Thanksgiving - a contemplation & appreciation of Native American culture.

Seems like this time of year is a good time to consider the Native Americans who helped the "settlers" survive in this "New World". According to the Constitution of the Iroquois Nations, the Iroquois already had a custom of celebrating may different "thanksgivings" throughout the year.

from - www.constitution.org/cons/iroquois.htm
The recognized festivals of Thanksgiving shall be the Midwinter Thanksgiving, the Maple or Sugar-making Thanksgiving, the Raspberry Thanksgiving, the Strawberry Thanksgiving, the Cornplanting Thanksgiving, the Corn Hoeing Thanksgiving, the Little Festival of Green Corn, the Great Festival of Ripe Corn and the complete Thanksgiving for the Harvest.

Here is some further information about the culture of the Iroquois Nation:

from - www.native-languages.org/compo...s.html
History says the alliance originally included five Indian tribes: Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga and Seneca. Once these groups made peace, they emerged as one of the strongest forces in 17th and 18th century northeastern North America with a population of around 12,000 people.

from - www.tolatsga.org/iro.html
Culture
Simply put, the Iroquois were the most important native group in North American history. Culturally, however, there was little to distinguish them from their Iroquian-speaking neighbors. All had matrilineal social structures - the women owned all property and determined kinship. The individual Iroquois tribes were divided into three clans, turtle, bear, and wolf - each headed by the clan mother. The Seneca were like the Huron tribes and had eight (the five additional being the crane, snipe, hawk, beaver, and deer). After marriage, a man moved into his wife's longhouse, and their children became members of her clan. Iroquois villages were generally fortified and large. The distinctive, communal longhouses of the different clans could be over 200' in length and were built about a framework covered with elm bark, the Iroquois' material of choice for all manner of things. Villages were permanent in the sense they were moved only for defensive purposes or when the soil became exhausted (about every twenty years).

Agriculture provided most of the Iroquois diet. Corn, beans, and squash were known as "deohako" or "life supporters." Their importance to the Iroquois was clearly demonstrated by the six annual agricultural festivals held with prayers of gratitude for their harvests. The women owned and tended the fields under the supervision of the clan mother. Men usually left the village in the fall for the annual hunt and returned about midwinter. Spring was fishing season. Other than clearing fields and building villages, the primary occupation of the men was warfare. Warriors wore their hair in a distinctive scalplock (Mohawk of course), although other styles became common later. While the men carefully removed all facial and body hair, women wore theirs long. Tattoos were common for both sexes. Torture and ritual cannibalism were some of the ugly traits of the Iroquois, but these were shared with several other tribes east of the Mississippi. The False Face society was an Iroquois healing group which utilized grotesque wooden masks to frighten the evil spirts believed to cause illness.

It was the Iroquois political system, however, that made them unique, and because of it, they dominated the first 200-years of colonial history in both Canada and the United States. Strangely enough, there were never that many of them, and the enemies they defeated in war were often twice their size. Although much has been made of their Dutch firearms, the Iroquois prevailed because of their unity, sense of purpose, and superior political organization. Since the Iroquois League was formed prior to any contact, it owed nothing to European influence. Proper credit is seldom given, but the reverse was actually true. Rather than learning political sophistication from Europeans, Europeans learned from the Iroquois, and the League, with its elaborate system of checks, balances,, and supreme law, almost certainly influenced the American Articles of Confederation and Constitution.

The Iroquois were farmers whose leaders were chosen by their women - rather unusual for warlike conquerors. Founded to maintain peace and resolve disputes between its members, the League's primary law was the Kainerekowa, the Great Law of Peace which simply stated Iroquois should not kill each other. The League's organization was prescribed by a written constitution based on 114 wampums and reinforced by a funeral rite known as the "Condolence" - shared mourning at the passing of sachems from the member tribes. The council was composed of 50 male sachems known variously as lords, or peace chiefs. Each tribe's representation was set: Onondaga 14; Cayuga 10; Oneida 9; Mohawk 9; and Seneca 8. Nominated by the tribal clan mothers (who had almost complete power in their selection), Iroquois sachemships were usually held for life, although they could be removed for misconduct or incompetence. The emblem of their office was the deer antler head dress, and guided by an all-male council, the sachems ruled in times of peace. War chiefs were chosen on the basis of birth, experience, and ability, but exercised power only during war.

about the image -
Iroquois Blower or Whistler Mask
Iroquois people, Northeastern United States
14 inches, painted wood with copper and animal hair
The Blower Mask is part of the Iroquois False Face Society of the longhouse religion. The Iroquois lived in longhouses along what is now called the Hudson River Valley. The eyes of the mask are made of copper to reflect the light of the fire.  This particular mask is illustrated in the book, "Masks from Around the World."

Silly Sunday...

This isn't a very profound posting today but I thought some of you may enjoy this picture. It's of a "Mooninite" from Aqua Teen Hunger Force (in case you're unfamiliar with such things). I'm mainly posting it due to some photos that Feralkittycat posted... seems we have a common interest in ATHF.

Come on, I know you just have the urge to give the world the finger on some days!

Birthday Greetings from me.

It's my 45th birthday today! Can't believe it's been 45 years. Sometimes, I still feel like a teenager but my body makes me feel like I'm 80. I wish for a cure for fibromyalgia & CFS to everyone out there in need (or at least medical care for everyone - not just those who can afford it). Keep the faith!

Power Prayer from a book by Anna Riva

May this day be blessed with good health according to the years of my life, clarity of mind, freedom from anxiety, & a restful spirit. I am an empty vessel that needs to be filled - my faith is weak, strengthen it - my love is shallow, deepen it - my defenses are feeble, fortify them - my heart is troubled, give peace to it - my thoughts are trivial, uplift them - my fears are many, diminish them - mt soul is sore, heal it. Make me to know that all things are possible through love.

Heart Chakra du jour...

At the center of your being you have the answer; You know who you are and you know what you want.
-Lao-tzu