Teachings and Resources
It is our way to share, it's natural. We are giving people. We hope that in receiving these resources, you will be respectful.
All teachings are to be considered intellectual property and permission to share is required.
The information is for your personal learning. Permission to share is required. This is intellectual property belonging to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a sovereign nation consisting of the following United Nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga and Tuscarora. The illustrations and words ©2024 Dawn Iehstoseranon:nha, Pass The Feather
This knowledge gently helps you become familiar with Indigenous spirituality as it pertains to bird medicines and how carrying those medicines can profoundly affect your wellbeing.
The Indigenous practice of giving thanks, asking for guidance and cleansing to go forward in a good way is often called ‘smudging’ but that is not our word. We burn medicines to open a conversation or send a message to Sky World through smoke.
The circle influences how Indigenous people view the world. That is, how all things are connected. Balance relies on this connection and without balance, health is compromised. In this way, talking circles are meaningful conflict resolution and healing strategies.
Women's Medicine is what brings you health and happiness. We search out things that speak to our matrilineal order, that uplift feminine spirit and empower all generations of a uterine line of love.
Grandmother Moon lifts the water in both the oceans and the women. We are made of water and float in water before arriving to see Mother Earth. This connection for women is everything, water is everything. Make your moon water and take that medicine.
Ohenton Kariwatekwen (pronounced: Oh hoon doe Galli wha day qua) or the Thanksgiving address is how the Haudenosaunee people begin each day and each gathering; we come together as one, with gratitude and good mind.
Tsiokonsaseh or Jikonsaseh or Mother of Nations / Peace Mother was Peacemaker's collaborator and the first woman/kononkwe to share the message of peace. She was a direct descendant of Sky Woman and established a matrilineal society where Clan Mothers are the sole counsellors or law at a grassroots level of government, the keepers of peace, keepers of the earth and keepers of lineage and names.
Wampum or Quahog are shells that carry stories of our entire history including all agreements with settlers. Wampum is medicine for grief, the centre of condolence ceremony. Holding wampum commits you to telling the truth and carrying good mind.
The solar eclipse of 2024 was a monumental reminder of the unification of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy at the ratification of the Great Law of Peace about 1000 years ago. The 2024 eclipse passed over each Haudenosaunee nation in perfect alignment and we witnessed the crossing of the great orbs with good mind and meaningful spiritual and scientific conversations.
Over the years, I have studied Haudenosaunee history through Elders, Clan Mothers, scholars and scholarly articles. I have also recorded my searches for schools and have dedicated my life to being sure that people have access to authentic Indigenous resources when studying Indigenous ways of knowing and history. Always be sure that you are using authentic resources when learning about Indigenous cultures and peoples.
Pretendianism or Indigenous identity fraudsters engage in wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. It has become a very common occurrence in which the fraudsters are paid and/or receiving grants meant for Indigenous peoples.
In engaging Indigenous peoples, inviting us to classrooms, requesting teachings/speaking engagements, here are some things to remember:
On Turtle Island (North America), Indigenous nations are sovereign and very diverse. There are more than 650 different Indigenous nations in North America alone, each with different ways of knowing, speaking and perspectives.
Do not engage in pan-Indigenism; each tribe/nation has a different culture and language and showing true respect is acknowledging our diversity. We invite you to demonstrate effort and engagement.
It is estimated that over 30,000 Indigenous children in Canada were abducted by church and state, either at the time of birth or shortly after. The children were placed in foster care and raised without any knowledge of family. This was/is a parallel program to the Indian residential school system and accomplished assimilation of children that were to young to attend school. I was abducted and displaced through this system.