"Four Speakers Provided a Memorable Evening"

OHSWEKEN - Every once in a while you find yourself in the right place at the right time. Those of us who were in the packed dining hall at Community Hall last Wednesday night were truly fortunate.

That was the night when four speakers, two women and two men, created an uplifting of spirit for everybody present - one of those rare times when human beings put their minds together and oneness becomes reality. Don't ask why. Probably nobody can explain it except maybe the speaker who predicted it would happen.

The Ganohkwa Sra (for love among us) Family Violence program presented an elders forum entitled Family Violence: Breaking the Cycle. Gina VanEvery, a community counsellor, co-ordinated the event for Community Awareness Week.

What had begun as a quite good elders panel discussion built into a truly great one. The speakers complemented each other and their words wove a strong fabric on Ongwehonwe neha (Indian way) beliefs around their topic.

"We never had that," Ann Jock, a Bear clan person from Akswesasne, reminded her audience. She then went on to explain ancient family values, roles and the wisdom behind her statement.

Dave Jock, another Bear clan person from Akwesasne, predicted how the audience would feel by the time they left. He warned of the harms of the "nut box" (television) and how the people had come to follow the ways of the dominant culture. Monkey see, monkey do, is how he put it.

He asked how many knew the right way to pray to Sonkwaiatis:on, the Creator, the maker of our bodies. He reminded the people that they do not harm women, children or each other because you do not harm what the Creator has made.

After discussing the power women have, Sylvia Maracle, Wolf clan person from Tyendinaga, gave a demonstration of a woman's physical strength over a man. She paralleled a woman's strength to that of water, the nurturer. She explained the special relationship women have with our grandmother, the moon and why this is so.

When Tom Porter began talking, his first words croaked from a sore throat. By the time he had finished, however, he had eloquently taken us through an unforgettable journey of Ongwehonwe wisdom that touched all the human emotions.

A member of the Bear clan at Akwesasne, Mr. Porter has moved many hearts and minds throughout North America with his humble approach to oratory. He concluded by reminding the people that they are very special because the Creator gave them something very special called the Kariwi:io, the Good Word or Great Law. Everything He intended for the people is still inside that circle.

Some in the audience were teary-eyed at all the beautiful words that were fitly spoken. This was one of those nights when everything pervaded the room. Most of us sat, as if stunned, reflecting on nearly four hours of ancient teachings.

A great rapport had been reached. Something very special had happened. Purity had been demonstrated.

Ganohkwa Sra is on the second floor of the Needs Service Building, which is the white house across from Iroquois Village Centre. Information about the family violence program is available by phoning 445-4324.