The walam olum
Phenomena: is a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable Sentence: “Myths attempt to explain natural phenomena” (The Walam Olum) Sentence: The Walam Olum is explained in natural phenomena, based on the humans’ origin, the customs, and the religion rites.
Pictographs: is a picture or symbol standing for a word or group of words Sentence: “Originally it consisted of a long series of pictographs explaining the origin of the Delaware people such as a result of the actions of a manito, or spirit. ” (The Walam Olum) Sentence: The Walam
Olum is represented by pictographs which explain how the Great Manito created Earth.
Leisure: freedom from the demands of work or duty Sentence: “All had cheerful knowledge, all had leisure, all thought in gladness” (The Walam Olum) Sentence: The Great Manito fetched them food and many other things which left them to leisure.
Quarrel: an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations Sentence: “And with him brought badness, quarreling, unhappiness. ” (The Walam Olum)
Sentence: Later, the Great Magician came to earth and brought quarreling. He brought many bad things like bad weather, sickness and also brought death. Ablution: a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual. Sentence: “Soon after the ablutions were completed they heard the distant call of the approaching gods. ” (The Navaho Origin Legend)
Sentence: The people heard a call of the gods after they were done ablutions.
Protrude: to thrust forward , cause to project Sentence: “While the wind was blowing, eight of the Mirage People came and walked around the objects on the ground four times, and as they walked the eagle feathers, whose tips protruded from between the buckskins, were seen to move. ” (The Navaho Origin Legend)
Sentence: After the eagle’s feathers were protruded they walked up to the buckskin, and saw that the corn had diapered and found a men and woman laying down there. 7. Constitution: the way in which a thing is composed; physical make-up; structure Sentence: “The Iroquois constitution outlines a system of laws and principles. ” (The Iroquois Constitution)
Sentence: The Iroquois constitution was spoken and not written; the constitution had to be presented in way that would catch the listener’s attention.
Disposition: An inclination or tendency Sentence: “If any man or any nation the Five Nations shall obey the laws of the Great Peace and make known their disposition to the lords of the confederacy, they made trace the roots to the tree and if their minds are clean and they are obedient and promise to obey the wishes of the confederate council, they shall be welcomed to take shelter beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. ” (The Iroquois Constitution)
Sentence: Confederacy: an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose. Sentence: If any man or any nation the Five Nations shall obey the laws of the Great 10. Trivial: of very little importance or value; insignificant Sentence: “It shall be a rong for anyone to lead a lord into trivial affairs… (The Iroquois Constitution) Sentence: Leading the lord into trivial affairs is considered to be wrong; they should respect their honorable position.
Emblem: a sign, design, or figure that identifies or represents something Sentence: “We now do crown you with the sacred emblem of the deer’s antlers, the emblem of your lordship” (The Iroquois Constitution) Sentence: He was crowned with emblem of the deer’s antlers. He then, became the mentor of the Five Nations.
Deliberations : thoughtful, careful, or lengthy consideration
Sentence: “In all of your deliberations in the confederate council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into your oblivion. “(The Iroquois Constitution) Sentence: All of his action will be deliberate carefully. 13. Oblivion: the condition of being forgotten or disregarded Sentence: “In all of your deliberations in the confederate council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into your oblivion. ” (The Iroquois Constitution) Sentence: All of his wrong act will be oblivion will be not only cast on him but also in his family.
