Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Wahonise, There was a clan mother



On Thursday, November 28, Jan Hill came to our school to teach us about Aboriginal life nowadays and Wahonise (a long time ago).   Jan told us that she was part of the Mohawk tribe and she also told us that she was the clan mother of the turtle clan.  Being a clan mother means you take care of everyone in your clan.  For example, if someone is sick, Jan will take care of that person’s kids. Being a clan mother is a really important job.

Jan had a huge basket and she pulled out some medicines.  She showed us sage, sacred tobacco, sweet grass and white cedar.  I learned that there are two kinds of sage: women’s sage and men’s sage.   I also learned about something called smudging.  To smudge you take sweet grass which is braided and you set the tip on fire.  Then you put out the fire but you keep the smoke on the sweet grass.  You take the sweet grass and wash yourself with it.

I learned a lot of cool things and I would love for Jan Hill to come again!

By: Kendyl
Senior Editor: Kendyl

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