Suggested Activities -- Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples

Aboriginal / Indigenous Peoples

The languages of Aboriginal people are very diverse and distinctive. Below is an excercise that will let you experience an aboriginal language. This activity will show you the differences between English and Mohawk, an Iroqouain language.
Currently there are seven existing Iroqouain languages; Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onandaga, Tuskarora, Seneca and Huron. The Iroquois people have territories along the St-Laurence River and the Great Lakes of both Canada and the United States.

Here is a list of Mohawk words, how they are pronounced and what they mean in English.

Iakon:kwe

Ya Goon Kway

Woman

Ronkwe

Rroon Kway

Man

Eksa:'a

Ekk Sa Ah

Girl

Raksa:'a

Rakk Sa Ah

Boy

Okwaho

Oh Kwa Ho

Wolf

Okwa:ri

Oh Kwa Re

Bear

Tako's Ko:wa

Da Goss, Go Waa

Big Cat (Puma, Lion, Panther)

A:kweks

Ah Gwayks

Eagle

Ianontah:here

Ya Noon Da Hay 'R

Mountain

Karonhiatahere

Ga Roon Ya Da Hay 'R

Hill

Owe:ra

Oh Way Rah

Wind

Tekanien'kwatasehe

De Ga Nian Gwa Da Say Heh

Storm

Karonhia:ke

Ga Roon Ya Gay

Sky, in the sky world

Onia:tara

Oh Nia Da Ra

River

Kahon:tsi

Ga Hoon Dse

Black

Onekwenhtara

Oh Nay Kway Da Rah

Red

Otsitsa

Oh Dse Dsah

Flower

Sken:nen

Ska Nah

Peace

O'tsira

Oh Dse Rah

Fire

Kawanna

Ga Wah Nah

Big

Kanewah:a

Ga Ne Wah Ah

Small

Ionsaste

Yon Zas Day

Fast

Rohonias

Roh Hoon Yas

Tall

Ionwastsenon:ni

Yon Was Stay Noon Ni

Happy

Iokwetie:ro

Yo Kway Jay Roh

Pretty

Konnaronkwa

Goon Na Roon Gwah

Love

Kwe Kwe

Gway, Gway

Hello or Hi

Nia:wen Ko:wa

Nia Weh, Go Wah

Thank you very much

Tewani'nehkara'wanhen

De Wa Ne Neh Ga Ra Wa Nah

Lightning

Using some of these Mohawk words, make a name for yourself. Traditionally, a name was handed down from an ancestor or was earned during special events of a person's life. The name a person had was unique to that individual. When a person passed on, the name became available again. Therefore, the name you choose for yourself can only be used by you; nobody else can copy your name...

My name is Katsenhake:ron ( Gat / Tsen / Ha / Gay / Rroon) it means Spotted Fire's or fire is burning on the ground, in various spots. I am a Mohawk from the reservation, Kahnawake (Ga / Na / Wa / Gay) in Quebec, Canada. My English name is Chad Diabo, and I made this learning activity for myself as much as anybody else. I do not speak my language fluently, therefore if any mistakes were made in this excercise, I apologize.

To TG Magazine, I thank you for this opportunity, Nia:wen Ko:wa.

Chad Katsenhake:ron Diabo
We invite youth of different cultures to send us their activities.

asia@tgmag.ca

Iakon:kwe	Ya Goon Kway	Woman
Ronkwe	Rroon Kway	Man
Eksa:'a	Ekk Sa Ah	Girl
Raksa:'a	Rakk Sa Ah	Boy
Okwaho	Oh Kwa Ho	Wolf
Okwa:ri	Oh Kwa Re	Bear
Tako's Ko:wa	Da Goss, Go Waa	Big Cat (Puma, Lion, Panther)
A:kweks	Ah Gwayks	Eagle
Ianontah:here	Ya Noon Da Hay 'R	Mountain
Karonhiatahere	Ga Roon Ya Da Hay 'R	Hill
Owe:ra	Oh Way Rah	Wind
Tekanien'kwatasehe	De Ga Nian Gwa Da Say Heh	Storm
Karonhia:ke	Ga Roon Ya Gay	Sky, in the sky world
Onia:tara	Oh Nia Da Ra	River
Kahon:tsi	Ga Hoon Dse	Black
Onekwenhtara	Oh Nay Kway Da Rah	Red
Otsitsa	Oh Dse Dsah	Flower
Sken:nen	Ska Nah	Peace
O'tsira	Oh Dse Rah	Fire
Kawanna	Ga Wah Nah	Big
Kanewah:a	Ga Ne Wah Ah	Small
Ionsaste	Yon Zas Day	Fast
Rohonias	Roh Hoon Yas	Tall
Ionwastsenon:ni	Yon Was Stay Noon Ni	Happy
Iokwetie:ro	Yo Kway Jay Roh	Pretty
Konnaronkwa	Goon Na Roon Gwah	Love
Kwe Kwe	Gway, Gway	Hello or Hi
Nia:wen Ko:wa	Nia Weh, Go Wah	Thank you very much
Tewani'nehkara'wanhen	De Wa Ne Neh Ga Ra Wa Nah	Lightning