I am pleased to introduce to you Kiweden, Kishke kwe, and Zhawano.
Today, after the annual South Texas Regional Potawatomie meeting, Cameron, Brenna and Bryan formally received their Native American names. This solemn ceremony observes very old traditions. First an area is prepared with cedar by a woman; next a circle is made on the ground with an eastern door. A small fire is started with flint and steel. Before one can enter the circle, they must give water to Mother Earth and take tobacco. After entering the circle, they offer blessings to the four directions: North, South, East, West. (There is a creation story that gives more details and reasons for this.) The tobacco is given to the fire.
Chairman Barrett performed a pipe ceremony and blessed those who were to receive their names. Then he presented them with their names. The girls and Bryan had filled out their lengthy request for a tribal name earlier, and the Tribal Council used this - combined with family descendancy - to discuss and arrive at a specific name. After the Chairman pronounces the new name, everyone present repeats the name to each of the 4 Directions. The Spirit World then accepts and can recognize the face of the person.
Bryan's name reflects his family's strong heritage through Joseph Melott, one of the first families to make the trek from Kansas to claim their Oklahoma allotments. Joe Melott then returned to Kansas to lead others to Oklahoma. Bryan was given a name representing his family's compassion for taking care of others, Zhawano: the Southern Wind.
Brenna had the proudest look on her face when Chairman Barrett told her that she was being given a grown woman's name rather than a little girl's name. Her name reflects her responsbility in this world: Kishke kwe or Cedar Woman. 
Cameron stood tall and received the name Kiweden or Northern Wind, to represent her generosity to the people. All of these names directly relate to the creation story and the ceremony. Perhaps one day I'll find a book or site that gives me the full story. Right now I'm working solely on hearing it one time and I don't dare type it for the fear of making huge errors. I need to hear it again.
There were many elements of the ceremony that were really beautiful, and fragrant with the burning of the sweet grass, cedar, sage and tobacco. We spent a wonderful evening in the company of "Potawatomi family" celebrating each receiving their name. Many were in tears during this very moving and touching event. As part of the ceremony, everyone was required to also bring a food offering, which became a celebration pot-luck supper. 
3 comments:
Sounds like a beautiful ceremony. I love the photo of the two girls - the looks on their faces are priceless. Wonderful.
What a wonderful experience for everyone. Definitely something to treasure. And I agree thata the photos are perfect - captures their wonder and excitement. I'll bet they were so excited to tell everyone at school. It's not every day that someone gets their official Indian name! What a neat thing to become a part of.
Ojibwe - Ottawa - Potawatomi
Ojibway Creation Story
When aki (the
earth) was young, it was said that the earth had a
family. Neebegeesis (the moon) is called grandmother. The
earth is said to be a woman. She is called Mother Earth
because from her come all living things. Water is her
lifeblood. On her surface, everything is given four sacred
directions---north, south, east, and west. When she was young, this
earth was filled with beauty.
2. The creator,
Gitchie Manito, took four parts of Mother Earth and blew
into them using this megis or sacred shell. From this
man was created. To this day the megis or cowrie
shell is worn by indians to symbolize and remember this
event. From this original man came Anishinabe. In
Ojibway language, if you break down the word, this is
what it means: Ani "from whence" Nishina "lowered" Abe
"the male of the species"
3. It is said that
the Great Spirit lowered man to earth.
4.This man was created in the image of the Gitchie
Manito. He is natural man. He is part of Mother Earth. He
lives in brotherhood with all that is around him.
5. All tribes come from this original man.
6. We believe that we are Nee-kon-nis (brothers)
with all tribes. We are separated only by our tongue
or language. The Ojibway are a tribe because of the
way we speak.
7. So it is in this way that
the Ojibway teachings tell us how life developed for
the Anishinabe. Way back when just Indians lived in
this country a religious prophet told us of a people
who would come and try to destroy our sacred
teachings. To keep this from happening, the Ojibways took a
log from the manone (the ironwood tree) They hollowed
it out and put inside all the birch bark scrolls on
which the teachings and ceremonies were recorded. Men
were lowered over a cliff by long ropes. They dug a
hole in the cliff and buried the log where no one
could find it.
8. It is said that the time will
come again when Indian people can practice their
religion without fearing any man. When this time comes,
the prophets say that a little boy will dream where
the ironwood log full of the sacred scrolls is
buried. He will lead his people to the place.
The Ojibwe story is the same as the Potowatami one --- from information given by Mr. Banai at the Potawatomi Gathering. Mr. Banai is a full blooded member and spirtual leader. He states, "As many of you may know the Ojibwe language
and the Potawatomi are very similar. The Ojibwe call the Potawatomi vowel
droppers. We say nishnabe they say aninishabe." In his book he explains
things like why the eagle is a sacred animal and the ojibwe creation story
and in the book he uses many ojibwe words.
Post a Comment