LITMIR.BIZ

       MOHAWK NAMES

      The Mohawk at the time the novel is set had no written language. Iroquois vocabulary was originally transcribed by Jesuit missionaries and therefore, even today, there are discrepancies in the origins, spelling and meaning of certain words. I’m indebted to Thomas Deer of the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center in Kahnawá:ke, Montreal, for his guidance.

      Rotinonshón:ni: “People of the Longhouse” – the Six Nations – Iroquois Confederacy

      Kanien’kehá:ka: “People of the Place of the Flint” – the Mohawk

      Kaion’kehá:ka: “People of the Marsh” – the Cayuga

      Oneniote’á:ka: “People of the Standing Stone” – the Oneida

      Ononta’kehá:ka: “People of the Hills” – the Onondaga

      Shotinontowane’á:ka: “People of the Great Mountain” – the Seneca

      Tehatiskaró:ros: “People of the Shirt” – the Tuscarora

      Kaianere’kó:wa: “The Great Law of Peace” – the Constitution of the Six Nations

      Oyata’ge’ronóñ: “People of the Cave Country” – the Cherokee

      Wendat: “People of the Island” – the Huron

      Ahkwesáhsne: “Where the partridge drums” – Mohawk village near St Regis

      Kahnawá:ke: “On the rapids” – Mohawk village near Montreal

      Kanièn:keh: “Land of the Flint” – Traditional homeland of the Mohawk

      Kenhtè:ke: “Place of the Bay” – Mohawk village on the Bay of Quinte, Canada

      Anówarakowa Kawennote: “Great Turtle Island” – North America

      Atirú:taks: Adirondacks

      Kaniatarowanénhne: “Big Waterway” – the St Lawrence River

      Ne-ah-ga: Niagara

      Oiqué: Hudson River

      Senhahlone: Plattsburg

      Tanasi: Tennessee