Post by blackcrowheart on Jul 23, 2007 10:22:26 GMT -5
TWO ROW WAMPUM
TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
Between the Onkwehonwe and the Dutch, English and French
The Whiteman said, "I confirm what you have said and this we shall
always remember. What we do about our own ways of belief we shall
both respect having our own rights and power." The Onkwehonwe
replied, "I have a canoe and you have a vessel with sails and this is
what we shall do: I will put in my canoe by beliefs and laws; in your
vessel you will put your beliefs and laws; all of my people in my
canoe; your people in your vessel; we shall put these boats in the
water and they shall always be parallel as long as there is Mother
Earth, this will be everlasting."
The Whiteman said, "What will happen supposing your people will like
to go into my vessel?" The Onkwehonwe replied, "If this happens then
they will have to be guided by your vessel, by your beliefs and your
laws. I don't believe the your people would like to go into my canoe
because it is so swift, but if it so happens then they shall be
guided by my canoe." Now the Whiteman understands this agreement.
The Whiteman said, "What will happen if any of your people may some
day want to have one foot in each of the boats that we placed
parallel in the water?" The Onkwehonwe replied, "If this so happens
that my people may with to have their feet in each of the boats;
there will be a high wind and the boats will separate and the person
that has his feet in each of the boats shall fall between the boats;
and there is no living soul who will be able to bring him back to the
right way given by the Creator himself."
The Whiteman said, "I understand, I confirm what you have said, that
this will be everlasting as long as there is Mother Earth. We have
confirmed this and our generations to come shall never forget what we
have agreed. Now it is understood that we shall never interfere with
one another's beliefs or laws for generations to come."
The Whiteman said, he would respect the Onkwehonwe belief and
pronounce him as a son. The Onkwehonwe replied, "I respect you, your
belief and what you say; you pronounced yourself as my father and
this I do not agree, because the father can tell his son what to do
and also can punish him; I suggest that you pronounce me as your brother."
The Whiteman said, "The symbol of this covenant is a three link chain
which binds this agreement made by us, and there is nothing that will
come between us to break the links of this chain." The Onkwehonwe
replied, "The first link shall stand for friendship, the second link
will stand for our good minds, and the third link shall mean there
will always be peace between us. This is confirmed by us." Again the
Onkwehonwe said, "This friendship will be everlasting and the younger
generation will know and the rising faces from Mother Earth will
benefit from our agreement."
The Whiteman said, "What symbol will you go by?" The Onkwehonwe
replied, "We will go by these symbols: When the Creator made Mother
Earth and created man to walk upon this earth, to enjoy all nature's
fruits saying no one shall claim Mother Earth except the rising faces
which are to be born; 1) as long as the sun shines upon the earth,
that is how long our agreement will stand; 2) as long as the water
still flows; and 3) as long as the grass grows green at a certain
time of the year. Now we have symbolized this agreement and it shall
be binding forever as long as Mother Earth is still in motion. We
have finished and we understand what we have confirmed and this is
what our generation should know and learn not to forget.
Chief Jacob E. Thomas
TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
Between the Onkwehonwe and the Dutch, English and French
The Whiteman said, "I confirm what you have said and this we shall
always remember. What we do about our own ways of belief we shall
both respect having our own rights and power." The Onkwehonwe
replied, "I have a canoe and you have a vessel with sails and this is
what we shall do: I will put in my canoe by beliefs and laws; in your
vessel you will put your beliefs and laws; all of my people in my
canoe; your people in your vessel; we shall put these boats in the
water and they shall always be parallel as long as there is Mother
Earth, this will be everlasting."
The Whiteman said, "What will happen supposing your people will like
to go into my vessel?" The Onkwehonwe replied, "If this happens then
they will have to be guided by your vessel, by your beliefs and your
laws. I don't believe the your people would like to go into my canoe
because it is so swift, but if it so happens then they shall be
guided by my canoe." Now the Whiteman understands this agreement.
The Whiteman said, "What will happen if any of your people may some
day want to have one foot in each of the boats that we placed
parallel in the water?" The Onkwehonwe replied, "If this so happens
that my people may with to have their feet in each of the boats;
there will be a high wind and the boats will separate and the person
that has his feet in each of the boats shall fall between the boats;
and there is no living soul who will be able to bring him back to the
right way given by the Creator himself."
The Whiteman said, "I understand, I confirm what you have said, that
this will be everlasting as long as there is Mother Earth. We have
confirmed this and our generations to come shall never forget what we
have agreed. Now it is understood that we shall never interfere with
one another's beliefs or laws for generations to come."
The Whiteman said, he would respect the Onkwehonwe belief and
pronounce him as a son. The Onkwehonwe replied, "I respect you, your
belief and what you say; you pronounced yourself as my father and
this I do not agree, because the father can tell his son what to do
and also can punish him; I suggest that you pronounce me as your brother."
The Whiteman said, "The symbol of this covenant is a three link chain
which binds this agreement made by us, and there is nothing that will
come between us to break the links of this chain." The Onkwehonwe
replied, "The first link shall stand for friendship, the second link
will stand for our good minds, and the third link shall mean there
will always be peace between us. This is confirmed by us." Again the
Onkwehonwe said, "This friendship will be everlasting and the younger
generation will know and the rising faces from Mother Earth will
benefit from our agreement."
The Whiteman said, "What symbol will you go by?" The Onkwehonwe
replied, "We will go by these symbols: When the Creator made Mother
Earth and created man to walk upon this earth, to enjoy all nature's
fruits saying no one shall claim Mother Earth except the rising faces
which are to be born; 1) as long as the sun shines upon the earth,
that is how long our agreement will stand; 2) as long as the water
still flows; and 3) as long as the grass grows green at a certain
time of the year. Now we have symbolized this agreement and it shall
be binding forever as long as Mother Earth is still in motion. We
have finished and we understand what we have confirmed and this is
what our generation should know and learn not to forget.
Chief Jacob E. Thomas