SACRED FIRES

RECENTLY BROKENWING EDITORIALS AND FEATHER NEWS VISITED SCHEMITZUN 2008. THIS IS THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT "FESTIVAL OF THE CORN" (POW WOW). THE MOHEGANS' EVENT IS CALLED A WIGWAM.

WHEN WE GOT TO THE MAIN TENT WE NOTICED SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT. THERE WAS NO SACRED FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TENT.

MOHEGANS HAVE A FIRE THAT THEY BURN FOR DAYS IN THEIR MAIN TENT. IT IS SURROUNDED BY THIRTEEN ROCKS THAT ARE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FIRE KEEPERS ARE THERE AT ALL TIMES TO KEEP THE SACRED FIRE GOING. SO WHY IS THERE NO SACRED FIRE HERE IN NORTH STONINGTON?

WE ASKED A MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT ELDER WOMAN ABOUT THE LACK OF A SACRED FIRE. SHE STATED THAT THE NORTH STONINGTON FIRE MARSHAL WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. THAT THEY HAD FOUR FAMILIES AT FOUR PLACES ON THE RESERVATION THAT HAD SACRED FIRES GOING, WITH EACH ONE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY SEPARATE FIRE KEEPERS. SHE TOLD US THEY HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD A SACRED FIRE THAT LASTED NINE DAYS. WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS PASSING THEY START THE FIRE AND WHEN THE PERSON IS LAID TO REST, THEN THE FIRE IS ALLOWED TO GO TO SLEEP (GO OUT).

THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE MOHEGAN PRACTICES OF THE PAST WHICH SOME SAY ARE BASED ON OTHER TRIBES TRADITIONS. THE BELIEF WAS YOU START THE FIRE WHEN THE PERSON PASSES UNTIL THE PERSON IS LAID TO REST. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BELIEF IS BEING CHANGED TO TWENTY FOUR HOURS.

I REALIZE THAT THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT DO JUSTICE TO WHAT FIRE KEEPERS DO AND ABOUT SACRED FIRES. I WILL INTERVIEW, TOM EPPS "THROWS HIS HATCHET", JAY IHLOFF "TWO TREES", ERIC MAYNARD "LITTLE BIG MAN" AND CHARLIE STRICKLAND "TWO BEARS" ABOUT SACRED FIRES AND FIRE KEEPERS.. THE ARTICLE WILL BE COMING SOON.