Page 17 - Six Nations Community Plan 2019

MOTHER EARTH: WHAT WE HEARD AROUND THE TABLE…

Where we have come from:

A respectful relationship with Mother Earth is central to Haudenosaunee people and necessary for us to have healthy minds,
bodies and spirits. We were given the teachings of the Ganǫhǫnyǫhk (Thanksgiving Address) so we could know how to respect
all the different parts of Mother Earth. The teachings remind us that she is where we came from and that we are part of her
creation. Our cycle of ceremonies also tells us how to relate to Mother Earth through the foods and medicines we grow and eat
for sustenance throughout the year. Our teachings also give us the knowledge to be skilled agriculturalists and hunters, and
to have a connection to the earth through the animals we hunt and the foods we grow to feed ourselves and our community.
Traditionally, every part of a plant or animal had a role in our tools, houses and clothing and so we did not produce waste.

Where we are today:

Today, our community is coined “the lungs of Ontario” by our neighbours for the amount of healthy Carolinian forest and
wetlands we have. Visible from space, our patch of green is a representation of how we value Mother Earth. However, our
relationship with Mother Earth is at risk because of our current habits. Instead of a responsibility to nurture Mother Earth
for future generations, our relationship has become based on individual possession and personal benefit. Producing food
has become less of a priority in the community, and the way we practice it has changed toward short term economic gain. A
growing culture of consumption is producing waste which litters our environment and impacts our Haudenosaunee ways of
keeping balance with Mother Earth. But a deep respect for all creation is motivating us to change as we explore clean energy
and innovative waste management solutions. We still hold respect for Mother Earth because we know our survival depends
on her wellbeing and we want to find ways to make our actions match our principles. Our culture tells us how to celebrate and
honour Mother Earth through ceremonies and acknowledgments that continue to remind us of our responsibilities. As more
people return to these responsibilities, we are rebuilding our reciprocal relationship with Mother Earth.

How we will move into the future:

As Haudenosaunee people we know we have a responsibility to be stewards of the land and keepers of Mother Earth. When
we think of the coming faces, seven generations into the future, we must consider the impact of our actions today on the land.
By centering Haudenosaunee best practices in a modern context, we will rebuild our relationship with Mother Earth. The more
self-sufficient we are with our food, water and energy production, the more we will build our strength and self-determination.
As more of us learn our languages and become more familiar with our ceremonies we can better identify and relate to the land
and beings around us.

Our Vision for the future is that…

“Six Nations is a community with a strong and respectful
relationship with Mother Earth. We protect Her to provide
for us and future generations. We limit our impact and
enhance the natural systems around us.”

17