One of the four sacred ceremonies of the Seneca
The Ga:ne:'onwon is a ceremonial thanksgiving in which two preachers," standing on either side of a long bench around which a company of religious dancers have arranged themselves, alternately intone sections of the Ga:ne:'onwon ritual. At the end of
The writer had recorded the entire Ga:ne:'onwon ritual, speeches and songs, on a set of phonograph records, especially for preservation by the New York State Education Department. Unfortunately these perished in the Capitol fire of March 29, 1911. About 100 other ceremonial records on wax cylinders were also destroyed at that time. I Gwi?'yâ?! II Gwi?'yâ?! [Singing and dancing stop]. III Gwi?'yâ?! [Singing and dancing stop]. XIX Gwi?'yâ?! [Singing and dancing stop]. XX Gwi?'yâ?! [Singing and dancing stop]. XXI Gwi?'yâ?! [Singing and dancing stop]. 94:1 Ne?' Ga:ne:'onwon, recorded and translated at Newtown, Cattaraugus reservation, January 1906.[PRELIMINARY] TRANSLATION OF THE GANEOWO RITUAL OF THE SENECA
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!
This day [there] is occurring what the Creator has made pleasing for his own self.
We are thankful that what he has made for himself is accomplished.
[Singing and dancing].
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!
The Creator thought that there should be men-beings,
And he thought that there should be chiefs to regulate the actions of these men-beings.
So now we thank him that what he thought has come to pass!
[Singing and dancing are resumed].
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!
Now he thought that there should be two sexes,
That one should be the female
That children might grow from her.
We thank the women that they are doing their duty in fulfilling the design of their creation.
[Singing and dancing resumed].
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!
He thought that there should be another in the heavens
Who should reveal itself when the sun went under
And that people should call it âkso:'o:t, our grandmother, Soi'ka:gä'äkwa.
Now, as we are all gathered together, we thank the moon that she is eternally dutiful.
[Singing and dancing resumed].
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!
He thought that there must be a certain one who should reveal what he thought.
He thought that he should lay the Gai'wiio` before the people,
So he revealed the Gai'wiio` to Ganio`dai'io`
And he did his duty as the Creator had ordained,
He preached and taught until he died.
So we all render our thanks for he has done his duty
For we now follow in the way he taught
And we will remember forever.
[Singing and dancing resumed].
Now the whole assemblage is offering thanks!