Nu Yah means love

Life on Six Nations provides a certain type of insulation from the world. One can live their whole lives in this community unfazed by the craziness of global politics and world events.

Six Nations people have a general idea what is going on. Americans are invading another country, a ruthless businessman is vying for president, and something seems to be happening in Libya.

More importantly for us we respond to news that directly affects our lives. Like when we hear about the latest car accident and worry that it may be someone we know. Sometimes we hear that so-and-so had a new baby and it warms our hearts.

Our lives on Six Nations are interconnected whether we like it or not.

This becomes even more apparent when venturing into the city to go shopping or to grab some food. Seeing another scone wandering around the mall is usually an occasion for a good wave or nod. Word will get around and eventually someone will remark ‘Oh heard you were buying up at the mall last week.’

Best of all around this time of year is saying “Nu yah!” to a friend when they are out amongst the wolves surrounded by concrete and city lights. Just that one phrase can take someone back to a kinder, gentler time when we cared for one another and used to ‘visit’ to exchange baked goodies.

It’s spelled No:ia in Kanienke’ha (Mohawk). It’s been debated where this phrase originates and oddly enough it sounds like New Year with a harsh Brit accent. Nevertheless it is a time when people of Six Nations go door to door shouting “Nu yah!” and happily receiving Indian donuts and cookies. It’s like Halloween but without the commercialism and horror – or the horror of commercialism.

It still happens year to year. But it when it happens off reserve it’s even more special.

Sometimes I will take a gamble and say Nu Yah! to someone I don’t know but who I suspect is from Six Nations. If they are a very tall Ojibwe or Cree then it can turn into a pretty awkward moment, but for the most part I can recognize my own.

Now that I think about it, when we say Nu Yah to each other we are really saying so much more. It means we acknowledge our common struggles and pains. It means we understand our relationship with each other as cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews. It means that we care.

The white people call it solidarity of the oppressed. We call it Konoronhkwa.

So think about that when you see your neighbour out and about. For my very closest friends I reserve a special “Nu Yah” which I forcefully yell at them almost in anger. It’s funny.

It’s that type of native humor that is hard to explain. It’s like when close friends punch each other in the ribs as a public greeting instead of saying hello and it means the same thing.

Nu Yah means love.

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