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(Taw-but-ni)
A thank-you
to my visitors.
Walkingfox welcome center
Aquai to you all.
Besides all of the cities of the
United States of America that visit
my web sites daily I am pleased
to see all of the cities from
other countries visiting also.
Aquine my friends.
Your city will be in a box
at the bottom of this page.
Because
of so many inquiries as to just what is
this
word AQUINE,
I
am placing our answer on my web sites.
Just
like the word Aquai this is a Pequot/Mohegan
word
used time and time again by my elders, now ancestors.
While
growing on my reservation Uncasvillage,
there
were never more than 13 families teaching our history
However,
we were taught our language correctly!
Aquine
is something like an Algonquin word Aquene and means PEACE or
I am a friend I come in peace, while using this word one would have
both
arms out about heart high and hands palm down,
this
was to show everyone you have no weapon!
Because
we have no word of good-by we use the same word Aquine
while
on our way, this time with left hand starting from
the heart palm up straight out heart high.
The
Pequot/Mohegan word AQUAI means hello, while meeting someone
in passing a friendly Aquai on your way by.
Now a word to the children of
Uncas Elementary School
280 Elizabeth Street Extension
Norwich, Connecticut 06360
860.823.4208
Please go to
http://home.earthlink.net/~sachemuncas/id11.html
Half way down the page is an article done
by young students early in the computer age.
Now A new input
Monday May 11, 2009
For the past ten years now this picture of my ancestor, the first true leader of the Mohegan people Grand
Sachem Chief Uncas has been on my web sites because both picture’s were made by the school children from his namesake,
Uncas Elementary School 280 Elizabeth Street Extension Norwich, Connecticut,
my family and I are so proud of them that we thought it a find tribute, now someone has seen fit to remove their words, the
pictures and the school web site, shame on you. I agree that my family should not be the only school project on the web however,
school children should be writing about our past and we, the American native people, must be willing to help them not chastise
nor remove their work.
I will leave this up on my web sites for those children, their children and grand children to enjoy forever!
AHO!
Sachem Walkingfox
Aquai my friends
Before I start teaching about my people from New England
I wish to make clear that although I cannot and will not do homework
assignments for students and I am sure that your teachers and parents
are pleased to hear that.
“However, because my Grandfather was the main Grand Sachem Chief
of our people” he would often hold meetings with leaders from all over
New England so I will always answer questions about what
I have learned while growing up
hanging around our elders from each tribe
of our American native people and
one can use this knowledge
to help with your works.
I have just learned that the search company” Ask.com,
IAC Search & Media Europe Limited”
that has been coming to many of my American native web sites
from Asian & Europe & of course the rest of the world
is also used in their school systems
so I have set up a small notepad
at the bottom of my pages
so that you can leave me your notes.
Aquine Sachem Walkingfox
I need to start out with some boring statistics to lay the ground work like
” in the beginning”.
Before beginning the story of Sachem Uncas, also known as the Fox,
for his abilities to outsmart all who wished him dead.
I need to be sure that it is understood that the sources for
some of this information was handed down by my Grandfather
and other Elders and some was from other sources.
All of these teachings by my Mohegan Elders, took place at
our monthly meetings, while I was growing up in Uncasvillage.
As computers, telephones or libraries did not exist in
the time of Sachem Uncas, it would be nearly impossible
to say that there is any source about him that is perfect.
It is very disturbing to me and my family to read all of the
so called true stories about not only Sachem Uncas,
but the Mohegan people as well, written by those
who are neither Mohegan, nor even Native.
How can one be an expert without living the story?
Walkingfox
This is what I know:
Uncas, who was the first Sachem of the Mohegan People
was a descendant of Royal Blood.
His mother was Mekunump and his father was Oweneco,
they were both Pequots.
Uncas was born near what is today Norwichtown,
the historical Pequot Village in Connecticut in 1588-1683??
Most people believe that American Natives chased their food source,
mainly the Woolly Mammoth, through the Bering Straits Land Bridge
and that our people then came across and down into what
are now the Great Lakes and the Hudson River Valley.
Our English name became known as the Monheags.
One of these groups of people became land diggers or farmers,
however, most of the tribes in that area were warring tribes
which over time, forced this group of Monheag People East.
After some time and many forced movements, this group of Monheags
ended up along the Quinatucquet River, which later became
known as the Connecticut River in what is now Connecticut.
The many years of battles and losing their farms, taught this tribe
how to fight, so that when the Mashantuckets, Missituks,
Niantic’s, like the Mohawks had so long ago, came to
destroy them and take their farms, the Monheags
were ready for them, waging war first on them,
then the Dutch and then the French.
After this, the Dutch called them the Pequins,
then the French changed their name to Pequods
and the English changed it to Pequot’s.
When the English showed up on the Quinatucquet and Pequot Rivers,
Sachem Wopigwooit was the leader of the tribe.
After his passing, the people then chose Sasscus as leader,
instead of Uncas who should have rightfully been Sachem,
hoping that he would force the English back into the ocean.
Sasscus like the Niantic’s and the Narragansett’s hated
the English and was at war with them constantly.
War chief Uncas, who was Sasscus's son in law, tried to reason
with Sasscus and the people, but they would not listen to him.
So Uncas took all who wished to go with him,
across the Pequot River, to the Cauchegan Village,
gave them back their old name Monheags
and became their Sachem.
Cauchegan Rock is a sacred place to
my Mohegan people.
When it became clear that Sachem Sasscus would not rest
until the English, Niantic’s, Narragansett’s and all of the
surrounding tribes were removed from the land, everyone
came together and completely eliminated the Pequots.
The English changed the name of our river to the Thames River
and Sachem Uncas’s people eventually became
known as the Mohegan’s.
| This is one of many |
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| gatherings of the people |
In a true Traditional American
native Powwow, Gathering
or
Pau-paus you will never see their staff’s for sacred reasons.
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Grand
entry (our church)
Back
before first contact we the American Natives from the Eastern woodland tribes had what we called a PAW-PAUS (church).
Because
of first contact (threats of assimilation) and the lack of non native understanding our ancestors changed the gathering and
the name to Pow-Wow (meaning the wicked ones) which now allowed non natives a look see!
Why
is it so hard to understand that Eastern woodland American natives wish for the same respect when it involves our Grand entry
and a precious few other dances?
No
traditional elder wishes to be mean, we have explained that most of our people attending this entry do so with many sacred
medicines and or possessions some believe should not be recorded!
Please
come and enjoy a traditional American gathering we, the elders, would love to teach and guide you through-out and will ever
enjoy a dance or two with you. | |
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To
some native peoples of northeastern North America, a 'powwow' was originally a man with special abilities to cure or offer
advice from the spirit world, a wizard, witch, and magician as explained earlier.
Everyone
is welcome at Powwows!
At
times there is an entry fee to help pay for the drum, electricity, insurance and so on and you will often find a wide variety
of American native crafts, trade goods and food for sale; even demonstrations
and storytelling as well.
It's
a great place for your entire family to spend the day.
Drugs
and alcohol are not permitted; pets must be on a leash at all times, like at all Paw-paus some powwows invite pets into a
circle because Grandfather is Creator of all!
The
spiritual center or heart of a Powwow is THE CIRCLE; a place to be respected and honored, it is a sacred place that is blessed
by Creator through a spiritual leader not by any person. The circle is entered only from the East (where there is an opening)
and dancers travel in the same direction as the sun.
The
singing is a gift and prayer to the Creator; and the drum is the heartbeat of our People. The singers and drummers together
are called THE DRUM.
Ceremonies
start with a "Grand Entry" of the dancers to pay respects to our Creator and to greet one another. Honoring songs, and dances
for veterans and our ancestors and a prayer follows. You will be asked to stand and remove your hat for these ceremonies if
you can.
Please
don't take photos or videos if you're asked not to do so; and please don't touch the clothing or personal belongings of anyone
in American native dress.
Much
of what is worn is sacred, expensive and irreplaceable, but do feel free to ask if you want to take individual pictures, or
if you have a question about a particular item that someone is wearing.
Most
traditional Native People will be pleased to assist you if they're asked first.
You
will see many types of dances at a Powwow. When you hear a 'Round Dance' or sometimes it is called a friendship dance announced,
EVERYONE will be invited to participate, so proceed to the East door of the circle and join in.
A Round (Friendship) dance is easy to learn and fun to do.
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Tobacco gift
How and
when to present a gift of tobacco to a Traditional American native?
Any and
every time that one wishes to speak with an elder and/or honor an elder
it should be by American native tobacco (Kicnic-kicnic) gift.
How much
is enough tobacco to present as a gift?
How much
is not as important as how one gives the gift.
First make
sure that the tobacco is Kicnic-kicnic, and then
remind the receiver that this gift came from Mother Earth.
Because
it did come from Mother Earth it would be nice if it
were wrapped
in red, why red?
Red represents
women or Mother Earth.
What is
American Native Kicnic-kicnic?
Kicnic-kicnic
is herbs collected from Mother Earth with prayer
of thanks
to Creator and Mother Earth!
Naming Ceremony Protocol
First and
the most important thing would be to make sure that you are an American native, to find this out ask an elder this elder must
contact the Medicine man.
“From
the time that the request is made until a name is given by Creator and the spirits of the ancestors will take no less than
two moons (two months)”
The traditional
way to make a request to receive your American native name is to give a gift of Kicnic-kicnic, as the request is made, to
the person you are requesting the name from.
This ceremony
as with all Traditional sacred ceremonies should never be performed in public.
You and
your family must also plan a meal or "feast" to celebrate after the Naming Ceremony is completed.
The seeking must be done through fasting, meditation, prayer or dreaming so that the spirits give the name, please
remember that an American native name is a name of the tribe that you are seeking the name from and is only spoken at prayer
to Creator and the ancestors,.
a name like walking with the wolf or standing bear are names spoken
around Europeans, if one speaks their American native name in public that person will be shunned by the ancestors!
If others are receiving their names,
the covered dishes will be shared.
Present
a gift of tobacco from your left hand to the left hand of the individual you are wishing to receive a name from this means
heart to heart.
This person should be a person you respect and must be someone who is an American native elder from the
nation that you are requesting a name from.
Personally
ask if you may make a request of this person, either in person, by phone or e-mail.
Receive
this individual's consent to allow you to make a request.
Honor a
male and a female with tobacco and request that they stand with you as sponsors at the ceremony. These should be individuals
who have made a significant impact in your life and are familiar with that American native nation.
At a gathering the Elder person burns tobacco as an offering and pronounces the new name to each of the 4 Directions,
everyone present repeats the name when it is called out.
The Spirit World then accepts and can recognize the face of the child as a living person.
Creator the Spirit World and ancestors then guard the child and prepare
a place for him or her when their life ends.
At the naming ceremony the parents ask for Elders, four men and four women to be sponsors for the child.
The sponsors publicly vow to support and guide the child.
Naming ceremony
is held in a prayer circle with a fire, both of which must be properly prepared. (Honor the prayer circle with appropriate
attire and attitudes. Regalia should be worn if available.)
Give thanks
to the Creator and all the sponsors.
One should NEVER have to pay for any
American native gift; if you do the gift will be void!
Grand Sachem Chief Walkingfox
Tribal 13 moon ceremony.
13 Moon Ceremony to become a Clan Grandmother is a sacred ceremony
for Eastern woodland American native tribes to strengthen
and insure their royal families.
Eastern Woodland American Native Clan is defined as a group of people
usually related by family ties, and under the leadership of a matriarch
the Clan is based on a matrilineal system.
They have Clan Grandmothers and Grandfathers, (13 mood ceremony)
as well as Clan Mothers and Clan Fathers.
The Clan Grandmother is the keeper of the sacred medicine bundle
from which the Clan derives its right of existence in most
traditional Native American Clans, and who, in conjunction
with the Clan Mothers, generally has the authority to
set policy for
the Clan as a whole.
The Clan Grandfather carries the Clan name and who, in conjunction
with the Clan Fathers, is generally responsible for ensuring
that the policies established by the Clan Grandmother are implemented
at the well of the Sachem.
A person can also be adopted into a clan (The 13 moon ceremony).
Clan adoption is an almost universally accepted means of admitting
Outsiders and helps in the preservation of the tribe.
The word clan comes from the time of the Vikings trade visit
and family mixings long before Christopher Columbus came to our shores,
the Europeans also have clans.
A 13 should not be confused with women’s moon ceremony
and it shows that a person cannot hand out names to non American natives
in a day for a price as is being done extremely often
nowadays
in native country, by phony medicine man!
AHO!
What is an American native Powwow (Paw-paus)?
If you wish after you finish enjoying this page
please feel free to come and enjoy our pages
about traditional American native
events like our powwows.
http://home.earthlink.net/~sachemuncas/powwows/
| PLEASE REMEMBER THE PAST WARS and |
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| TREAT OUR NEW RETURNING WARRIORS WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE! |
| Walkingfox is a |
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| Vietnam Veteran |
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