Funeral Addresses
108. At the funeral of a Lord of the Confederacy, say: Now we
become reconciled as you start away. You were once a Lord of
the Five Nations' Confederacy and the United People trusted
you. Now we release you for it is true that it is no longer
possible for us to walk about together on the earth. Now,
therefore, we lay it (the body) here. Here we lay it away.
Now then we say to you, 'Persevere onward to the place where
the Creator dwells in peace. Let not the things of the earth
hinder you. Let nothing that transpired while yet you lived
hinder you. In hunting you once took delight; in the game of
Lacrosse you once took delight and in the feasts and pleasant
occasions your mind was amused, but now do not allow thoughts
of these things to give you trouble. Let not your relatives
hinder you and also let not your friends and associates trouble
your mind. Regard none of these things.'
"Now then, in turn, you here present who were related to
this man and you who were his friends and associates, behold
the path that is yours also! Soon we ourselves will be left
in that place. For this reason hold yourselves in restraint
as you go from place to place. In your actions and in your
conversation do no idle thing. Speak not idle talk neither
gossip. Be careful of this and speak not and do not give way
to evil behavior. One year is the time that you must abstain
from unseemly levity but if you can not do this for ceremony,
ten days is the time to regard these things for respect."
109. At the funeral of a War Chief, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start
away. You were once a War Chief of the Five Nations' Confederacy and the
United People trusted you as their guard from the enemy."
(The remainder is the same as the address at the funeral
of a Lord).
110. At the funeral of a Warrior, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start away. Once you
were a devoted provider and protector of your family and you
were ever ready to take part in battles for the Five Nations'
Confederacy. The United People trusted you." (The remainder
is the same as the address at the funeral of a Lord).
111. At the funeral of a young man, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start away. In the
beginning of your career you are taken away and the flower of
your life is withered away." (The remainder is the same as the
address at the funeral of a Lord).
112. At the funeral of a chief woman, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were
once a chief woman in the Five Nations' Confederacy. You once
were a mother of the nations. Now we release you for it is
true that it is no longer possible for us to walk about
together on the earth. Now, therefore, we lay it (the body)
here. Here we lay it away. Now then we say to you, 'Persevere
onward to the place where the Creator dwells in peace. Let not
the things of the earth hinder you. Let nothing that
transpired while you lived hinder you. Looking after your
family was a sacred duty and you were faithful. You were one
of the many joint heirs of the Lordship titles. Feastings were
yours and you had pleasant occasions. . ." (The remainder is
the same as the address at the funeral of a Lord).
113. At the funeral of a woman of the people, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were
once a woman in the flower of life and the bloom is now
withered away. You once held a sacred position as a mother
of the nation. (Etc.) Looking after your family was a sacred
duty and you were faithful. Feastings . . . (etc.)" (The
remainder is the same as the address at the funeral of a Lord).
114. At the funeral of an infant or young woman, say:
"Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were a
tender bud and gladdened our hearts for only a few days. Now
the bloom has withered away . . . (etc.) Let none of the
things that transpired on earth hinder you. Let nothing that
happened while you lived hinder you." (The remainder is the
same as the address at the funeral of a Lord).
115. When an infant dies within three days, mourning shall
continue only five days. Then shall you gather the little boys
and girls at the house of mourning and at the funeral feast a
speaker shall address the children and bid them be happy once
more, though by a death, gloom has been cast over them. Then
shall the black clouds roll away and the sky shall show blue
once more. Then shall the children be again in sunshine.
116. When a dead person is brought to the burial place, the
speaker on the opposite side of the Council Fire shall bid the
bereaved family cheer their minds once again and rekindle their
hearth fires in peace, to put their house in order and once
again be in brightness for darkness has covered them. He shall
say that the black clouds shall roll away and that the bright
blue sky is visible once more. Therefore shall they be in
peace in the sunshine again.
117. Three strings of shell one span in length shall be
employed in addressing the assemblage at the burial of the
dead. The speaker shall say:
"Hearken you who are here, this body is to be covered.
Assemble in this place again ten days hence for it is the
decree of the Creator that mourning shall cease when ten days
have expired. Then shall a feast be made."
Then at the expiration of ten days the speaker shall say:
"Continue to listen you who are here. The ten days of mourning
have expired and your minds must now be freed of sorrow as
before the loss of a relative. The relatives have decided to
make a little compensation to those who have assisted at the
funeral. It is a mere expression of thanks. This is to the
one who did the cooking while the body was lying in the house.
Let her come forward and receive this gift and be dismissed
from the task." In substance this shall be repeated for every
one who assisted in any way until all have been remembered.