Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora IndiansJohnson, Elias
History
Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians
Johnson, Elias
Iroquois Indians; Tuscarora Indians
"The festival must last four days. Thus they said. Upon the first day must
be performed the feather dance. This ceremony must take place in the
early day, and cease at the middle day. In the same manner, upon the
second day, is to be performed the Thanksgiving dance. On the third, the
Thanksgiving concert. Ah-do-weh is to be introduced. The fourth day is
set apart for the peach-stone game. All these ceremonies instituted by
our Creator must be commenced at early day, and cease at the middle day.
At all these times we are required to return thanks to our Grandfather
Heno (Thunder) and his assistants. To them is assigned the duty of
watching over the earth and all its produces for our good. The great
Feather and Thanksgiving dances are the appropriate ceremonies of
Thanksgiving to the Ruler and Maker of all things. The Thanksgiving
concert belongs appropriately to our grandfathers. In it we return thanks
to them. During the performance of this ceremony we are required also to
give them the smoke of tobacco. Again we must at this time return thanks
to our mother--the earth--for she is our relative. We must also return
thanks to our life and its sister. All these things are required to be
done by the light of the sun. It must not be protracted until the sun has
hid its face and darkness surrounds all things.
"Continue to listen. We have a change of season. We have a season of
cold. This is the hunting season. It is also one in which the people can
amuse themselves. Upon the fifth day of the new moon Nis-go-wuk-na (about
February 1st), we are required to commence the annual jubilee of
thanksgiving to our Creator. At this festival all can give evidence of
their devotion to the will of the Great Spirit, by participating in all
of its ceremonies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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