LOCAL STUDENTS LEARN THAT PEACE BEGINS WITH A PROMISE
In the old days, Danka Bergen told students at Pleasant Corners Public School in Vankleek Hill, a treaty between local native groups always began with a promise.
“This is a model of self-governance,” said Bergen during a February 8 workshop, as she held up a length of leather string, adorned with beads and several small pieces of leather.
The commitment string, or a “promise string” as it might also be called, was always the first step, she explained, in any formal treaty made between neighbouring groups PG 'JSTU /BUJPO GPML EVSJOH $BOBEB T QSF colonial history. It was also the first step GPS UIF 'JSTU /BUJPOT JO UIFJS EFBMJOHT XJUI Europeans arriving with the intent to stay on Turtle Island, as the Algonquin and other Eastern Canadian native groups referred to the world.
#FSHFO JT B NFNCFS PG ,PLVN .BLXB Cultural Enterprises, and for the past 12 years has visited schools to share her knowledge of traditional native culture, folklore, legends, and history with students. Her family history goes back five generations in direct descent from Chief Francis Sharbot BOE .BSZ 4VTBO /JHJL PG UIF "MHPORVJO /BUJPO BOE TIF DPOEVDUT IFS XPSLTIPQ sessions, like a recent one at Pleasant Corners Public School in Vankleek Hill, in an easygoing manner, giving full and serious attention when a student asks a question or makes a comment about something she said.
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Making a promise
That kind of optimistic view is the spirit behind the “promise string” of the traditional treaty process. Bergen explained that before anyone says a single word of bargaining or negotiation, they all have to sit down first and craft their commitment strings to show their dedication to making the treaty process work.
The strings then serve as representations for each person involved in the treaty talks. When a string is placed inside the council circle, it means the person is involved in the talks. When a string is placed outside of the circle, a person is not involved, or may not be interested, or may just be absent.
Each part of a promise string has special meaning. The top bead represents the person. The top circle of leather represents the Four Directions or the Four Winds. The upper group of beads represents the pillars of support the person involved in the treaty process has behind him, from his community to his family. The leather square below that represents the Four States of Being. The middle beads are all the important events JO UIF JOEJWJEVBM T MJGF
The triangular piece of leather represents The Way, the spiritual connections for people. The bottom group of beads is the Code of Conduct, which everyone involved in the treaty process recognizes. The final circle of leather and the bead below represent Turtle Island, or the world in which everyone involved in the talks live together and must share with each other and every other living thing.
Once the commitment strings are made, everyone sits down and begins to talk while off to one side, a storyteller crafts the wampum belt, which will symbolize the treaty when everyone is in agreement.
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