Established: July of 1983
CULTURAL CORNER
This weekly feature was begun due to a request from many Akwesasne Longhouse leaders, elders, and community members that we include more cultural information in the newspaper. The information is not all my own, but a culmination of what I gather from listening or interviewing. Many of the elders I interview do not feel comfortable with their names being mentioned. No one wants to give the impression that they are the top authority on our ways of life. Feel free to comment or add something.
WHY THE WHITE PINE?
BY: PHIL PRESTON
INDIAN TIME - VOLUME 22 - NUMBER 11 - MARCH 18, 2004 EDITION
Every symbol in Haudenosaunee culture has both obvious and deep meanings. Have you ever wondered why the Peacemaker chose the White Pine for the symbol of unity for our people and our Confederacy of Five Nations?
The words for the White Pine Tree, when translated from Mohawk to English, mean "tree of the long leaves." These are the green needles of the pine. The pine never sheds its leaves and always remains green unlike the maple or oak. This symbol is likened to the Great Law, which will always flourish like the evergreen pine, a powerful symbol of one of the founding principles of the Great Law, Kasenthstensera, enduring strength. The pine needles grow in bundles of five joined at the base. This represents another founding principle of the Great Law, that the Five Nations are bound together in peace. The unity of the five needles (Five Nations) at their base derives its power from ONE, the Creator. Shonkwaiatison (Creator) usually will send someone to the people, instead of himself to help or teach us. During the time of the Great Law, Shonkwaiatison sent the Peacemaker.
Sometimes we find just three or four needles in a bundle. There is a story for this occurrence. The Peacemaker, and his helpers like Hiawatha, had to work hard for many years to bring unity and peace to the Five Nations. The Senecas were in bitter feuds among themselves and took longer to unite. This history is reflected in the rare three or four needle clusters on the pine trees. We see this today on the pine trees so that we can look back and better understand our past so that we may be cautious and aware in the present. The white pine continues to teach us that we sometimes need to work harder and use more patience in order to solve our common problems.
When a pine tree is planted it takes time for the tree to mature and produce pinecones. Pinecones represent peace in maturity. It takes a while for us to learn our lessons and accept changes that come. We human beings are not expected to immediately heal and accept the changes that occur. It takes time. However, when we have accepted the new changes, the Peace, then the Great Law is full. When we see the pinecones hanging abundantly on the pine tree, we see that the Great Law is now full.
For centuries, strong winds have attempted to tip the Great White Pine over so that it lies flat on ground to die. The people have always come together under the leadership of our Condoled Chiefs, Clanmothers, and Faith Keepers with hands joined to catch the tree and stand it up again. Sometimes outside forces will come and attempt to chop at the foundation of the tree to cause it to wither and fall. Our strength in unity has stopped this from happening. The Great White Pine is at the heart of our Confederacy and way of life. Its roots extend in every direction to welcome all people to unite under the Great Law, accepting everything the law entails. The Kariwiio tells us we have one more chance to keep our Tree from falling forever. It is through Skennen (Peace), Kasenthstensera (Enduring Strength), and Kanikonriio (Good Mind) that we will succeed as a people. Differences among us do not matter so long as we accept one another as Haudenosaunee and work and live together.
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