Saturday, November 4, 2023

"How the Conifers Flaunt the Promise of Spring" As told by Arthur C. Parker from Skunny Wundy Seneca Indian Tales


How the Conifers Flaunt the Promise of Spring

As told by Arthur C. Parker from Skunny Wundy Seneca Indian Tales

 

In the mysterious days of long ago, when Ra-wen-io was fixing the earth so that mankind might have a happy place to live, all the trees had tongues and they talked.

 

There was much to talk about, for terrible monsters roamed the world. None was so terrible as the stern warriors of Winter: Hadui, the storm wind, Hatoe, the frost god, and Gwenny-Oyent, the whirlwind.

 

These monsters fought the trees and tried to tear them to bits because the trees loved Sun and his friends, Zephyr and Thaw, the kind chiefs of Spring.

 

The first rumblings of Winter's storms brought the command that all the trees should drop their leaves so that there might remain no track, trace, or remembrance Spring once ruled the year.

 

To make obedience more difficult, Frost made Autumn paint the leaves with handsome colors so that the trees would hate to drop them. Hadui would come then and pluck every leaf from every tree.

 

"No friend of Spring shall remain to flaunt his green robes in my face," shrieked Winter, as he drove Hadui against the forest. And Hadui always did his duty.

 

Winter roared when he saw all the trees bleak and bare. "Ho ho," he bellowed, "the world obeys me and sleeps at my command. Sun has no friends to greet him. Spring is banished, and no sign remains to promise his return. Ho ho, Spring has no friends!"

 

"I am the friend of Spring," spoke up White Pine.

 

"That may be," answered Winter, "but when I give the order, away will go your green leaves, and I shall cover them with snow."

 

"We'll see," said White Pine.

 

White Pine called a council of all his tribe, the wonderful tribe of Onetta, the tribe with beautiful green hair.

 

"Who will stand with me as Winter comes?" called out Pine. "Who will defy Winter and stand his blasts? Who as a friend of Spring will stand as an eternal promise that Spring will return?"

 

"I will," said Red Pine.

 

"I will," said Red Cedar.

 

"I will," said Cypress. 

 

"I will," said Juniper.

 

"I will," said Hemlock.

 

"I will," said Spruce.

 

"I will," said Balsam.

 

"Where is Tamarack?" shouted Pine.

 

From a distant hill came a shout, and Tamarack called out, "Oak wants to come to our council, but he is not of our tribe. He wants the hill, and I want the hill."

 

"Will you defy the Winter god?” called out Pine.

 

"Yes, I will," answered Tamarack, "but I must finish my argument with Oak first."

 

Then spoke Oak: "O Pine, I am not of your tribe, for I have broad leaves, but I am a friend of the Sun, of Zephyr, and of Spring. I will stand on the hill and defy the Winter's blasts, and I will rattle my leaves in his face."

 

Well did all the trees know that Winter hated the sound of rustling leaves, and well did they know the friendship of Oak for Pine.

 

Whenever Pine went away from a hill, up sprang Oak. And when Oak went away, up sprang Pine. Now Oak would be an ally of the Onetta tribe. Pine said it should be so, but Tamarack was jealous.

 

"Oak cannot endure," sneered Tamarack. "Oak will yield to Hadui at the first demand."

 

"I promise to hold my leaves, come what may," answered Oak with a sturdy tone in his voice. "I shall hold them, brown and torn though they may be, until new buds appear."

 

"Fine," said Tamarack, "Watch me,"

 

Autumn came and at the first demand of Frost, Oak turned a brilliant scarlet. The Onetta tribe refused to obey. Hadui brought rain and then cold, but none faltered save Tamarack who, because he had been envious, had forgotten to drink deep of the magic oil that kept green the rest of the tribe.

 

Tamarack began to shed his hair and then shed more, for Hadui was cruel and insisted with his lash of storm whips. Oak, however, held onto his leaves, now dry and sear.

 

"Off with those leaves!" shouted Hadui as Frost swooped down.

 

But Oak only rattled his leaves in the very face of Frost. Frost grew angry indeed and spent his fury on Pine and his friends, Hemlock, and the rest.

 

Frost chilled the air. He chilled the ground. He chilled the water, and he chilled the trunks of the trees until they resounded to the strokes of his war club when he struck them- knock, knock!

 

"Off with the promise of Spring," shrieked Frost. But only Tamarack of all the Onetta obeyed and lifted his head and body bare to the wind. Like the drop-leaf trees, he was stripped and naked, which made Frost laugh long and loud.

 

"Have courage, be strong," called out old Pine. "Let us endure, though Tamarack has yielded." 

 

And the trees all called out, "We are brave, and we are strong. Frost shall not blight the promise of Spring's return."

 

The gods of Winter ruled long and harshly, holding the earth in cold embrace. But they could not overcome Pine and his friends. Oak rattled in the face of Frost, and his rustling leaves made Frost wild with rage. And so all endured, except Tamarack.

 

Round and round went the Moon. It grew full and waned five times before Spring conquered Winter and sent Frost and his evil allies back to the Northland.

 

The warmth of Sun returned, and with this came Zephyr, who fanned the weary branches of the Onetta tribe back into the glow of growth. Sun warmed Oak and, rustling his leaves, though all dry and frayed, he prepared his new buds.

 

At length Tamarack awoke and blossomed forth. The tall old Pine looked down at Tamarack and said, "Tamarack, you weakened in the storm, you obeyed the Frost. You are the coward tree and shall dwell in the swamps. You are a vain braggart and have lost the hill. The hill is for Oak, our friend who held onto his leaves and rustled them in the face of the storm."

 

Tamarack begged for the hill, where he might be admired by all for his long plumes and graceful wave when Zephyr tossed his branches, but old Pine would not hear.

 

And so, forever afterward, the kinsmen of Pine hold forth the promise of Spring's return, and their green robes are the despair of Winter and all his furious hosts.

Friday, July 8, 2022

Tonia Loran-Galban retires after 31 years at Ganondagan


 After 31 years, Tonia Loran-Galban has retired from her position of Senior Native Interpretive Guide.

Since 1991, Tonia Loran-Galban (Mohawk, Bear Clan) has been one of the cheerful faces waiting to greet you on your visit to Ganondagan. Her friendly open manner, and passion for sharing Haudenosaunee history and culture has made her an irreplaceable asset to the site.

Over her 30+ years of service at Ganondagan, Tonia was instrumental in supporting Ganondagan’s growth. When Tonia began in 1991, she was a "jack of all trades" doing both interpretive walks with visitors on the trails as well as site maintenance and mowing. When the site began building its 17th century style Seneca Bark Longhouse, Tonia shifted her focus learning about 17th century material culture so the longhouse could be furnished and interpreted to students, families and visitors from all over the world.

It was during this period that Tonia recognized a gap in contemporary basketmaking, almost no one from the Haudenosaunee communities was making the utility baskets such as corn sifting and washing baskets. Those that were being made were not accurate for 17th century interpretation. Through study and determination, Tonia was able to replicate early examples of these baskets which became part of Ganondagan’s exhibit. Additionally, Tonia began to teach traditional basket making to other basket makers within the Haudenosaunee communities.

The Seneca Art and Culture Center (2015) which features changing exhibits, contemporary art, and a wider timeline than the Seneca Bark Longhouse was another catalyst for Tonia to expand her knowledge as she trained staff and docents, helped design exhibits, create material culture reproductions for the exhibits and interpret these to the public. During her tenure, Tonia helped establish the gardens (she plans to continue to assist with a children's garden), new interpretive trails, and worked to re-establish indigenous plants on the site. These gardens help supply materials to create 17th reproductions and serve to help the public understand the connection of ecology and the Haudenosaunee people.

 “Ganondagan gave me a sense of wellbeing because what I was learning was not widely known amongst my people. I realized that Ganondagan was the whole package for me, I raised my family here; I could work and be able to go home for ceremonies. It brought me in front of many of the elders that have passed on and allowed me to have conversations with them, learn and share with them. The next generation only knows them by name but I got to learn from them.”

Tonia’s retirement plans include travel, study, and supporting her family. “People know me as a basketmaker and storyteller. I want to continue basketmaking, learning alternative materials for baskets and containers (as the Emerald Ash Borer is making Black Ash more difficult to find), teaching about wampum belts, but also expanding my work in beadwork and sculpting with plant materials.”

Former site manager, Peter Jemison says of Tonia “When Tonia first came to Ganondagan, she had no experience as an interpreter, but she learned and honed those skills. She was shown how to weave baskets but she really taught herself the craft of basketmaking and she now excels at it, producing beautiful work. Tonia has been instrumental in the care and upkeep of our Seneca Bark Longhouse and the adjacent gardens. She will be missed, and it is now up to the next generation of interpreters to continue on her work. Ganondagan offers a tremendous opportunity for learning.”

We at Ganondagan look forward to continuing to collaborate with Tonia through the Creative’s Rebuild New York Artist Employment grant. It is not goodbye, dëjihnyadadegë' ae' (we will see each other again)!

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Congratulations to the 47 Haudenosaunee Artists with 9 Organizations awarded the Creatives Rebuild New York – AEP funding on June 30, 2022!




Friends of Ganondagan is delighted to announce that we, through a Creatives Rebuild New York Artist Employment Program grant, will be working alongside Angela Ferguson (Onondaga, Eel Clan), Douglas George (Mohawk), Daniel C. Hill (Cayuga, Heron Clan), Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca, Turtle Clan), Lauren Jimerson (Seneca, Heron Clan), Tonia Loran-Galban (Mohawk, Bear Clan), Marissa Manitowabi (Seneca), Thomas R. Porter (Mohawk, Bear Clan) for the next two years!

Congratulations to the additional 39 Haudenosaunee Artists with 8 Organizations awarded the Creatives Rebuild New York – AEP funding on June 30, 2022!

Natasha Smoke Santiago EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART OF SYRACUSE

Faye Lone, Diane Schenandoah, Adriana Poulette, Jolene Patterson, Joshua Sargent, Marnie Billie, Afton Lewis, Caryn Miller, Emma Shenandoah, Roger Perkins REMATRIATION Haudenosaunee Territories / Onondaga County, NY

Raienkonnis Edwards KANATSIOHAREKE MOHAWK COMMUNITY Haudenosaunee Territories / Mohawk Valley, NY

Danielle Schenandoah MUNSON-WILLIAMS-PROCTOR ARTS INSTITUTE Utica, NY
Theresa Bear Fox, Katsitsionni Fox, Tsitowe Billings, Bruce Boots, Brandon Lazore, Jack Johnson, Aronhiahies Herne, Margie Skidders, Alicia Cook, Carrie Hill AKWESASNE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation / Bombay, NY

Charity Jones, Kaycee Colburn JAMESTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Jamestown, NY

Patrick Redeye, Maurice John, Jr., Tami Watt, Penny Minner, Jocelyn J. Jones, Leeora S. White, Brett Maybee, Olivia Sanford, Hilton Johnny-John, Cliff Redeye SENECA NATION OF INDIANS Seneca Nation Allegany Territory / Salamanca, NY

Mary Jacobs, Samantha Jacobs, Darelyn Spruce, Peter Jones SENECA NATION OF INDIANS STANLEY "SULLY" HUFF HERITAGE CENTER Irving, NY


For full list of participants go to: Participants - Creatives Rebuild New York (creativesrebuildny.org)



Tuesday, July 23, 2019

And this is happening❣️

Tuesdays - Summer Yoga at Ganondagan with Victor Yoga Studio

Tuesday's 7 PM
Starting June 4th and continuing through the summer join Mandy from Victor Yoga Studio for Yoga at Ganondagan again! All levels are welcome.

Yoga will take place in front of the longhouse--park in the upper lot. This is a donation-based class with proceeds to Friends of Ganondagan.
Show your Volunteer Love 

Thursday, July 12, 2018


 By Mary, SueZ, Dianne, Frank & Carter - Niaweh for your hard work today! The Creator’s Garden looks fabulous!

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Poochie and her human visited today. Poochie took the liberty to a helping of sweetgrass. She knows her medicines. A ho! 😉