Eyawyan

Éyawyan…

Your Mighty Hand is in the storm

But your eye is on the smallest of those whom you’ve created

The Splendor of Your Breath

Is upon the tree tops

While the hindmost parts of Your Glory

Rests upon the flowers and other little ones

The strength of Your Breath

Prevails upon me

While the softness of Your Touch caresses my cheek

I am reminded of how much I need you

And all you symbolize in this Earth Walk

To find my way back when this sojourn is over

Is the truest form of love you have extended

Thus the fierceness of the Storm

Reminds me of the frailty of Life

And where I need to focus my attention

For this is not my home

But there amidst the clouds and thunder

Hides the Mighty One I need to return to

When all is said and done

Oh Mamogosnan/Yeshua, may I always find you

Hidden in every walk of Life

I have been given

Nin se Neaseno…….

Some simple words on prayer

I make this post on prayer words as we seem to be on a collision course with prophetic discourses of elders I once knew and certainly, the Spirit of all Life has even revealed prophecies of this time to me personally. I have walked in this sacred manner of our people for may years and have managed to cultivate a working relationship with our Creator and His Helpers over the years.

It is my belief we Neshnabek are facing one of the most difficult times of our existence thus far. We have faced famine, colonial onslaughts, wars, racial conflicts, discrimination, and the like for many years and have survived. We are a tried, tested and proven people, when it comes to surviving, but we have yet to face our Creator to make us ready for these times the human race must traverse.

Not many years ago, I had the experience of several visions which I did not completely understand then. In 2003, I and several young Native men, heard Four Whistles coming from somewhere above us. They were clear and very distinct, thus could not be mistaken for anything else but whistles, and they came from all around us, from the Universe.   

At one time, in the not too distant past, I witnessed some strange creatures being released into this world, from the Under World. They were strange in appearance and there was a horrible stench from all around them. They seemed to be searching for something and it was revealed to me they were here as servants of the Holy One to test mankind for all the injustice done to the Earth and its denizens. 

There have been trumpet sounds and eagle bone whistle sounds I have heard periodically over the past few years, as though to remind me of former visions, revelations given to me during fasts and periods of introspection. All of this has had to do with this period of time we are currently experiencing.

More on that later, for now, these are some prayer words to help ya all, as prayer is  the way to the heart and soul of our Creator and the Above Places. We need our Creator more than ever now. 

Iw enaj mo yan!    That is all I have to say.  Iw sega nomgek!    Ending a prayer/Amen. 

Kob je ge waj gen!   To end a prayer/to end S.T. 

Ahau, e Kob je ge waj ge yak!  Ok, Let’s tie things up! 

Ok, Let’s end things! 

Ok, Let’s wrap things up! 

Ke bon ye wi men   Let’s Quit! 

Kesh Kwata men  Let’s Stop! (Ceremonial use) 

Kweb ye wi men   Let’s get started

Kwe web ta men  Another one.

Etso nangot oy go  Each and everyone of us

Jagé na gomgé Each and everyone of us

Nozhoyen etso nangotoygo!   Bless each and everyone of us! 

Jage nag onan –  All of my relations!  

Gdenwe magnek 

Gdenwe magnenanek 

Gdenwe magnedok—- All of my relatives!  All inclusive statement: Includes the Two leggeds, The Four leggeds, The Creeping Crawling  Things, The Winged Nation, The Fire, The Rock, The Water, and the Green.  This also takes into account the past, present, and future on all these things. 

Gagiget    to talk-to say a prayer 

Shkwede     Fire

Shkwedensi  Fire Spirit 

Jak gego ga gishtot   He/She made everything 

Nibok stand up/plural 

Kawtagnagjegen   to make a circle/describes a  dance 

Kawtagnajegemen  let’s make a circle and dance 

E’pe    and/or/either 

Ewseganomgek    ending a prayer 

Wemtegoshi   French

Kchemokman  American

Shagnash   British/Canadian 

Niokade   my namesake

Nenwitok   my fellow man(en) 

Kwetok  my fellow woman(en) 

Kobjegewat  they are closing the circle 

Kobjegeyak  we are closing this circle/end the doings 

Gwi kobjegemen  we will end this thing 

Kobjegewajgen  to end a prayer or something 

Shgetagen  punk wood/used to start fires with 

Sketagen  sometimes spelled this way 

Jignek  kneeling down 

Mezodan   parent 

Mezodanek  our parents 

Mezodanek  family 

Dodanek  another family 

Jagenagomge   each and everyone of us 

Jagenagonan  all of our relatives

Wdenwemagnedok  all of our relatives/spiritual term 

Bgosenjegewen  hope for/wish for 

Ode eshe bgosenmegomen  This is what we hope/ask for from you 

Ode eshe bgosenmegoygo   This is what we hope/ask for 

Ode gde she bgosenmego  This is what you are being asked of/for 

Simple prayer words

Iw enaj mo yan!                                 That is all I have to say.  Iw sega nomgek!                                Ending a prayer/Amen.

Kob je ge waj gen!                             To end a prayer/to end S.T.

Ahau, e Kob je ge waj ge yak! Ok, Let’s tie things up!

Ok, Let’s end things!

Ok, Let’s wrap things up!

Ke bon ye wi men                               Let’s Quit!

Kesh Kwata men                                Let’s Stop! (Ceremonial use)

Kweb ye wi men                                Let’s get started

Kwe web ta men                                Another one.

Etso nangot oy go                               Each and everyone of us

Jagé na gomgé                                   Each and everyone of us

Nozhoyen etso nangotoygo!               Bless each and everyone of us!

Jage nag onan –                                  All of my relations!  

Gdenwe magnek

Gdenwe magnenanek

Gdenwe magnedok—-                       All of my relatives!  All inclusive statement: Includes the Two leggeds, The Four leggeds, The Creeping Crawling  Things, The Winged Nation, The Fire, The Rock, The Water, and the Green.  This also takes into account the past, present, and future on all these things.

Gagiget                                                 to talk-to say a prayer

Shkwede                                               Fire

Shkwedensi                                          Fire Spirit

Jak gego ga gishtot                              He/She made everything

Nibok                                                   stand up/plural

Kawtagnagjegen                                to make a circle/describes a  dance

Kawtagnajegemen                    let’s make a circle and dance

E’pe                                                  and/or/either

Ewseganomgek                                  ending a prayer

Wemtegoshi                                       French

Kchemokman                                    American

Shagnash                                           British/Canadian

Niokade                                             my namesake

Nenwitok                                           my fellow man(en)

Kwetok                                             my fellow woman(en)

Kobjegewat                              they are closing the circle

Kobjegeyak                              we are closing this circle/end the doings

Gwi kobjegemen                                we will end this thing

Kobjegewajgen                                  to end a prayer or something

Shgetagen                                          punk wood/used to start fires with

Sketagen                                            sometimes spelled this way

Jignek                                                kneeling down

Mezodan                                            parent

Mezodanek                                        our parents

Mezodanek                                        family

Dodanek                                            another family

Jagenagomge                                     each and everyone of us

Jagenagonan                                      all of our relatives

Wdenwemagnedok                             all of our relatives/spiritual term

Bgosenjegewen                                  hope for/wish for

Ode eshe bgosenmegomen                 This is what we hope/ask for from you

Ode eshe bgosenmegoygo                  This is what we hope/ask for

Ode gde she bgosenmego                   This is what you are being asked of/for

An idea of time

Ni je ga kedwat Monday gi Neshnabek mno wi pi

Anake Tuesday

Anake Wednesday

Anake Thursday

Anake Friday

Anake Saturday

Anake Sunday

Cho wika gi shenkanawat gi gete Neshnabek ode gishek ekendemwat ngom gode bemadsejek mine cho wi gi towat I kendaswen wa je zhechkewat

Gizes se Gizes egi bmadzewat mteno

Anake gizes se gizes nishwabtek sech shwatso gishek gi gedasowat

Ngot pon      one year

Nish, nswe, nyew, nyannen, ngotwatso, shwatso mine megwa….ponok

Ishkwepon   last year

Gepon           another year

Weje mokit o Gizes iw pi gishek gi yawen

Waben gi yawen    morning

Bkoj geshep            very early in the morning/morning star time

Geshep                     early morning

Waseyabek             dawn time

Zagaben                   it is daylight, break of dawn

Mokiwen                   sun rise

Wika waben            late morning

Naw waben             another mid morning

Aptad waben          mid morning

Bwamshe nawkwek   before noon

Nawkwek                 high noon or mid day

Gizhnawkwek         afternoon

Aptegishnawkwek       mid-afternoon

Wika gishnawkwek     late afternoon

Geshebkeshmok         very early evening

Mine ebgeshmok o Gizes iw pi nebgeshmok gi yawen

Anake dbeket         night

Pkonyak                   night time

Dbekok                     last night

Aptadbeket             mid night

Gizhabtadbeket     after mid night

Negospiwaben       morning star time

Boj/bozh geshep     really early in the morning/very early          

Ni je ga wje nendemwat gi gete Neshnabek mno wi pi ode eshenkanawat node gishgwen ode gchemokman

Ni je ga shenkanawat gi gishgek gi gete Neshnabek

Sun Observance—-Sun to Sun

Days were observed according to today, tomorrow and yesterday; see below:

Ngotek gi yawen

                                    Ngom                  

                                    Wabek                  wes         gchewes                             

                                    Wnago                  wes        gchewes

                                    Gizes                     shkwaj   ashgizes      gegizes

                                    Gizos                     diminutive

                                    Gishek                  ashtek   shkwaj

Gishek                      day or sky

Ashtek gishek        next day

Gizhgwen                 days

Ni je ode gishek yawen   originally referred to what time of day was it? Not what day was it?

Anet node kedwenen

Iw pi                           then

Iw je pi                       when

Ni je pi                       when

Ni jo pi                       when

Odo pi                        at this time

Ode she pi                right now

Imse ngotek            at one time

Ni pi je                       where

Ni pi je o                   who

Ni je wej                    why or what

Ni je weje                 how

Ni je                            what, usually asked after the manner of s.t.

Wegni je                   what

Weni                          what

Heni                           what

Beh                            that’s it, that’s good

Ne                               at the start of s.t., beginning s.t.

Naw                           middle, center of s.t.

Gish                           to split, to cut, to divide into pieces or parts

Moki                           to rise up, to appear from below….

Wika                           late

Bwamshe                 before

Aptad/apte              half of s.t.

Gizh/gish                  to cut, to divide, to separate, to split

Bkoj                           wild, untamed

Ge                              another

Ishkwe                      last

Pi                                unit of time

Wabek           wab is to see; to describe a state of being that is animated with light, as it comes into being and slowly pushes the darkness away.

                        It also means tomorrow (the next light)  and there is a future tense quality about it.

Waben          wab is to see;  to describe a state of being that has happened and is hanging there for everyone to witness the light and see what it has done.

                        It also means morning and there is a past tense quality about it. As though you should witness what the light has accomplished.

Ngom             is today (this light) and has a very present tense about it. It also means now. It describes something that is very much in the now frame of mind.

Wnago          means yesterday (past light) and has a past tense quality about it. It describes something that was, or has happened.

Gizes             describes something that has always been and is used to describe the quality of the sun which is the greatest light in the sky. This word refers to the several parts of a given happening, (day) (or light).

Gishek          word meant to describe the day (light). This word also implies it can be sectioned or split into many parts of its existence.

Gishget         having to do with the type of day (light) it is, describing the day (light) it is, again, split into parts of the light it is

Gishgek        having a future tense about it, describing a time in the future, when

Dbeket          describes something that hangs down and covers the light so everything is darkened. Word used for night.

Dbekok         describes a hanging down that has covered the light for a time, refers to a specific period of time.               

Nawkwek     describes the exact middle of something and used to refer to the noon day period of time and other periods of the day (light).

Bozh/Boj geshep   describing very early in the morning.

Giskpeknyak           describes the falling of the light, as to become very dark, when the light appears to be completely obscured.

                                    Refers to that period of night when it is the darkest.

Simple Ceremonies

Some suggestions for personal prayer.

Many times I have been asked what folks can do for themselves in the way of personal prayer. Here are some simple suggestions one might try.

try these….nin se Neaseno.




Some simple ceremonies

These several simple ceremonies are suggestions that one can do for themselves and their families when in need. They are not the type of ceremonies that are performed by a medicine man/woman, although they can be done for you in your behalf by a spiritual leader. They are offered to you in lieu of having a spiritual leader do them for you, for those times when you might be alone and cannot reach someone who can pray more effectively for you and your needs.
Please do not underestimate the power of your own heartfelt prayers though, as many folks do not fully comprehend that a loving Spirit appreciates hearing from His/Her Creation once in awhile, just to say thanks sometimes, but also when there are pressing needs in one’s life or the lives of your loved ones.

1. Building a Neshnabe fire.
a. Flint and steel type of fire with shketagen.
b. The offering of sema afterwards.
c. *The occasional offering of food, sema and water.
d. You can also ‘smudge” yourself with cedar/sage.
2. If you have access to a “*personal pipe,
a. Build a Neshnabe type of fire again,
b. Then fill your pipe and pray,
c. You can also make a yellow prayer flag to go with it,
d. Dimensions: a flag, 12 “ x 36 “ with sema in the right corner.

*A personal pipe is not the same as a pipe carried by a medicine man.

*Not to be confused with the Ghost Supper. That is a separate ceremony itself.
Usually hosted by a family elder or a spiritual leader.


If you have a family, husband and wife with children, one of the main things I encourage folks to do is to have a “family altar”, i.e., a designated time for the family to pray together about common needs they all have. A “family altar” is not to be confused with a medicine man’s altar. In this way, the children will learn how to pray and deal with common problems and occurrences within their lives. You, the parents, have the awesome responsibility of role modeling these several ways to the children the Spirit has blessed you with. You will derive a great many blessings from following a carefully scheduled time for family prayer, and the observance of the other simple ceremonies one can do for oneself.

If one practices these types of ceremonies religiously during one’s life, it becomes a way of maintaining one’s spiritual health. One needs to pray about things occasionally on their own. One needs to search their souls and spirits once in awhile and make restitution by asking the Creative Force to forgive for wrongs committed and restoring the harmony and balance we all need in our lives.

One should always keep a supply of good flat cedar and sweet grass around their homes. It wouldn’t hurt to keep some white sage for smudging purposes also. A good tobacco or sema that does not have all those additives should also be kept around as well. All of these articles can be used for smudging and of course, one fills their personal pipe with the sema too when needed. Shketagen, with some good flint and a steel striker are essentials in the Neshnabe home. Keeping a ready supply of dry kindling and grasses one can harvest from nature is something one should think about keeping also. Being prepared to pray is a commitment one has to make and be ready to do at a moments notice within their lives.

The lesson here: Be prepared, pray always……

Iw enajmoyan…. Posted by neaseno at 4:47 AM

Precautions on COVID-19

MPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – CORONAVIRUS
Last evening dining out with friends, one of their uncles, who’s graduated with a master’s degree and who worked in Shenzhen Hospital (Guangdong Province, China) sent him the following notes on Coronavirus for guidance:
1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold
2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose.
3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 80 degrees. It hates the Sun.
4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne.
5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours – so if you come into contact with any metal surface – wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.
6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it.
7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.
8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but – a lot can happen during that time – you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on.
9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice.
10. Can’t emphasise enough – drink plenty of water!
THE SYMPTOMS
1. It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days
2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further.
3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.
4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you’re drowning. It’s imperative you then seek immediate attention.
SPREAD THE WORD – PLEASE SHARE.

Praying with fire/to fire spirit

  With Fire

Ahau, nge kwe gagiget

Okay, I shall speak for a moment

Semau ode mbegdenamen

This tobacco we put down

Nde bgednemwamen o Mamogosnan

We put down for the Creator

Ode je ge ginan

As for us

Nedwenamen ewi msenmoyak

We desire to be blessed with

I mno bmadsewen

A Good Life

Wa je wisniyak

Ability to get food

Mine wa biskemyak

And clothing

Wa je biskonye’ayak

That we may be able to provide clothing

Mine wa je shemayak

And that we’ll be able to feed

Gi nijansesnanek

Our children

Mine ge winwa ge msendagwzik

And also let them be blessed

Mbwakawzewen nigan wje igwan

With intelligence ahead into the future

Mine nosemesnanek

And our grandchildren

Mine gode kekyajek

And the Elders

Ge winwa ge mnoshewebsewek

That they will be okay

Ebwa gwdektowat shna

And won’t have hard times

Mine ode Shkwedensi

And this Fire Spirit

Ge msenmo node semau mine ode wisnewen

Which will bless this food and tobacco

Ahau iw ode

This is what

Eshe nodjgesegwa

We ask for these

Bemadsejek

People

Iw…

That is all…

Prayer for food/feast

For food/feast

Ahau, nge kwe gagiget

Okay, I shall speak for a moment

Semau ode mbegdenamen

This tobacco we put down

Nde bgednemwamen o Mamogosnan

We put down for the Creator

Ode je ge ginan

As for us

Nedwenamen ewi msenmoyak

We desire to be blessed with

I mno bmadsewen

Good Life

Wa je wisniyak

Ability to get food

Mine wa je biskemyak

And clothing

Wa je biskonye’ayak

That we may be able to provide clothing

Mine wa je shemayak

And that we’ll be able to feed

Gi nijansesnanek

Our children

Mine ge winwa ge msendagwzik

And also let them be blessed

Mbwakawzewen nigan wjeigwan

With intelligence ahead into the future

Mine nosemesnanek

And our grandchildren

Mine gode kekyajek

And the Elders

Ge winwa ge mnoshewebsewek

That they’ll be okay

Ebwa gwdektowat shna

And won’t have hard times

Ode ge wisnewen mbegdenmamen

This food we put down

Ode ge wisnewen mine semau mbegdenmowamen

We put down this tobacco for this food

Mamogosnan mine jayek

The Creator and all

Mnedok enbejek

Of the spirits where they sit

Ahau iw ode

This is what

Eshe nodjgesegwa

We ask for these

Bemadsejek

People

Iw…

That is all…

Simple prayers

Ahau, nge kwe gagiget

All right, I will speak a little while

Semau ode mbegdenamen

This tobacco we put down

Nde bgednemwamen o Mamogosnan

We put down for the Creator

Ode je ge ginan

As for us                                           

Nedwemamen ewi msenmoyak

We desire to be blessed with

I mno bmadsewen

Good Life

Wa je wisniyak

Ability to get food

Mine wa je biskemyak

And clothing

Wa je biskonye’ayak

That we may be able to provide clothing

Mine wa je shemayak

And that we will be able to feed

Gi nijansesnanek

Our children

Mine ge winwa ge msendagwzik

And also let them be blessed

Mbwakawzewen nigan wje igwan

With intelligence ahead into the future

Mine nosemesnanek

And our grandchildren

Mine gode kekyajek

And those Elders

Ge winwa ge mnoshewebsewek

That they will be okay

Ebwa gwdektowat shna

And won’t have hard times

Ahau iw ode

This is what

Eshe nodjegesegwa

We ask for these

Bematsejek

People.

Iw…

That is all…

Native Spirituality

Ode Se Pwagen

The medicine, as we neshnabek know it, is very sacred.

It has to do with spiritual bonding/marriage and until one fully understands that, so one can yield themselves to that concept there can be nothing in the way of wisdom, understanding and knowledge that happens deep within the wellspring of the heart.

For knowledge to take root and understanding to usher in wisdom, along with its attributes, and wisdom to bring forth the fruits of his kind, there has to be a marriage to take place deep within the heart and soul of man.

I speak of the fruits called love, humility, respect, bravery, truth, honesty, and the lesser wisdom of man. Originally, there were only four of these the Spirit required of man. They were love, peace unity and guidance. It has been referred to as a phenomenon called WIDOKTADWEN.

Widoktadwen is that community spirit that binds men together, but should also include his Maker/Creator, and a deeply established relationship there. Widoktadwen also describes a cooperative spirit on all levels as it pertains to community and the nature of tribalism, along with a wholehearted willingness to do the will of the Spirit/spirits here on this earth where abide men and the children of men. It further describes an ability to interact with all of LIFE, i.e., the Life force, and forge meaningful relationships between God/gods and men.

All of this has to do with MARRIAGE!

The marriage/union of wood and spark to create a fire for cooking or ceremonial purposes.

The marriage/union of wood and stone when one connects the pipe for filling it.

The marriage/union of man and woman for purposes of establishing a family.

There are many other things in life that speak of this union between man and creation, Creator and creation, the Natural and Spiritual elements, etc.

That is the reason the marriage between male and female is such an important function to the neshnabek world because it speaks of the deeper levels of this most holy union, and what it symbolizes and represents on all levels of life.

The PIPE carries a strong message of union with it as it affects Neshnabe men and women. The red pipe stone bowl symbolizes the women and the ash or sumac wooden stem represents the men.

The red bowl has a female end where the male stem plugs into it. The red bowl and the wooden stem symbolizes the generations that come from the union between male and female, once the pipe is connected and ready for use.

The pipe carries four gifts with it:

         Wisdom,

         Power,

         Knowledge,

         and a gift.

Always pray for:

         Bravery,

         Endurance,

         Patience,

         and alertness/awareness.

The bottom of the pipe bowl represents the top of the earth and everything beneath the earth. When we fill the pipe we remember all of our relations, i.e., all created beings, past, present, and future. We offer seven pinches of tobacco in the bowl;

         One for the west and all the powers there,

         One for the north and all the powers there,

         One for the east and all the powers there,

         One for the south and all the powers there,

         One for mother earth and all plant life,

One for Mamogosnan and the sky with all the other powers,

         One for all of the people, past, present &                  future,

and this is representative of all creation in every direction, including deep within us.

Iw enajmoyan, nin se Neaseno…