About this Event
Shé:kon sewakwé:kon. Tekwanonhwerá:tons. 'Hello everyone. I greet you all.'
I am Tehota'kerá:ton, Dr. Jeremy Green, an Assistant Professor in the Indigenous Studies Program at York University. In partnership with Founders College, I am your host for this event and I am very excited to invite you to come and have fun while experiencing contemporary Haudenosaunee culture at the Haudenosaunee Social Dance.
The purpose of the social dance is to diversify learning experiences for York University students. In alignment with course requirements and learning outcomes for INDG 3535 Indigenous Knowledge & The Environment , and to support student learning and success, INDG 3535 students and other invited guests will participate in a Haudenosaunee social dance.
Invited singers and dancers from Six Nations of the Grand River will be in attendance to lead the class and other guests to participate in Onhswentsiakékha Na'karennó:ten, 'Earth Songs' which are traditional Haudenosaunee social songs and dances. Participants will experience Watatsheró:ten 'Standing Quiver Dance', Teyothwatasè:ton 'Round Dance', Tsihskokohnéha 'Robin Dance', Sorahnéha 'Duck Dance', Teka'nonton'néha 'Alligator Dance' and others as time permits.
Haudenosaunee foods may be provided for participants.
Special thanks goes out to the offices of the Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives, ISAY, the Center for Indigenous Knowledges & Languages (CIKL), and Founders College!! Special thanks also goes out to LA&PS Undergraduate Program Assistant Rebecca Dillon for all of her help, assistance, guidance and effort in making this event possible! Niá:wen
This event is open to the York community. Participants must be pre-registered in order to attend. Participants will sign in when entering the Founders Assembly Hall, located on the main floor of Founders College.
We hope to see you there and that you have a great time!
Agenda
🕑: 11:30 AM - 02:30 PM
Haudenosaunee Social Dance Tentative Agena
Info:
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Arrival & Sign-in
Info: Social dance participants are invited to arrive early, have their eventbrite tickets scanned at the table just inside the entry to Founders Assembly Hall, and take some time to visit, get comfortable etc. Participants are encouraged to stay for the entire event and may respectfully leave after the closing address (releasing of minds).
🕑: 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Ohén:ton Karihwatékhwen - Opening Address
Info: The Ohén:ton Karihwatékhwen is a customary speech used whenever people gather, before meetings, events, ceremonies and social occasions. The purpose of the Opening Address is to welcome everyone, inform everyones minds of the purpose of the gathering, direct words of thanksgiving and acknowledgement to creation, and to bring everyone's minds together as one. The speaker will say after each section of the address "Etho kati nenyotenhake ne onkwa'nikon:ra" 'So let it be that way in our minds', to which listeners respond with "nyoh" or "yo:".
🕑: 11:45 AM - 01:45 PM
Onhwentsiakékha Ya'tekarén:nake - Earth Songs
Info: For each dance, invited knowledge keepers will announce, inform the origin of, explain the purpose of the dance, demonstrate 'how-to' and then lead the singing and dancing for several Haudenosaunee social dances. The purpose is to acknowledge creation and HAVE FUN! We will be sharing how we celebrate and let loose in our traditional ways. Everyone is encouraged to dance. This demonstrates respect for creation, the people assembled, and our ancestors in that through our agency we are maintaining and making new again Haudenosaunee customs and ways of life. We also celebrate our lives as human beings on earth when we dance. Each person is unique in the way we dance. Having the ability to dance, listen to the songs, and be present with others are occasions worth being thankful for. Everyone is encouraged to participate!!! It's fun!
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:15 PM
Haudenosaunee Foods Luncheon
Info: Participants will be treated to customary Haudenosaunee foods.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 02:20 PM
Tehati'nikonhrakhahsyón:ko' 'Releasing the Minds' (Closing Address)
Info: A chosen speaker will thank everyone for coming, release everyone's minds from the place where we brought them together as one (in the Opening Address), and direct words to creation that everyone carries with them the good feelings and positive experiences of the day, that we get home safely, and that we remainin good health. Participants may leave respectfully after the closing address.
Event venue & nearby stays
Founders Assembly Hall, Room 152, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Canada
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