circle strong. He showed them that if they kept their circle united, they would always be able to keep the Tree of Peace standing. If they let go of their grip to each other and broke the circle the Tree could fall to the ground.

Four Directions: The cardinal points are represented by four white roots of Peace that grow from the Tree of Peace that was planted at Onondaga. The four winds come from the four directions. There are four beings who help the Creator. The number four has special meaning as a result.

Turtle Island: The symbol for North America, also referred to as Mother Earth, is a turtle. The thirteen plates on the turtle's back represent the thirteen moons of the year, showing a connection between the Mother Earth and the Grandmother Moon.

Sky World: A huge overhead dome from where life came is symbolized by an arch. This semi-circle is seen in quill and beaded designs on Haudenosaunee clothing.

Underworld: The dark, and dangerous is represented by horned serpents, snakes and the underwater panther (the Senecas call "long tail) with horns and a long, serpent-like tail. They are the monster serpents that live deep within the lakes, rivers and earth and can cause great harm to people who travel the waterways.

THE DREAM CATCHER

Long ago in the ancient world of the Ojibwe Nation, the Clans were all located in one general area of that place known as Turtle Island. This is the way that the old Ojibwe storytellers say how Asibikaashi (Spider Woman) helped Wanabozhoo bring giizis (sun) back to the people. To this day, Asibikaashi will build her special lodge before dawn. If you are awake at dawn, as you should be, look for her lodge and you will see this miracle of how she captured the sunrise as the light sparkles on the dew which is gathered there.

Asibikaasi took care of her children, the people of the land, and she continues to do so to this day. When the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to the four corners of North America, to fill a prophecy, Asibikaashi had a difficult time making her journey to all those cradle boards, so the mothers, sisters, & Nokomis (grandmothers) took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants. It is in the shape of a circle to represent how giizis travels each day across the sky. The dream catcher will filter out all the bad bawedjigewin (dreams) and allow only good thoughts to enter into our minds when we are just abinooji. You will see a small hole in the center of each dream catcher where those good bawadjige may come through. With the first rays of sunlight, the bad dreams would perish.

When we see little Asibikaashi, we should not fear her, but instead respect and protect her. In honor of their origin, the number of points where the web connected to the hoop numbered 8 for Spider Woman's eight legs or 7 for the Seven Prophecies.

It was traditional to put a feather in the center of the dream catcher; it means breath, or air. It is essential for life. A baby watching the air playing with the feather on her cradleboard was entertained while also being given a lesson on the importance of good air. This lesson comes forward in the way that the feather of the owl is kept for wisdom (a woman's feather) & the eagle feather is kept for courage (a man's feather). This is not to say that the use of each is restricted by gender, but that to use the feather each is aware of the gender properties she/he is invoking. (Indian people, in general, are very specific about gender roles and identity.)

Dream catchers made of willow and sinew are for children, and they are not meant to last. Eventually the willow dries out and the tension of the sinew collapses the dream catcher. That's supposed to happen. It belies the temporary-ness of youth. Adults should use dream catchers of woven fiber which is made up to reflect their adult "dreams." It is also customary in many parts of Canada and the Northeastern U.S. to have the dream catchers be a tear-drop/snow shoe shape.

HOW BEAR LOST HIS TAIL

Back in the old days, Bear had a tail which was his proudest possession. It was long and black and glossy and Bear used to wave it around just so that people would look at it. Fox saw this. Fox, as everyone knows, is a trickster and likes nothing better than fooling others. So it was that he decided to play a trick on Bear.

It was the time of year when Hatho, the Spirit of Frost, had swept across the land, covering the lakes with ice and pounding on the trees with his big hammer. Fox made a hole in the ice, right near a place where Bear liked to walk. By the time Bear came by, all around Fox, in a big circle, were big trout and fat perch. Just as Bear was about to ask Fox what he was doing, Fox twitched his tail which he had sticking through that hole in the ice and pulled out a huge trout.

"Greetings, Brother," said Fox. "How are you this fine day?"

"Greetings," answered Bear, looking at the big circle of fat fish. " I am well, Brother. But what are you doing?"

"I am fishing," answered Fox. "Would you like to try?"

"Oh, yes," said Bear, as he started to lumber over to Fox's fishing hole.

But Fox stopped him. "Wait, Brother," he said, "This place will not be good. As you can see, I have already caught all the fish. Let us make you a new fishing spot where you can catch many big trout."

Bear agreed and so he followed Fox to the new place, a place where, as Fox knew very well, the lake was too shallow to catch the winter fish--which always stay in the deepest water when Hatho has covered their ponds. Bear watched as Fox made the hole in the ice, already tasting the fine fish he would soon catch. "Now," Fox said, "you must do just as I tell you. Clear your mind of all thoughts of fish. Do not even think of a song or the fish will hear you. Turn your back to the hole and place your tail inside it. Soon a fish will come and grab your tail and you can pull him out."

"But how will I know if a fish has grabbed my tail if my back is turned?" asked Bear.

"I will hide over here where the fish cannot see me," said Fox. "When a fish grabs your tail, I will shout. Then you must pull as hard as you can to catch your fish. But you must be very patient. Do not move at all until I tell you."

Bear nodded, "I will do exactly as you say." He sat down next to the hole, placed his long beautiful black tail in the icy water and turned his back.

Fox watched for a time to make sure that Bear was doing as he was told and then, very quietly, sneaked back to his own house and went to bed. The next morning he woke up and thought of Bear. "I wonder if he is still there," Fox said to himself. "I'll just go and check."

So Fox went back to the ice covered pond and what do you think he saw? He saw what looked like a little white hill in the middle of the ice. It had snowed during the night and covered Bear, who had fallen asleep while waiting for Fox to tell him to pull his tail and catch a fish. And Bear was snoring. His snores were so loud that the ice was shaking. It was so funny that Fox rolled with laughter. But when he was through laughing, he decided the time had come to wake up poor Bear. He crept very close to Bear's ear, took a deep breath, and then shouted: "Now, Bear!!!"

Bear woke up with a start and pulled his long tail hard as he could. But his tail had been caught in the ice which had frozen over during the night and as he pulled, it broke off -- Whack! -- just like that. Bear turned around to look at the fish he had caught and instead saw his long lovely tail caught in the ice.

"Ohhh," he moaned, "ohhh, Fox. I will get you for this." But Fox, even though he was laughing fit to kill was still faster than Bear and he leaped aside and was gone.

So it is that even to this day Bears have short tails and no love at all for Fox. And if you ever hear a bear moaning, it is probably because he remembers the trick Fox played on him long ago and he is mourning for his lost tail.

RACCOON AND THE CRAYFISH

One day Joehgah, the raccoon, was walking along. As he walked he began to feel hungry. So, when he saw a small stream, he decided to do some fishing.

"Maybe there is a fish under here," he said, feeling under a large stone with his long fingers. A crayfish was hiding there. It nipped Raccoon's finger hard with its claws.

"Eh!" Raccoon yelped, pulling his paw out from under the stone. He reached under again. This time the crayfish nipped two of his fingers! "Eh-heh!" Raccoon yipped, pulling his paw out again. He was very angry. For a moment he almost forgot how hungry he was. Then he began to think.

"You crayfish are too smart for me," he said in a loud voice. "I am about to die of hunger and I cannot catch anything to eat." He walked away from the stream into the woods. There he found some sticky pine pitch and dead leaves on the ground. He rolled in the leaves and the pitch until his fur looked very messy. He found a rotting elm log and he bit off a piece of the rotten wood and wedged it in his mouth, then he walked quietly back to the stream, rolled over on his back, closed his eyes and opened his mouth.

Some time passed and a small crayfish came out of the stream. As soon as it saw Joehgah, the raccoon, it became frightened. "It is Ongwe Ias, the man-eater!" squeaked the crayfish. It scooted back into the stream and darted back under a rock. But later, when no raccoon paws came searching for it, the crayfish became curious. Once again it crawled to the edge of the stream bank and peeked out. There lay Raccoon. His fur was dirty, his mouth was open and his eyes were closed.

"Can it be that Raccoon has died?" said the little crayfish. He crawled slowly out of the stream. Joehgah did not move. "He is dead," said the crayfish. He jumped back into the stream and swam as fast as he could to the place where all the other crayfish lived. "Raccoon is dead!" he shouted. "The man-eater is dead. Our enemy will hunt us no more!"

Hearing all the noise, the chief of the crayfish asked his warriors to find out what was happening. Soon they came back, bringing the little crayfish with them.

"Raccoon is dead," said the small crayfish. "His body now lies on the bank of the stream."

"How did he die?" said the chief. He found it hard to believe Raccoon was truly gone.

The small crayfish looked around. Many had gathered to listen. "I killed him," he said. "It was a terrible fight. Many times he almost had me. Finally I picked him up and threw him on the ground. Then he died."

"Hmm," said the Chief of the crayfish. "Can you take us to the place where you fought this great battle?"

"Yes," said the small crayfish, "and you will see that Raccoon is dead indeed."

So the chief of the crayfish and many others went to the place where Joehgah still lay. His eyes were closed. His feet were up in the air. His mouth was open.

"See if he is dead," said the Chief to one of his warriors. The warrior crayfish scuttled a few inches out of the water and then hurried back to safety. But Raccoon had not moved.

"Yes," said the warrior crayfish, "he is dead."

"Go and pinch him," said the chief to another warrior. The second warrior crayfish scuttled up to Raccoon. Raccoon did not move. The crayfish reached out and grabbed Raccoon's tail hard with his claw and twisted it. But Raccoon did not move "He is dead," said the crayfish. But the Chief did not come out of the water.

"Look into his mouth," said the Chief. Another crayfish warrior came out of the water. He crawled up to Raccoon's mouth. He crawled right inside and found the rotting wood there.

"Eh-hey!" shouted the third crayfish. "He is very dead. He has begun to rot!"

Now the Chief was convinced. He led the others out of the water. There were many of them and they formed a circle around Raccoon's body. They began to dance, singing this victory song:

Jo-eh-gah, Jo-eh-gah No more will he trouble us. Jo-eh-gah, Joe-eh-gah, No more will he trouble us.

As they sang they danced closer and closer to Raccoon. When they were close enough, Raccoon jumped up. He grabbed to the left, he grabbed to the right. He caught all of the crayfish and he ate them.

Then he went down to the stream and washed his paws to clean off the pine pitch. Ever since then raccoons always wash their food when they eat. And when Raccoon was done he smiled. "Perhaps you crayfish are not too smart for me after all," and he went on his way.

HOW VULTURE GOT HIS FEATHERS

A long time ago the birds had no clothing. They spoke like people, but they were shy and hid from sight. One day they decided to hold a great council. "We must go to Creator and ask him for clothing," said Eagle. So it was decided. But who would carry the message?

Many birds volunteered. But finally they chose Vulture. He could fly great distances because of his long wings, and he could soar higher than any of the other birds and so come more easily to the sun-place, where Creator lived. All of the birds burned tobacco and sent their prayers up to creator, and then Vulture set out on his way.

It was a long journey. Vulture flew and flew. He ate the food he had carried with him and still he was far from the place of Creator. He became hungry, so hungry that he stopped and ate some dead fish washed up on the shore below him. They were rotten and smelled had. But his hunger was great, and he did not notice.

He continued on his way. Now he was close to the sun-place; he went higher and higher. It grew fiery hot from the sun, but still he flew up and up. The skin on top of his naked head burned red in the sun's heat, but at last he came to the place of Creator.

"I have been waiting for you," Creator said, "because I have heard the prayers of the birds. I will give you clothes made of fine feathers to take back." Then he showed Vulture the clothing he had prepared. It was fine indeed. There were as many colours in the feathers as there are in the rainbow snake that arches across the sky after a rain, and the feathers shone so brightly that Vulture had to turn his eyes away from them.

"Now," Creator said, "I know how hard it was for you to fly to me. You may have the first choice of all these suits of feathers. Remember, though, you may try on each suit only once."

Vulture was very pleased. "I must choose the finest feathers," he said to himself. "Then everyone will see them and always remember it was I who brought back clothing for the birds."

He tried on a suit of bright blue and white feathers with a jaunty cap. "No," he said, taking it off, "not bright enough." And so that suit went to Blue Jay.

He tried on another suit of brilliant red and black with a tall crest. "No," he said, "I do not look good in red." And so that suit went to Cardinal.

He tried on another suit of gray and black with a scarlet vest. Again he was not satisfied, and that suit went to robin.

He put on a suit as yellow as the sun with handsome dark markings. "Too much black on this one," he said, and that suit went to Goldfinch.

Creator patiently watched Vulture trying on one suit after another. None of them were right. Sometimes the feathers were too long. Sometimes they were not long enough. Some were too dark, others too light. None of them seemed to be just right for the messenger of all the birds.

Finally Vulture put on a suit of clothes that was too small for him. Although all of the other clothes had grown larger or smaller to fit whatever bird chose them, this last suit of feathers was very tight. Vulture pulled and strained. Finally he got it on. It left his legs and his neck bare; the red skin of his bald head remained uncovered. He looked at the suit. Not fine. Not fine at all. The feathers hardly had any colour--just a dirty brown. They were not shiny and neat like the others. Vulture was not pleased, "This is the worst of all." he said.

Creator smiled. "Vulture," he said, "it is the only suit left. Now it will have to be yours."

And so to this day you can see Vulture wearing the suit that he earned for himself. He still eats things long dead because of what he ate on his journey to the place of Creator. And though some make fun of the way he looks, Vulture still remembers that he was the only one who could make that long journey.

Even in his suit of dirty feathers that fits him badly, even with his head burned scarlet from the heat of the sun, he remembers that he was chosen be the messenger for all the birds. When he circles high in the sky, he is close to Creator. Then, even in his ill fitting suit of feathers, he is proud.

CHIPMUNK AND BEAR

Long ago when animals could talk, a bear was walking along. Now it has always been said that bears think very highly of themselves. Since they are big and strong, they are certain that they are the most important of the animals.

As this bear went along turning over big logs with his paws to look for food to eat, he felt very sure of himself. "There is nothing I cannot do," said this bear.

"Is that so?" said a small voice. Bear looked down. There was a little chipmunk looking up at Bear from its hole in the ground.

"Yes," Bear said, "that is true indeed." He reached out one huge paw and rolled over a big log. "Look at how easily I can do this. I am the strongest of all the animals. I can do anything. All the other animals fear me."

"Can you stop the sun from rising in the morning?" said the Chipmunk.

Bear thought for a moment. "I have never tried that," he said. "Yes, I am sure I could stop the sun from rising."

"You are sure?" said Chipmunk.

"I am sure," said Bear. "Tomorrow morning the sun will not rise. I, Bear, have said so." Bear sat down facing the east to wait.

Behind him the sun set for the night and still he sat there. The chipmunk went into its hole and curled up in its snug little nest, chuckling about how foolish Bear was. All through the night Bear sat. Finally the first birds started their songs and the east glowed with the light which comes before the sun.

"The sun will not rise today," said Bear. He stared hard at the glowing light. "The sun will not rise today."

However, the sun rose, just as it always had. Bear was very upset, but Chipmunk was delighted. He laughed and laughed. "Sun is stronger than Bear," said the chipmunk, twittering with laughter. Chipmunk was so amused that he came out of his hole and began running around in circles, singing this song:

"The sun came up, The sun came up. Bear is angry, but the sun came up."

While Bear sat there looking very unhappy, Chipmunk ran around and around, singing and laughing until he was so weak that he rolled over on his back. Then, quicker than the leap of a fish from a stream, Bear shot out one big paw and pinned him to the ground.

"Perhaps I cannot stop the sun from rising," said Bear, "but you will never see another sunrise."

'Oh, Bear," said the chipmunk. "oh, oh, oh, you are the strongest, you are the quickest, you are the best of all of the animals. I was only joking." But Bear did not move his paw.

"Oh, Bear," Chipmunk said, "you are right to kill me, I deserve to die. Just please let me say one last prayer to Creator before you eat me."

"Say your prayer quickly," said Bear. "Your time to walk the Sky Road has come!"

"Oh, Bear," said Chipmunk, "I would like to die. But you are pressing down on me so hard I cannot breathe. I can hardly squeak. I do not have enough breath to say a prayer. If you would just lift your paw a little, just a little bit, then I could breathe. And I could say my last prayer to the Maker of all, to the one who made great, wise, powerful Bear and the foolish, weak, little Chipmunk.

"Bear lifted up his paw. He lifted it just a little bit. That little bit, though, was enough. Chipmunk squirmed free and ran for his hole as quickly as the blinking of an eye. Bear swung his paw at the little chipmunk as it darted away. He was not quick enough to catch him, but the very tips of his long claws scraped along Chipmunk's back leaving three pale scars.

To this day, all chipmunks wear those scars as a reminder to them of what happens when one animal makes fun to another.

THE BOY WHO LIVED WITH THE BEARS

There was once a boy whose father and mother had died and he was left alone in the world. The only person he had to take care of him was his uncle, but his uncle was not a kind man. The uncle thought that the boy was too much trouble and fed him only scraps from the table and dressed him in tattered clothing and moccasins with soles that were worn away. When the boy slept at night, he had to sleep outside his uncle's lodge far away from the fire. But the boy never complained because his parents had told him always to respect people older than himself.

One day the uncle decided to get rid of the boy. "Come with me," he said. "We are going hunting."

The boy was very happy. His uncle had never taken him hunting before. He followed him into the woods. First his uncle killed a rabbit. The boy picked it up to carry it for the uncle and was ready to turn back to the lodge, but his uncle shook his head. "We will go on. I am not done hunting."

They went further and the uncle killed a fat grouse. The boy was very happy, for they would have so much to eat that surely his uncle would feed him well that night and he began to turn back, but the uncle shook his head again. "No," he said, "we must go on."

Finally, they came to a place very, very far in the forest where the boy had not been before. There was a great cliff and at its base a cave led into the rock. The opening to the cave was large enough only for a small person to go into. "There are animals hiding in there," the uncle said. "You must crawl in and chase them out so that I can shoot them with my arrows."

The cave was very dark and it looked cold inside, but the boy remembered what his parents had taught him. He crawled into the cave. There were leaves and stones, but there were no animals. He reached the very end of the cave and turned back, ashamed that he had not fulfilled his uncle's expectations. And do you know what he saw? He saw his uncle rolling a great stone in front of the mouth of the cave. And then everything was dark.

The boy tried to move the stone, but it was no use. He was trapped! At first he was afraid, but then he remembered what his parents had told him. The spirit of those who are good at heart is very strong. If you do good and have faith, good things will come to you. This made the boy happy and he began to sing a song. The song was about himself, a boy who had no parents and needed friends. As he sang, his song grew louder, until he forgot he was trapped in a cave. But then he heard a scratching noise outside and stopped singing, thinking his uncle had come back to let him out of the cave.

However, as soon as he heard the first of many voices outside his cave, he knew that he was wrong. That high squeaking voice was not the voice of his uncle. "We should help this boy," said the high squeaking voice.

"Yes," said a very deep voice which sounded warm and loving. "He is all alone and needs help.

There is no doubt that we should help him."

"One of us," said another voice, "will have to adopt him."

And then many other voices, voices of all kinds which seemed to speak in many languages agreed. The strange thing was that the boy could understand all these voices, strange as they were. Then the stone began to move and light streamed into the cave, blinding the boy who had been in the darkness for a long time. He crawled out, very stiff and cold, and looked around him. He was surrounded by many animals!

"Now that we have rescued you," said a small voice from near his feet, "you must choose which of us will be your parents now." He looked down and saw that the one who was speaking was a mole.

"Yes," said a great moose standing in the trees. "You must choose one of us."

"Thank you," said the boy. You are all so kind. But how can I choose which one of you will be my parents?"

"I know," said the mole. "Let us all tell him what we are like and what kind of lives we lead and he can decide." There was general agreement on that, and so the animals began to come up to the boy one by one.

"I'll begin," said the mole. "I live under the earth and dig my tunnels through the Earth Mother. It is very dark and cozy in my tunnels and we have plenty of worms and grubs to eat."

"That sounds very good," said the boy, "but I am afraid that I am too big to go into your tunnels, friend Mole."

"Come and live with me," said the beaver. "I live in a fine lodge in the midst of a pond. We beavers eat the best bark from the sweetest trees and we dive under the water and sleep in our lodge in the winter time."

"Your life is very interesting too," said the boy, "but I cannot eat bark, and I know that I would freeze in the cold waters of your pond."

"How about me?" said the wolf. "I run through the woods and fields and I catch all the small animals I want to eat. I live in a warm den and you would do well to come with me."

"You too are very kind," said the boy, "but all of the animals have been so kind to me I would not feel right eating them."

"You could be my child," said the deer. "Run with us through the forest and eat the twigs of the trees and the grass of the fields."

"No, friend deer," the boy said, "You are beautiful and good, but you are so fast that I would be left far behind you."

Then an old bear-woman walked over to the boy. She looked at him a long time before she talked and when she spoke her voice was like a growling song.

"You can come with us and be a bear," she said. "We bears move slowly and speak with harsh voices, but our hearts are warm. We eat the berries and the roots which grow in the forest and our fur would keep you warm in the long season cold."

"Yes," said the boy, "I would like to be a bear. I will come with you and you will be my family." So the boy who had no family went to live with the bears. The mother bear had two other children and they became brothers to the boy. They would roll and play together and soon the boy was almost as strong as a bear.

"Be careful, though," the old bear-woman cautioned him. "Your brothers' claws are sharp and wherever they scratch you, you will grow hair just like them." They lived together a long time in the forest and the old bear-woman taught the boy many things.

One day they were all in the forest seeking berries when the bear-woman motioned them to silence.

"Listen," she said. "There is a hunter." They listened and, sure enough, they heard the sounds of a man walking. The old bear-woman smiled. "We have nothing to fear from him," she said. "He is the heavy- stepper and the twigs and the leaves of the forest speak of him wherever he goes."

Another time as they walked along, the old bear- woman again motioned them to silence. "Listen," she said. "Another hunter." They listened and soon they heard the sound of singing . The old bear- woman smiled. "That one too is not dangerous. He is the flapping-mouth, the one who talks as he hunts and does not remember that everything in the forest has ears. We bears can hear singing even if it is only thought, and not spoken."

So they lived on happily until one day when the old bear-woman motioned them to silence, a frightened look in her eyes. "Listen," she said, "the one who hunts on two-legs and four-legs. This one is very dangerous to us, and we must hope he does not find us, for the four-legs who hunts with him can follow our tracks wherever we go and the man himself does not give up until he has caught whatever it is that he is hunting for."

Just then they heard the sound of a dog barking "Run for your lives," cried the old bear-woman "The four-legs has caught our scent."

And so they ran, the boy and the three bears. They ran across streams and up hills, but still the sound of the dog followed them. They ran through swamps and thickets, but the hunters were still close behind. They crossed ravines and forced their way through patches of thorns, but could not escape the sounds of pursuit. Finally, their hearts ready to burst from exhaustion, the old bear-woman and the boy and the two bear-cub brothers came to a great hollow log. "It is our last hope," said the old bear-woman. "Go inside."

They crawled into the log and waited, panting and afraid. For a time, there was no sound and then the noise of the dog sniffing at the end of their log came to their ears. The old bear-woman growled and the dog did not dare to come in after them. Then, once again, things were quiet and the boy began to hope that his family would be safe, but his hopes were quickly shattered when he smelled smoke. The resourceful hunter had piled branches at the end of the log and was going to smoke them out!

"Wait," cried the boy in a loud voice. "Do not harm my friends."

"Who is speaking?" shouted a familiar voice from outside the log. "Is there a human being inside there?" There came the sound of branches being kicked away from the mouth of the log and then the smoke stopped. The boy crawled out and looked into the face of the hunter--it was his uncle!!

"My nephew!" cried the uncle with tears in his eyes. "Is it truly you? I came back to the cave where I left you, realizing that I had been a cruel and foolish man . . . but you were gone and there were only the tracks of many animals. I thought they had killed you.

And it was true. Before the uncle had reached home, he had realized that he had been a wicked person. He had turned back, resolved to treat the son of his own sister well from then on. His grief had truly been great when he had found him gone.

"It is me," said the boy. "I have been cared for by the bears. They are like my family now, Uncle. Please do not harm them."

The uncle tied his hunting dog to a tree as he nodded his agreement. "Bring out your friends. I will always be the friend of bears from now on if what you say is true."

Uncertain and still somewhat afraid, the old bear- woman and her two cubs came out of the log. They talked to the boy with words which sounded to the uncle like nothing more than animals growling and told him that he must now be I human being again.

"We will always be your friends," said the old bear-woman and she shuffled into the forest after her two cubs. "And you will remember what it is to know the warmth of an animal's heart."

And so the boy returned to live a long and happy life with his uncle. a friend to the bears and all the animals for as long as he lived.

TURTLE'S RACE WITH BEAR (and why Bears now sleep through the Winter)

It was an early winter, cold enough so that the ice had frozen on all the ponds and Bear, who had not yet learned in those days that it was wiser to sleep through the White Season, grumbled as he walked through the woods. Perhaps he was remembering a trick another animal had played on him, perhaps he was just not in a good mood. It happened that he came to the edge of a great pond and saw Turtle there with his head sticking out of the ice.

"Hah," shouted Bear, not even giving his old friend a greeting. "What are you looking at, Slow One?"

Turtle looked at Bear. "Why do you call me slow?"

Bear snorted. "You are the slowest of the animals. If I were to race you, I would leave you far behind." Perhaps Bear never heard of Turtle's big race with Beaver and perhaps Bear did not remember that Turtle, like Coyote, is an animal whose greatest speed is in his wits.

"My friend," Turtle said, "let us have a race to see who is the swiftest."

"All right," said Bear. "Where will we race?"

"We will race here at this pond and the race will be tomorrow morning when the sun is the width of one hand above the horizon. You will run along the banks of the pond and I will swim in the water."

"How can that be?" Bear said. "There is ice all over the pond."

"We will do it this way," said Turtle. "I will make holes in the ice along the side of the pond and swim under the water to each hole and stick my head out when I reach it."

"I agree," said Bear. "Tomorrow we will race."

When the next day came, many of the other animals had gathered to watch. They lined the banks of the great pond and watched Bear as he rolled in the snow and jumped up and down making himself ready.

Finally, just as the sun was a hand's width in the sky, Turtle's head popped out of the hole in the ice at the starting line. "Bear," he called, "I am ready."

Bear walked quickly to the starting place and as soon as the signal was given, he rushed forward, snow flying from his feet and his breath making great white clouds above his head. Turtle's head disappeared in the first hole and then in almost no time at all reappeared from the next hole, far ahead of Bear.

"Here I am Bear," Turtle called. "Catch up to me!" And then he was gone again. Bear was astonished and ran even faster. But before he could reach the next hole, he saw Turtle's green head pop out of it.

"Here I am, Bear," Turtle called again. "Catch up to me!" Now bear began to run in earnest. His sides were puffing in and out as he ran and his eyes were becoming bloodshot, but it was no use. Each time, long before he would reach each of the holes, the ugly green head of Turtle would be there ahead of him calling out to him to catch up!

When Bear finally reached the finish line, he was barely able to crawl. Turtle was waiting there for him, surrounded by all the other animals. Bear had lost the race. He dragged himself home in disgrace, so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he reached his home. He was so tired that he slept until the warm breath of the Spring came to the woods again.  This is how to this day Bears sleep through the the White Season and try to forget about the race he lost.

It was not long after Bear and all to other animals had left the pond that Turtle tapped on the ice with one long claw. At his sign a dozen heads like his popped up from the holes all along the edge of the pond. It was Turtle's cousins and brothers, all of whom looked just like him!

"My relatives," Turtle said, "I wish to thank you. Today we have shown Bear that it does not pay to call other people names. We have taught him a good lesson."

Turtle smiled and a dozen other turtles, all just like him, smiled back. "And we have shown the other animals," Turtle said, "that Turtles are not the slowest of the animals."

TURTLE MAKES WAR ON MEN

One day Turtle decided he would go on the war path against the Human Beings. He painted his cheeks red and climbed into his canoe, singing a war song. He had not paddled far down the river before he saw a figure standing on the bank. It was Bear. "Greetings! Thanks be given that you are strong, Little Brother," said Bear. "Where are you going?"

"I am going to make war on the Human Beings," said Turtle. "Too long have they made war on animals. Now is the time for us to strike back."

"Hah," Bear said. "Perhaps you are right. I would like to go with you."

Turtle looked at the huge form of Bear and at his own small canoe. "What can you do as a warrior?" Turtle quickly asked. "Why should I take you on my war party?"

"I am very big and strong," said Bear. "I can crush an enemy in my arms."

Turtle shook his head and paddled away. "No," he said, "you would be too slow to go on the warpath with me."

After Turtle had gone a few more miles down the stream, he saw another figure waving to him from the banks of the river. He paddled his canoe closer and saw it was Wolf. "Turtle," shouted Wolf, "I hear you are going to make war on Human Beings. You must take me with you!" Turtle looked at Wolf and at Wolf's long sharp teeth. Wolf was not as big as Bear, but he was still big enough to make Turtle worry if his small canoe could hold so much weight.

"What can you do?" asked Turtle.

"I can run very fast to attack the enemy. With my long teeth I can bite them."

But Turtle was already paddling away down the river. "No," he called back over his shoulder, "you would not do to go with me on my war party. You are too fast and you would run away and leave me behind."

When Turtle had rounded the bend in the river, he saw a strange animal standing on the banks. The animal was no larger than Turtle himself and was wearing a beautiful black and white robe. Turtle pulled his canoe in to the shore.

"You," Turtle said, "do you want to go with me to make war on Human Beings?"

"That is a good idea," said the strange animal. "I know that with my secret weapon I can be of help."

"What is your secret weapon?" asked Turtle.

"I cannot tell you," said the animal, turning his back towards Turtle, "but I can show you."

The animal, whose name was Skunk, was certainly right. His secret weapon was very powerful and after Turtle had washed himself off in the river, it was agreed that Skunk would accompany Turtle.

The two of them set off down the river, only stopping when another strange animal called to them from the forest.

"Take me with you," called the animal. "I wish to make war on the Human Beings also."

"Who are you?" asked Turtle.

"I am Rattlesnake," said the long thin animal. "I have great magic in my long fangs and can kill any animal by touching them. Shall I show you?"

Turtle shook his head quickly, remembering his experience with Skunk. "No," he said, "I believe you. Come into the boat and we will go together and make war. With a war party as powerful as our own, we will soon destroy all of the Human Beings in the world!"

A few miles further on down the river was a small village of the Iroquois. It was there that Turtle decided to make his first raid. The three warriors talked over the strategy and it was decided that surprise attack would be most effective. Skunk hid himself in the bushes near the small spring where the women came each morning to fill their water pots, Snake coiled up in a pile of firewood beside one of the lodges, and Turtle pulled his head and feet into his shell after placing himself next to the overturned cooking pots.

Bright and early the next morning, a woman went to the spring to get water. As soon as she went over to fill her pot, Skunk shot her with his weapon. This woman was very brave, however, and even though she was coughing and choking, she beat Skunk with her fists until he was almost dead and then staggered back to the village. When Skunk recovered, he crawled away into the bushes, resolving never to attack human Beings again. Turtle's war party was now down to only two.

Rattlesnake's turn was not far off. Another woman came out for some wood to start the cooking fire. This woman had very sharp eyes and she saw the telltale coils of Rattlesnake hidden among the logs. Grabbing a handful of stones, she began to hurl them at Rattlesnake and it was all he could do to escape with his life. So many of the stones struck him, his head was flattened out and to this day all Rattlesnakes have a flattened head as a result of Turtle's war party.

Now Turtle was the only warrior left. He bided his time, waiting for a chance to strike. The chance finally came when a man walked over to the cooking pots, intending to pick one up to use for the morning meal. Instead of picking up a pot, he grabbed Turtle who shot his head out of his shell and bit the man firmly on his leg.

"Ow, Ohhh!" shouted the man, "let go of me." But Turtle would not let go. The man grabbed a big stick and began beating Turtle with it so hard that it cracked Turtle's shell in many places, but still Turtle would not let go.

"I am going to place you in the fire and burn you," panted the man, and this frightened Turtle very much.

"I have not used my wits," thought Turtle. He cried out in a loud boasting voice. "Put me in the fire. It is my home and will make me grow stronger. Only do not put me in the water."

"Ah-ha!" cried the man, "so you are afraid of water!" He gritted his teeth from the pain and hobbled down to the river where he thrust in his leg with Turtle still holding on firmly. Turtle waited until was deep enough, and then, letting go of the man's leg, he swam away under water as fast as he could. Ever since that day, even though Turtle still wears the red paint of war on his cheeks, he has avoided human Beings, his cracked shell a reminder to him of what happened when he decided to make war human Beings.

RABBIT AND FOX

One winter Rabbit was going along through the snow when he saw Fox. It was too late to hide, for Fox had caught Rabbit's scent.

"I am Ongwe Ias, the one who eats you!" barked Fox. "Yon cannot escape me!"

Rabbit began to run for his life. He ran as fast as he could around trees and between rocks, making a great circle in the hope that he would lose Fox. But when he looked back he saw that Fox was gaining on him. "I am Ongwe Ias," Fox barked again. "You cannot escape."

Rabbit knew that he had to use his wits. He slipped off his moccasins and said, "Run on ahead of me." The moccasins began to run, leaving tracks in the snow. Then, using his magic power, Rabbit made himself look like a dead, half-rotten rabbit and lay down by the trail.

When Fox came to the dead rabbit, he did not even stop to sniff at it. "This meat has gone bad," he said. Then, seeing the tracks that led on through the snow he took up the chase again and finally caught up with Rabbit's old moccasins.

"Hah," Fox snarled, "this time he has fooled me. Next time I will eat the meat no matter how rotten it looks." He began to backtrack. Just as he expected when he came to the place where the dead rabbit had been, it was gone. There were tracks leading away through the bushes, and Fox began to follow them.

He hadn't gone far when he came upon an old woman sitting by the trail. In front of her was a pot, and she was making a stew.

"Sit down, grandson," she said. "Have some of this good stew."

Fox sat down. "Have you seen a rabbit go by?"

"Yes," said the old woman, handing him a beautifully carved wooden bowl filled with hot stew. "I saw a very skinny rabbit go by. There was no flesh on his bones, and he looked old and tough."

"I am going to eat that rabbit," said Fox.

"Indeed?" said the old woman. "You will surely do so, for the rabbit looked tired and frightened. He must have known you were close behind him. Now eat the good stew I have given you."

Fox began to eat and, as he did so, he looked at the old woman. "Why do you wear those two tall feathers on your head, old woman?" he asked.

"These feathers?" said the old woman. "I wear them to remind me of my son who is a hunter. Look behind you--here he comes now."

Fox turned to look and, as he did so, the old woman threw off her blankets and leaped high in the air. She went right over Fox's head and hit him hard with a big stick that had been hidden under the blankets.

When Fox woke up his head was sore. He looked for the stew pot, but all he could see was a hollow stump. He looked for the wooden soup bowl, but all he could find was a folded piece of bark with mud and dirty water in it. All around him were rabbit tracks. "So, he has fooled me again," Fox said. "It will be the last time." He jumped up and began to follow the tracks once more.

Before he had gone far he came to a man sitting by the trail. The man held a turtle-shell rattle in his hand and was dressed as a medicine man.

"Have you seen a rabbit go by?" asked Fox.

"Indeed," said the medicine man, "and he looked sick and weak."

"I am going to eat that rabbit," Fox said.

"Ah," said the medicine man, "that is why he looked so afraid. When a great warrior like you decides to catch someone, surely he cannot escape."

Fox was very pleased. "Yes," he said, "I am Ongwe Ias. No rabbit alive can escape me."

"But, Grandson," said the medicine man, shaking his turtle-shell rattle, "what has happened to your head? You are hurt."

"It is nothing," said the Fox. "A branch fell and struck me."

"Grandson," said the medicine man, "you must let me treat that wound, so that it heals quickly. Rabbit cannot go far. Come here and sit down."

Fox sat down, and the medicine man came close to him. He opened up his pouch and began to sprinkle something into the wound.

Fox looked closely at the medicine man. "Why are you wearing two feathers?" he asked.

"These two feathers," the medicine man answered, "show that I have great power. I just have to shake them like this, and an eagle will fly down. Look, over there! An eagle is flying down now."

Fox looked and, as he did so, the medicine man leaped high in the air over Fox's head and struck him hard with his turtle-shell rattle.

When Fox woke up, he was alone in a small clearing. The wound on his head was full of burrs and thorns, the medicine man was gone, and all around him were rabbit tracks.

"I will not be fooled again!" Fox snarled. He gave a loud and terrible war cry. "I am Ongwe Ias," he shouted. "I am Fox!"

Ahead of him on the trail, Rabbit heard Fox's war cry. He was still too tired to run and so he turned himself into an old dead tree.

When Fox came to the tree he stopped. "This tree must be Rabbit," he said, and he struck at one of the small dead limbs. It broke off and fell to the ground. "No," said Fox, "I am wrong.

This is indeed a tree." He ran on again, until he realized the tracks he was following were old ones. He had been going in a circle. "That tree!" he said.

He hurried back to the place where the tree had been. It was gone, but there were a few drops of blood on the ground where the small limb had fallen. Though Fox didn't know it, the branch he had struck had been the end of Rabbit's nose, and ever since then rabbits' noses have been quite short.

Leading away into the bushes were fresh rabbit tracks. "Now I shall catch you!" Fox shouted.

Rabbit was worn out. He had used all his tricks, and still Fox was after him. He came to a dead tree by the side of the trail. He ran around it four times and then, with one last great leap, lumped into the middle of some blackberry bushes close by. Then, holding his breath, he waited.

Fox came to the dead tree and looked at the rabbit tracks all around it. "Hah," Fox laughed, "you are trying to trick me again." He bit at the dead tree, and a piece of rotten wood came away in his mouth. "Hah," Fox said, "you have even made yourself taste like a dead tree. But I am Ongwe Ias, I am Fox. You cannot fool me again."

Then, coughing and choking, Fox ate the whole tree. From his hiding place in the blackberry bushes, Rabbit watched and tried not to laugh. When Fox had finished his meal he went away, still coughing and choking and not feeling well at all.

After a time, Rabbit came out of his hiding place and went on his way.

OWL'S LESSON

A long time ago the god known as Everything Maker or Raweno, as the people called him, was creating the world.  After he had made the mountains, the seas and the valleys, and all the other places on the Earth, he made the animals.  One by one he created them, giving them the gifts they asked of him.  

Rabbit said: "Raweno, please give me long ears like a Deer's.  And give me the sharp fangs Panther has, and give me claws like Eagle's."  Rabbit admired all those animals, and he hoped to run fast, hear all there was to hear, and be able to defend himself against anyone.  

" I will do that," Raweno said, because he did want to give all the animals what they wanted to have.  So he set to work on Rabbit's legs, beginning with the hind ones, stretching them and shaping them, making them long just the way Rabbit has asked. 

All the other animals dared not watch Raweno work.  They knew that Raweno's magic was secret, and most of them were preening and prancing about, admiring their new feathers and fur and necks and claws and legs and noses and ears.  

Owl sat in a tree nearby, but was not yet fully formed by Raweno.  He was nervously awaiting his turn, but he had grown impatient.  When he saw the others with all their special features, he could not wait for his own gifts.  "Whooo, Whooo, Whooo," he called, "please make me beautiful, Raweno.  I want a long curving neck just like Swan's."

Owl paused, and looked around at all the other animals with envy.  He could not help himself from asking for more. "And give me bright red feathers like Cardinal," he called as the cardinal flew past.  "And I want a long beak like Egret's beak, and I want a crown of plumes like those on Heron's head, and I want to fly as fast as Eagle, and I want to be as delicate as Hummingbird, and I want a strong back like Panther's."

Raweno finally lost his patience. " Quiet!" he said to Owl.  "Turn around and close your eyes.  You're not permitted to watch me work, and you must stop envying the others.  Your turn will come.  Now be quiet!.  Raweno turned back to Rabbit to finish his work.

But Owl had no patience and couldn't stop talking and wanting.  "Whooo, Whooo," he called again. "Don't ask me to close my eyes, I love to watch. I love to look at your work, and I want to watch Rabbit's leg grow long, and I want those red feathers that Cardinal has, don't forget, and I want ears like Rabbit's too, and..." Owl went on and on.

There came a point when Raweno could no longer bear to hear the sound of Owl's voice. He turned from Rabbit and grabbed Owl from his perch in the tree. "For your greed, you will be punished," Raweno said, and he shook Owl until his eyes widened and grew big and round, and pushed his ears into his head, and pushed his head deep into his body.  Then Raweno shouted, "There, now perhaps you have learned your lesson!"  He put Owl back on the branch, and tossed mud all over his feathers.  

"Whooo, Whooo," Owl wept.  "How will I see? How will I see?"

"Oh you will see, and you will hear," Raweno said.  "Because you would not be respectful and wait your turn, you have been taught a lesson. But you wanted to know everything, and now you have ears that will hear everything, and your have large eyes so that you can see everything.  But you will be awake only at night because I work during the day.  And your feathers will never be red.  They will always be the colour of mud, Owl.  Perhaps you will learn, from now own, to be wise and respectful of those around you."

Then Raweno turned to finish Rabbit, but Rabbit had been so terrified by Raweno's fury, he had run away into the woods.  That is why Rabbit's hind legs are long but his front legs are short, and that is also why he is so shy.  He does not have the claws and fangs he wanted to defend himself against others.

As for Owl, he did learn his lesson.  He remained in the shape Raweno had made him, and he is awake only at night, just as Raweno planned.  But people say he is wise and respectful, so perhaps, after all, he did learn his lesson.

MOHAWK WEB LINKS

• First Nations Website
• Kahon:wes's Mohawk & Iroquois Homepage
• Iroquois Oral Traditions

This material can be used to fulfill partial requirements for the Aboriginal Awareness Badge.

April 25, 2005