Page 27 - Six Nations Community Plan 2019

CULTURE: WHAT WE HEARD AROUND THE TABLE…

Where we have come from:

Our Haudenosaunee culture - including our six languages, teachings, ceremonies and arts - was given to us by
Shǫgwayˀadíhsˀǫh (Creator) to keep us safe and strong and enable us to communicate knowledge and emotion. It is our
identity, the core of who we are and is what distinguishes us from other nations and communities. Our traditional languages
did not have a specific word for the arts because our songs, dances and other artforms were engrained in us as ways of being,
of expressing ourselves and of celebrating the beauty of our nations with one another.
Our history through colonialism is a story of external influences trying to remove our identity by detaching us from our culture
and languages. Decades ago, leaders in culture and the arts fought this process of removal and started us on the path of
revitalization and celebration that we are on today.

Where we are today:

We are a unique people with a lot to offer the world around us through our arts, sharing our language, and promoting our
culture. While there is still so much room to grow before we all know and live our culture, we are in a resurgence. The richness
and vastness of our various artists, musicians, dancers and filmmakers using our culture as a vessel for creative expression are
a celebration of this change. Our people are embracing technology to tell our own stories in ways that challenge outside media.
We have more and more people learning their languages through a variety of programs and immersion schools. This change is
bringing the community through healing as individuals and families embrace their identity through arts, language and culture.
Our growing tourism sector is empowering us to tell our own stories to other communities in celebration and education.

While we celebrate the continued resurgence in our culture, our journey is far from complete. Too often we forget the
importance of arts, culture and language when making decisions about funding and program development. Without sustained
resources dedicated to these areas we risk the loss of our culture and our Haudenosaunee identity for future generations.

How we will move into the future:

Our Ka’nikonhrí:io (Good Mind) teachings will be remembered in our daily lives as we continue to reconcile the culture and
tradition of our past with the opportunities of a modern future. By bringing our teachings to the forefront of our everyday
lives, we will instill pride in the generations to come. We will be rooted in the culture to be stronger, healthier people who feel
comfortable and confident speaking our languages. Our arts and culture will continue to be a way we transmit knowledge to
each other, to other communities, and to future generations.

Our Vision for the future is that…

“Six Nations is a thriving Haudenosaunee community
where all six languages are spoken, and the community
is vibrant with our arts. Our teachings empower us to
preserve our identity for future generations and share it
with the world.”

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