Etty Kloosterman ~ Saint Valentine
Recently we went to Saint Valentines, to the festival of Love!!
The Mohawk Traditional Council had been invited for the last three years to this festival , but due to other running programs, was this the year they could go and also went, I believe that all things happen in the right time and in the right moment.
Every year around this time its party time in Saint Valentine, that little village turns into a happy place, streets filled with hearts every-were, people who still believe in love towards each other, and they wanna celebrate it !!
In a barn that belongs to artist Robert Lorraine is an exposition , were he shows his artwork and other artist have the possibility to show there art to the public. To me it was fantastic!!
The Mohawk Traditional Council was invited to do a ceremony of love, So a big fire outside was lite and people gathered around the fire. Mr. Stuart Myiow Sr., opened this old Mohawk ceremony and all was done in Mohawk language by burning first tobacco into the fire, and asking that all minds would be open towards each other and become one in love.
Next Mr. Stuart Myiow jr , who talked about how we all should get back to materialinial society, turning away from male dominance. Male dominance has brought us, to degrade woman, murder them , burn them, rape them and turn them into baby producing, war feeding individuals, that’s who they became for the last 2000 years. That we should learn our children from a young age to respect woman, because woman are the givers of life, so that we in a deeper understanding grow back to love our Mother Earth and Grandmother Moon, to restore and heal them from the destruction that is still going on , all around this world.
Next Mr. Stuart Myiow jr , who talked about how we all should get back to materialinial society, turning away from male dominance. Male dominance has brought us, to degrade woman, murder them , burn them, rape them and turn them into baby producing, war feeding individuals, that’s who they became for the last 2000 years. That we should learn our children from a young age to respect woman, because woman are the givers of life, so that we in a deeper understanding grow back to love our Mother Earth and Grandmother Moon, to restore and heal them from the destruction that is still going on , all around this world.
What mother likes to hear that her son is killed in battle, to her, he is not a soldier but a son, that wont be near her anymore, but stolen away to a never ending, war feeding machine.
Children should learn in schools about the Great Law of Peace, and not being exposed and manipulated how to become victims to the frenzy of the male dominated society.
Most people around the fire had an open heart for all of this what was said, and Mr Stuart Myiow jr, closed the ceremony, personally I hope that not only hearts have been opened but also eyes to all the injustice that has been done to all the woman during the centuries, the emotions that were shared made it all so peaceful near the warm fire.
Lets listen and acknowledge that the native people have the “medicine”, to heal our broken identities, only then can we live again in harmony with Mother Earth.
Etty Kloosterman,
Kahnawake, Turtle Island.
I certainly hear what you say, Etty. Women have carried this historic shame within themselves for far too long & thus been silenced by it. It is time for us women to realize that we, as women & mothers, are perpetuating the male-dominated society by raising our sons to fit right in & our daughters to silently bear injustices done as we have.
I still find the Silence of Women against Sexual Violations dumbfounding….. we just don’t want to talk about it & hope it will go away. Time for another article on the subject perhaps….