(Oneida, NY – Nov. 2014) Journalist, historian and Akwesasne Mohawk Doug George-Kanentiio will talk about the world’s origins, the meanings of human life, the significance of death and beliefs in the afterlife from the traditional perspective of the Five Nations of the Iroquois, or the Haudenosaunee, at Oneida Public Library on Sunday afternoon Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.
George-Kanentiio’s presentation, “The Beginning and the End: The Cosmos according to the Iroquois,” will address the development of Iroquois religious and philosophical thought from the creation story of Skywoman to rituals of death and mourning. Along with belief and ritual, he will address Iroquois values as regards the world, nature and human life.
George-Kanentiio is the author of “Iroquois on Fire” and “Iroquois Culture and Commentary.” He is also co-author with his wife Joanne Shenandoah of the picture book “Skywoman: Legends of the Iroquois,” published in 1998. A graduate of Syracuse University and the Antioch School of Law, he has been an editor of “Akwesasne Notes” and a contributor to many national newspapers.
The program is free and open to the general public. However, the library otherwise is not open for business that Sunday, Nov. 23.
For more information, stop by the Oneida Library, 220 Broad St., or call 363-3050.