Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen and Kanien’kehá:ka Teachings of Gratitude and Connection

• Main Authors: Otsi’tsakén:ra Charlie Patton, Alicia Ibarra-Lemay, Louellyn White
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Genealogy
• Subjects: Kanien’kehá:ka; first nations; healing; storytelling; traditions; harvest
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/5/3/81

This article stems from a conversation with Otsi’tsakén:ra Charlie Patton that took place on Mohawk/Kanien’kehá:ka territory in Southern Turtle Island (Also known as Quebec, Canada) Otsi: tsaken’ra is a Kanien’kehá:ka who teaches the importance of harvest and the inter-relational connection that human beings have with what they harvest. His teachings begin with the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (Also known as the Thanksgiving address, greetings, or opening prayer), an opening address, which invites all who partake to be “of one mind”. The Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen embodies the importance of storytelling, the Creation story, harvest teachings, and cultural continuity, which are all important teachings that are necessary for Onkwehónwe (The Original People) to begin healing from the effects of colonialism, cultural and linguistic disconnection, state-imposed violence, and racism.