Midwinter ceremonies see new faces

Midwinter ceremonies at Kanehsatà:ke Kanonhsésne saw a spike in attendance, with more community members and Ratihén:te High School students joining in.

“I think we had, on the first day, 87 people, which is record breaking,” said 23-year-old Karihohetstha Cupples, Turtle Clan, adding that there are normally an average of 30 attendees. “It’s nice to see, our Longhouse is so small we had to bring in extra chairs to fit all these people.”

Cupples has frequented the Longhouse since she was baby with her family and loves all aspects of the ceremony: to hear the Mohawk language, participate in the different rituals, sing, dance, cook and share a meal together with the community.

“I think it’s just in our blood. It’s in our way,” said Cupples. “It brings us all together.”

This year, the ceremonies ran from January 23-27. Cupples’ favourite dish to bring is cornbread.

“They’ll stick to stuff like deer meat, moose meat, corn. But most of the time, we end up making it into fusion food, too. So some people use moose meat and then put it into an Indian taco,” said Cupples. “The only thing that we usually always have will be strawberry juice.”

Students enrolled in the Ratiwennenhá:wi Kanien’kéha immersion program at the Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center attended the event as part of their curriculum, including Cupples. Also, Ratihén:te High School provided buses for students to attend the ceremony.

Thoronhioké:wen Alexander, 39, Bear Clan, another student in the language program, said the class participates in Longhouse ceremonies to practice hearing and speaking the language while learning about Kanien’kehá:ka traditions.
This ceremony marks his second time at a Longhouse ceremony and said it has helped him to improve his language skills.

“Hopefully, as my fluency grows, I’ll be able to start communicating,” said Alexander, whose aunts and uncles speak Kanien’kéha.

Most community members know little about the Longhouse and the ceremonies, said Kailey Karahkwinéhtha Nicholas, 26, Wolf Clan, another language student, in part due to colonization erasing that knowledge from the community.

“There’s like a taboo-ness,” said Nicholas. “I think for some people it can be really intimidating, because it’s like, ‘There could be all these expectations of me, what am I wearing, what to do?’”

Longhouse members are very welcoming of newcomers, said Nicholas, and will inform them of what to do during the ceremony. It was her second time as an adult attending a ceremony, and she was excited to have the chance to wear a leather belt she had made at a workshop for the ceremony.

“You’re showing your gratitude for life,” said Nicholas. “You want to dress and look your best.”

The first day of the Midwinter ceremonies includes the stirring of the ashes, on the second is the great feather dance. The third day features the men’s personal songs as well as the naming ceremony. The fourth day includes the drum dance.

On the last day is the peach bowl game, which decides which clan will take on the responsibilities of the Longhouse. The Turtle and Wolf Clan, who are a minority in the community, always play against the larger Bear Clan. This year, said Cupples, the Bear Clan won. Cupples presented the winner with a beaver pelt.

Cupples is excited to see the Longhouse community grow.

“I think we definitely need a bigger Longhouse at this point. We’re starting to get so many people coming that we barely had enough space to dance,” said Cupples.
Nicholas is looking forward to participating in more ceremonies and has encouraged skeptical community members to join in as well.

“I always leave it in a better mood,” said Nicholas. “I danced around. I got to hear traditional words. I got to speak with people in my community, we ate good food together – life is good.”

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