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Labour of Love: Kanesatake's Satewas Gabriel Translates Bible into Mohawk
[The following is from a Blog on the United Church Foundation site.]
“It’s like Joshua said,” Satewas laughed then recited: “Me and my family, we’ll work for the Lord.”
Satewas (Harvey Gabriel) is describing how the recently completed full translation of the Bible into Mohawk has been an intergenerational project for him, his wife Susan Gabriel, their daughter Cheryl Gabriel, and their granddaughter Taylor Daye. They’re all residents of the Mohawk community of Kanesatake, just west of Montreal.
Bringing the Book to Life
This family link in the story of the first complete translation of the Bible into Mohawk goes even further back in history – Satewas’ great grandfather, chief in Kanesatake and Methodist minister Sosé Onasakenrat, translated the four Gospels in the 1870s before his untimely death in 1881.
“I haven’t touched his translations,” says Satewas. “His version of the Gospels will be kept as he wrote them in the new Bible that we expect will be published in 2023.”
“A small group of women from Kahnawake knew that I was reading the lessons in Mohawk at Kanesatake United Church,” remembered Satewas, “They wanted to do some more translations and invited me to join them.”
Doris Montour, Josie Horn, and Charlotte Provencher, all teachers and Mohawk-speakers, challenged Satewas to try translating two chapters from 2 Corinthians.
“I was kind of shy about it,” he said, “but I got it done and really enjoyed it. Then I went on to the Book of Job and just kept going from there. I spent a year translating Genesis.”
In 2000, the Canadian Bible Society’s (CBS) Montreal office contracted with Satewas to complete a full translation and provided access to biblical scholars to assist him. Satewas had opted for what they called a “classic” translation – a word for word translation – and not a paraphrase of the original texts.
While he was working on the Mohawk Bible, Satewas also wrote a comprehensive Mohawk – English dictionary and several collections of stories and historical sketches about his people, his language, and his community. But in 2011, financial pressures brought support from the CBS to an end.
“Every time we finished a book, it would go onto a shelf and then they just sat there,” said Satewas. “There it was – out in the open and going nowhere.”
With a Little Help from My Friends
In 2019, Susan Gabriel decided she would try to relaunch the project. She applied to the United Church of Canada Foundation for a grant, an application that was received and approved with great enthusiasm.
“That got us going again and CBS (Toronto) renewed its support too as a result,” explained Susan. “The Band Council here at Kanesatake also came onside. They’ve invested a staff position and a half to help us complete the translation.”
Leaders in their community recognize that the new Mohawk Bible will be an important resource for the survival and growth of the Mohawk language.
“Every word you’ll ever need is in the Bible,” Susan smiled. “This will be a major piece of literature for all Mohawk people as well as for those who want to learn our language, whether they’re religious or not.”
“I would have lost my language”
Over a cup of coffee in the Gabriels’ kitchen, Satewas reflected on how fragile First Nations’ languages are.
“My mother was sent to a residential school in Sault Ste. Marie from age five to fourteen,” he said. “The children weren’t allowed to use their own language in class. But her older sister was with her at that school and so were two boys from Kanesatake and they’d meet outside on the playground every day and only talk Mohawk together. That’s how she kept her language.”
Satewas learned Mohawk from her and first read her grandfather Sosé’s translation of the Gospels by her side.
“Without her deciding to speak Mohawk as a child, I would have lost my language,” he said. “Your identity doesn’t come from some flag you fly – it comes from the words that you speak out of your mouth.”
And thanks to those schoolyard conversations in Sault Ste Marie, we at the United Church of Canada Foundation are looking forward with joy and gratitude to the publication of the first complete Mohawk Bible.
-as told to Royal Orr
Satewas (Harvey Gabriel) and Susan Gabriel
Support for Tenants
The Mayor of Verdun, Marie-Andree Mauger, shared the following on Facebook:
“As July 1 is approaching, some Montrealers are still looking for housing. If this is your case, contact 311 by phone. The City offers several resources to support you:
Temporary storage of certain goods
Support in finding accommodation
Temporary accommodation in case of emergency
Help desk to answer your questions”
Mme. Mauger also reminds landlords that short-term Air BnB-type rentals are not allowed in Verdun. This is to keep more properties available for long-term (1 year or more) leases.
Comedy Fundraiser at Verdun Legion #4
Our local Legion is in financial trouble. Why not get a few friends together and get out and support them on August 6th? Couldn’t we all use a laugh?
The show will be hosted by Ted Bird and the headliner is Joey Elias.
Tickets ($20) are available at the Branch (5971 Verdun ave.)
They are open on:
Wednesday 3 - 10 pm
Friday 3 - 10 pm
Saturday, 12 noon - 10 pm
Our Next Moderator
[the following is from the United Church of Canada E-ssentials newsletter]
On June 17 at 2:00 p.m. EDT, nominations closed for 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada. At that time there was only one nominee, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne. The United Church of Canada requires an election process for Moderator. That election will happen on July 23, and the individual elected at that time will be installed on August 7, 2022. Learn more about the nominee in this biographical statement.
At the close of the GC44 Discussion Sessions on June 19 the General Secretary outlined the process for the election, and a video of placing a stole on the moderatorial nominee was shown.
Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne
Ordained Minister
Nominated by Pacific Mountain Regional Council
Read Carmen's profile [PDF]
Listen to a conversation with Carmen on the United Church "It's Your Call" podcast on Apple, Google or Spotify.
Trusting in the Wisdom of the Universe
I think we can all agree that leaving the comfort of what we have known is difficult.
Southwest United (formerly Crawford Park United) has been a home away from home for so many years now. Even though the original members may be living in the places of our hearts, the thought of losing that home is indeed difficult to face, let alone accept.
As your Pastor, my own future uncertain, I turned to a much-loved book and wish to share with you a story of what some of you might call blind faith. But that faith is what keeps me going, especially in times of uncertainty. It has sustained me through many difficult times in my life, and I hope you too will see both the wisdom and the acceptance in what I am about to share.
Leaving the Nest*
The eagle pair had built their nest high on the mountain craigs. First they made a sturdy foundation of twigs and small branches on the bare rock. Then they worked a more finely woven layer inside. And then the mother laid her eggs, and brooded over them until they were ready to hatch.
When the tiny chicks hatched, they nestled in the warmth and the comfort of the feather-lined nest. And time passed and they grew bigger, and were ready to leave the nest and learned to fly and make their own lives.
One by one the small eagles were persuaded to leave the nest. But one was reluctant to go. The nest was so comfortable and he really wanted to live there forever.
So, the parent eagles tried to persuade him to move out. First, they removed the cosy layer of feathers. But still, he would not leave. Then, they removed the layer of fine grass and twigs. But still, he would not leave. And then, in desperation, they removed the entire outer nest, leaving him perched on the bare rock. But still, he would not fly.
And finally, they took their fledging to the edge of the high craig and pushed him off….and then they flew close below him, to catch him, lest he fall.
It has always been my belief that when we are pushed to the edge and there is nothing else to hold on to, one of two things will happen, either there will be angels to catch us, or we will be given wings and taught how to fly.**
As we face the reality that we may have to leave the safety and comfort of the nest at SouthWest, I say to you brothers and sisters, do not fear, for “he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand”.***
Pastor Beryl, DLM
*One Hundred More Wisdom Stories, Margaret Silf
** unknown
**8 Psalm 91, VU page 808
Where Else Could Sabbath be so Sweet?
As explained in an earlier newsletter, we are no longer able, as a congregation, to keep up with the bills, and the church property, including the manse, will be going on the market very soon.
It is a sad state of affairs for sure, but our best shot at staying together as a congregation lies in selling the property.
Many of you have gone through this before, some more than once. But you did get through it, and I hope you feel that you found a new home in SouthWest United, wherever you came from before. It is always sad to leave a church, but we must try to remember that a church is not the bricks and mortar; a church is the people who pray and sing and laugh and cry together.
Some may feel like turning away at this time. Not wanting to witness another church closing, the instinct may be to remove ourselves now, try to spare ourselves the pain. Instead, I hope each of us will ask ourselves what we get from being part of SouthWest United, what are the essential parts of the experience, and also, what might be let go? Because the one thing we know for sure is that we can’t continue on exactly as we are now, but if we can identify for ourselves what we get, and what we need from our church, that will make it easier to find those things again.
The pandemic showed us that a church community can exist even when in-person worship is not possible; but I think most of us would agree that meeting together in a space is an important part of our church life. So let’s assume we need to meet in a space: what kind of space? Is it important that it be a traditional church, with pews, stained glass and a high arched ceiling? Could we worship in a plainer setting and still feel close to God and our community?
And then there’s time. We are accustomed to meeting on Sunday mornings. At 10:00 to be precise, although many of us have worshipped at different times in the past. How much would our church experience be harmed by meeting at a different time, say in the afternoon? Or even on a different day of the week? I know it sounds radical but if God is wherever two or three are gathered, then surely that gathering can take place any day of the week, any time.
Do you ever look around your home and feel bogged down by stuff? A church can feel that way too. I love the sense of history in our church building, but I also know nobody gets through the eye of the needle with 20 centrepieces, 10 boxes of sheet music and a bunch of seat cushions in tow! Even if we weren’t selling, the church is in need of a good de-cluttering!
In the musical Fiddler on the Roof, the villagers of Anatevka are forced to leave to escape the murderous pogroms. It’s a situation far more dire than ours, and one that mirrors the current displacement of Ukrainians and many other peoples all over the globe. Walking single file, carrying bags over their shoulders, pushing wooden carts, the villagers sing:
A little bit of this,
A little bit of that.
A pot
A pan
A broom
A hat.
A bench
A tree
So what’s a stove? Or a house?
A stick of wood, a piece of cloth.
What do we leave? Nothing much
Only Anatevka.
Church is supposed to be the place we feel the closest to Creator, to Spirit. Maybe our attachment to objects – even beautiful ones like stained-glass windows and a wooden pipe organ – can get in the way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as attached to those things as the next person, and maybe we will find a way to keep them in our lives. But even more importantly, we need to stick together.
The villagers in Fiddler on the Roof go on to sing:
Anatevka, Anatevka
Underfed, overworked Anatevka
Where else could Sabbath be so sweet?
Anatevka, Anatevka
Intimate, obstinate, Anatevka
Where I know everyone I meet…
Soon I’ll be a stranger in a strange new place.
Searching for an old familiar face…
This is worse than leaving stuff, even leaving a home: it is the loss of Community. We are lucky; we don’t need to let that happen to us.
We will need to be brave, and to accept that nothing stays the same, that change is a part of life, and that We are the Church.
The friendships that have been formed over the years, the hymns sung together innumerable times, the baptisms and funerals, the memories of good times and bad: this is the church. So let’s get ready to pick up what is essential and carry it forward, together.
Amy
Remembering Alberta Billy
The following is from the United Church of Canada website, published June 13, 2022Alberta Billy, the We Wai Kai Elder who in 1985 demanded that The United Church of Canada apologize for its role in colonization and the loss of Indigenous languages, culture, and spirituality, passed away on June 13, 2022. The Moderator and the General Secretary offer their deep condolences to Alberta’s husband Dan, their family, and their community.
Alberta’s actions and words on behalf of the Native Ministries Council at the March 1985 meeting of the General Council Executive both shocked and reverberated with those present, and ultimately led to the church’s first Apology to Indigenous Peoples(opens in a new tab) at the 31st General Council in August 1986. In 2016, Alberta, accompanied by one of her grandchildren, was present to mark the 30th anniversary of the Apology in Sudbury.
These actions began a process of deep change in the United Church. Moderator Richard Bott notes that “the whole of the church is deeply indebted to Alberta Billy for what she demanded of us and called us to do. We could not be the church we strive to be without her.”
Alberta, a long-time advocate of reconciliation, reminded those present at the 30th Anniversary that the Apology is not complete. It has been acknowledged but not accepted by the Indigenous Church, which continues to look to the United Church to concretely demonstrate its commitment to a nation-to-nation relationship rooted in mutuality and respect.
As the church seeks to truly honour the Indigenous Caretakers’ Calls to the Church(opens in a new tab), it would do well to remember Alberta’s faith and commitment to the Indigenous ways in which she was raised and lived, as well as to the church which she believed could always do better.
An interview featuring Alberta Billy(opens in a new tab) at the 30th Anniversary of the Apology can be viewed on the United Church YouTube channel.
Alberta Billy on the 30th anniversary of the Apology, in Sudbury, Ontario, in 2016.
Credit: Kelly Buehler
Let the Summer Begin! Pools and Beach Open in Verdun
Nouvelles d’Ici reports that both outdoor pools in Verdun (and two in Nun’s Island) will be open as of tomorrow, Saturday June 18th. Admission to all four is free as long as you have a library card (Acces Verdun). The public beach is also open, but you should always call ahead to make sure swimming is allowed. Sometimes weather conditions force the closing of the beach.
If you go to the Natatorium, on the waterfront near Stephens, I suggest wearing your bathing suit as it’s unclear whether the changing rooms will be open.
Nouvelles d’Ici is an online local newspaper for Lachine Lasalle and Verdun. It’s only in French for the moment, but that could change. Consult the swimming schedules for all three boroughs here.
Image credit: Karine Joly
