Muhheakannuck Nations at Nu Scodack
The Origins of the Muhheakannuck
Origins-1
As a family, the M'hicanuk began long ago, in another cycle, in a different dimension.
We began an organized effort to remember events when we realized we were losing our home more than 12,000 years ago. We were given and accepted as a community the task of remembering until we would once again reach a similar point in human development and evolution.
There are currently two versions of our origin story: the 2000 edition: our story was written down for the first time, recorded on 3.5" discs. The electronic version and paper copies were misplaced. the 2016 edition is the 2nd written version of our story as recalled in the Winter of 2016. Abstracts were created for both editions at the time they were recorded. The 2000 abstract is short and is included at the beginning of the 2000 edition. The 2016 abstract is a page in length and is its own page on this website. The accuracy of all versions has been confirmed by the Sagamore Michael J. D'Amico. the Keeper of the Story Sticks. The Sticks disappeared during the funeral of the Owaya Sagamore Barney Lewis in 1967. The 2000 edition is a straight forward chronological version written while still hidding right out in the open, a year prior to the catastrophic events of 2001. Much was not mentioned. The December 2016 edition was written after Sagamore Mike walked on in 2007, after the Two Row Wampum Treaty enactment of 2013, and after the historical events of 2016 signalling the beginning of the end and the end of the preparations for the new beginning. While still hiding right out in the open, it is realized this is the time to reveal history, ready or not. Links: Origins 2000 x Origins 2016 abstract x Origins 2016 full story x
There are currently two versions of our origin story: the 2000 edition: our story was written down for the first time, recorded on 3.5" discs. The electronic version and paper copies were misplaced. the 2016 edition is the 2nd written version of our story as recalled in the Winter of 2016. Abstracts were created for both editions at the time they were recorded. The 2000 abstract is short and is included at the beginning of the 2000 edition. The 2016 abstract is a page in length and is its own page on this website. The accuracy of all versions has been confirmed by the Sagamore Michael J. D'Amico. the Keeper of the Story Sticks. The Sticks disappeared during the funeral of the Owaya Sagamore Barney Lewis in 1967. The 2000 edition is a straight forward chronological version written while still hidding right out in the open, a year prior to the catastrophic events of 2001. Much was not mentioned. The December 2016 edition was written after Sagamore Mike walked on in 2007, after the Two Row Wampum Treaty enactment of 2013, and after the historical events of 2016 signalling the beginning of the end and the end of the preparations for the new beginning. While still hiding right out in the open, it is realized this is the time to reveal history, ready or not. Links: Origins 2000 x Origins 2016 abstract x Origins 2016 full story x
Other facts
Nottawa - the Thinker is a M'hican ancestor.
Schadawadie, a Mohawk sub leader and Sequehenny of the Onondaga eel clan are both Tunxis ancestors.
Shawnee, aka Schwanno, are the southern door of the M'hiacanuk.
See more on Tunxis at <see> Tunxis and <see> Neighbors
Agawam: meeting place for family reunions until 1950s
Southern territorial bounds: the Raritan River.
Governor Lovelace Treaty Francis Lovelace (circa 1621–1675) was an English Royalist and the second Governor of the New York colony 1668-1673.
The third new Governor of New York after Francis Lovelace was John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace of Hurley. March 1708 – 6 May 1709. The Lovelace Treaty is one of the few treaties actually partially observed until present times. It is observed by the state of Virginia. Everytime Virginia elects an attorney general who campaigns on ending treaties, he changes his mind after being elected.
Spelling and Language
Spelling:
You may have noticed variations in spelling in particular and in recording the language in general.
Much of this information was never written down anywhere until the 1990s. We have been hiding right out in the open since the 1600s with the arrival of Henry Hudson. This is one of the reason why many powwow vendors are related to leadership.
What was recorded prior to 2000 was mostly done by non M'hiacan speakers. It helps to know the native tongues of the recorders to be able to connect variations of particular words.
In recording M'hiacan information, it was decided by MNNS to spell M'hican words the way they are said phonetically: Muh-he-a-kan-nuck. [This is the official spelling.] Again, this varies with the natural speech of the recorder.
We often spell it the way it is heard: M'hicanuk. Or the way it's said, M'hiacanuck/M'hiacanugk. "Muh" is the letter M plus the shwa sound "uh". The ' [apostrophe] is also used to indicate this.
People who wrote down M'hican words commonly used an "o" or an "a" depending on their own pronunciation of the letters. The use of "ug/ugh" is common among Dutch speaking recorders and is equal to "uck/uk" among English speaking recorders.
Language:
M'hiacanu is one M'hican. M'hiacanuk (M'hiacanuck) is 2 or more M'hicans.
M'hiacanituck is the river
Two obvious differences between spoken English and M'hican: Multi vowels and very guttural It is also ususally in the present tense and active voice.
One of the reasons people may feel challenged in learning the M'hicanu language is the ears of english speaking persons only hear about half the sounds. M'hicans commonly use multiple vowels strung together, such as in Etaoqua, said Eee-tah-oh-qwa but heard as Eee-tah-kwa, accent on Eee, making it guttural.
M'hican speech is very guttural, deep throated.
Pin is Bird. Pen is Hill. The difference may be difficult for some english speakers to distinquish.
Tig is Tree. Mig is Eagle. Merrah haute [mer-rah hoe tay] is also eagle. Terrah haute is Earth. French influence.
A single word may express a thought, a sentence, even a paragraph and somtimes an essay..
Sagamore, Sachem, Sachema are all the same in differenct dialects. M'hican, Munsee, ?
Gitchee and Kitchee are M'hican and Munsee words, respectively, for Great as in Great Spirit, i.e., Gitchee Manitou which is said Bach-ta-mo in Esopus. However, the prefix Muh is also great, best, most, the superlative etc., as is Po in Powhatan. Pochantas is "My Favorite Daughter".
The Pomptons are, however, the laughing people. M'hicanuk are the great canoe people. Mississippi is the Great River.
Hey is Hello as in Hey Wista/Wister which translates Hello Friend.
Wau [wa] means light as in love/light. The Wa-ba-na-ki [Abenaki] are the dawnlaners, the people who live where the sun rises.
Wa-ni-si is used as an expression of gratitude. It can be translated as may the light always be with you and yours. We are grateful for your presence and for all you do.