Wasase

Bring Us Back into the Dance, Women of the Wasase written by Kahente Horn-Miller. In this chapter the writer tells the reader about what it is like growing up in a community of Kahnawake as a Kanienkehaka which translates to English as a Mohawk Indian. She grew up in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec, Canada. She quickly brings to light the struggles that her people are having with youth suicides and attempted suicides even when she talks about a 13 year old who has attempted suicide. The people of her community decide to have a Wasase which is a War Dance. During this dance they will in a way fight against alcohol and drug abuse as well as the rising number of suicide attempts that have been experiencing. What was once against the law for the women to dance is now being opened up for them to participate in this fight against these three things that are in a way tarring their community apart. The writer talks about how her mother wasn’t even allowed to use her given name that she must use a name given to her by nuns at her school. The reason they said she couldn’t use her name was because it couldn’t be translated into English. The writer expresses that for many years the government would not allow her people to practice their traditions and/or traditional ceremonies. From my gathering the government used this as a way to make their culture extinct in a way. At the end of the chapter she expresses the importance of the Wasase to her and what that it will help them find strength and unity for the future of her people for seven generations to come. To her it showed unity and that they all play a vital role.

#Wasase #Kahnawake #Dance