Product Description

The Iroquois culture and traditional Longhouse spirituality has a universal appeal, a ring of truth to it that resonates not only with other indigenous people, but also with non-Native people searching for their own spiritual roots.

Raised in the home of a grandmother who spoke only Mohawk, Sakokweniónkwas (Tom Porter) was asked from a young age, to translate for his elders. After such intensive exposure to his grandparents' generation, he is able to recall in vivid detail, the stories and ceremonies of a culture hovering on the brink of extinction. After devoting most of his adult life to revitalizing the culture and language of his people, Tom finally records here, the teachings of a generation of elders who have been gone for more than twenty years.

Beginning with an introduction about why he is only now beginning to write all this down, he works his way chronologically through the major events embedded in Iroquois oral history and ceremony, from the story of creation, to the beginnings of the clan system, to the four most sacred rituals, to the beginnings of democracy, brought to his people by the prophet and statesman his people refer to as the Peacemaker. Interspersed with these teachings, Tom tells us in sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic detail, the effect of colonization on his commitment to those teachings.

Like a braid, the book weaves back and forth between these major teachings, and briefer teachings on topics such as pregnancy, child-rearing and Indian tobacco, weaving the political with the spiritual. Through his recollections of "Grandma," and what she said, we also get an inside view of the life of a Mohawk man, and his struggles. Sometimes articulate and at other times inventive with his second language of English, Tom takes us on the journey with him, asking us to trade eyes, by "erasing the blackboard" to see if we "can understand what a Mohawk sees, feels, is ha

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #288943 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 466 pages

Customer Reviews

THE Most Important Native American Indian Book for ALL People
It is with honor and humility, I post the first 'Review' of what will surely become a long trail of many heartfelt, grateful praises for Tom Porter - 'Sakokwenionkwas's' second book, "And Grandma Said" - Iroquois Teachings - for ALL people.

I have always tried to mindfully follow the Teachings of not only my own Beloved Elders, but those nearly identically echoed Teachings of my most revered living 'Example,' Sakokwenionkwas. Over the years, my moccasins, like others, may have briefly slipped off the path on occasion - but that path,well-marked by all our Beloved Elders now gone, and kept clearly visible by Sakokwenionkwas,has always been there for me (and others) to re-find and follow, complete with a welcome party for our return home! "And Grandma Said..." may become a Guidebook to a respectful path of Peace for YOU too!

*** NO ONE here is saying nonIndians should 'play Indian' (offensive)nor 'become Iroquois' (impossible) - nor that this book would help them to do either. Rather, the basic principles which the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Government/Culture is based on were intended to become universal values as emissaries from the 5 Nations, such as Sakokwenionkwas and his Great Great Grandmothers and Grandfathers, generously shared this democratic code of Peace - first with thomas jefferson and ben franklin, next, with the suffragists, then with the United Nations, and now with all people, including YOU!

My own life would be entirely different now had Sakokwenionkwas not entered it as my Grandmother was leaving it. He has been, from the moment we met nearly 40 years ago, the most influential man in my life. (And all the other men in my life understand & respect the role of a true Spiritual Teacher and Guide :) And Women - you will be sure to show the men in YOUR life what Sakokwenionkwas, the strongest, bravest man I know, has to say on page 183 about Women being 'complete with their power' and what men must do to find their equality WITH women. If that doesn't motivate you to get this book.....!!!)

Looking to other continents, we can see outstanding leaders who have arisen, to serve not only their own people, their own 'cause,' but to show all people another face to 'being human.' The Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela...without hesitation, I place Sakokwenionkwas on that same global platform - not a 'pedestal' but a 'platform' complete with his (our) world view and its 7-generation-agenda. Tom Porter - Sakokwenionkwas does not need the accolades, nor would a medal nor a 'pedestal' serve the Truth he shares. It is in his honest human-ness that his enduring strength and potency prevail - as the embodiment of the Traditional Mohawk-Iroquois values; Peace, Unity, Respect.

The only thing I would change about this magnificent book, is the inclusion, somehow, of an audio clip so you might HEAR his voice as you read his words, hear the Mohawk language, his 'accent' (to your foreign ears) and hear his humor, power, strength, in balance with humility.

Those of us who know Sakokwenionkwas read his words and we 'hear' him speaking them to us. This is so important that, with his permission, i will do what i can to help him get his voice more 'accessible' - online perhaps, and then have someone (more tech savvy than me!) post a link here to help you hear him - You NEED to HEAR him, as that is how this knowledge was intended to be shared, and while we can all be indebted to Lesley Forrester, who did an heroic job of assembling, editing, transcribing 'Tom's' orations and talks, hearing the voice of the man who spoke them, will make them come alive for you. So, stay tuned!
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PostNote:
I have been told that there is another place here at Amazon and on a couple internet forums, where my own name has been slandered, and I have been grossly misrepresented and even outright lied about. That is unfortunate, and sadly, an increasingly common occurrance these days where the internet provides a false sense of power for people who otherwise feel their's has been abrogated elsewhere. I have been told the internet is also the world's biggest 'parlor game' where people gossip and repeat strange and estranged variations of what probably wasn't very factual to bein with! No thanks. Those 'games' have nothing to do with me, nor with this review. I mention this ONLY because I would not want my most sincere words to be devalued based on someone else's lies. IF it matters to you, and you want to know who I am, 'who' is writing this authentic endorsement of "And Grandma said" and its writer, Sakokwenionkwas, then understand that you will know EXACTLY who I am and what I stand for in everything I do, once you read this book and as an adjunct, my Seneca Sister, Barabara Mann's book: "Iroquoian Women, The Gantowisas." While who I am is of relative unimportance here, BOTH of these books could become very important TO YOU in helping you rearrange some of the 'information,' about myriad topics, you may have gathered elsewhere.

*****IMPORTANT****

Among many valuable principles for ALL people, recorded in Sakokwenionkwas's gift to you, you will understand the Haudenosaunee principle of consciously living in a skin which is '7 spans thick.' While that is REQUIRED by LAW of Iroquois Chiefs, it is a worthy pursuit for us all - to be able to withstand the unjust accusations of others who may be blinded by their own pain (disguised as anger, indignation, displaced righteousness), and to do so without harsh judgment against them. Facts, then Truth, prevail - it just sometimes takes awhile for those who think they already have enough of both to understand they had far too little of either to be speaking with any credible authority.
Sakokwenionkwas and Barbara Mann speak facts and Truth, with EARNED AUTHORITY, and in me they have a loyal Ally.

onenh.
-AmyLee

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LOOK WHAT WE FOUND! Yay! This link takes you to a brief recent interview with Sakokwenionkwas - PLEASE listen and I am certain his talking heart will touch yours too.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XATp4oqPfa4

Nyahweh to those who recorded and posted it!
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Really good
My purchase was sent to me as promised. It took a little long but it was worth the wait.

If you have or had a Grandma, you must read this book
If you have or had a Grandma, you must read this book. Spoken from the heart. Wisdom is hard to come by these days, but is dolloped in generous proportions in ". . . And Grandma Said."