“Gas on the highway” Thank you for not asking.
Kahsennenhawe
Scenario 1
“Please introduce yourself”
“Hi, my name is Mandy.” Nobody bats an eye.
Scenario 2
“Please introduce yourself”
“Kwe, Kahsennénhawe iontiáts” Hi, my name is Kahsennénhawe.
And the next question is almost always “What does it mean?” or they want a 20-minute power point outlining my language and culture. (Please just let me state my name like all the others, without the interrogation.)
The only question ever asked about my name Mandy, is if it’s short for Amanda. And no, it’s not.
There are meanings attached to most names. For example, in English the meaning of the name Mandy is an abbreviation of Amanda, meaning worthy of being loved. But in all honesty who cares? Because no one has ever asked? My mother liked it. So, that’s my name.
But in all seriousness, I always used Mandy while growing up. Some would call it my colonized name.
My High school art teacher, from Hungary, would not accept my art pieces if signed “Mandy” and this annoyed me to no end. He seemed more attuned to the need of promoting myself as a proud Kanien’kehá:ka individual, and I was more wanting to just fit in with the masses of class mates and peers from the neighboring community. A clear indication of Residential school and intergenerational trauma suffered by the generation before me.
I do, however understand that people are curious and want to learn more about my culture and the origins of my somewhat unique name. Most times, there is no ill intent.
My name is not as simple as a set of phonemes strung together to become a proper noun. Every syllable has a meaning and a purpose. It connects me to my ancestors, is assigned to my turtle clan and passed down through my matrilineal line.
Don’t get me wrong, I will eventually tell you what it means but not during an anxiety driven introduction.
I recently attended a conference, where 2 Kahsennénhawes were in attendance. The other Kahsennenhawe was teaching our table mates how to pronounce our name.
Just say “Gas on a highway”
#indigenousname#colonizedname#meaning#kahsennenhawe#holdingthename#matrilineal
You’ve just added a whole new dimension to the naming/identity conversation! Niá:wen.
Thank you so much for sharing. In another of Mela’s classes, about Indigenous language, we saw how language is the backbone of many communities, and ties everything together. I could feel that when you said that each syllable had meaning and purpose, and connected you with your ancestors. When you are ready, I would love to know more about your name, and what it means. Thanks again for sharing, I really loved reading your post.
This is a great piece of writing. I can really hear your voice. “every syllable has a meaning and purpose, it connects me to my ancestors…” was so beautiful it stopped me in my tracks. thank you.
When I was a child and lived out in the country (Ste-Philomène), our neighbours were German immigrants on one side and on the other French Canadians. A little boy from neighbouring Kahnawake would come and play with all of us in the big backyard. He could not pronounce my name. So he creatively declared my name to be “Peaches”. It’s easier to say than Beatrice. So that is the reason my profile is a picture of Peaches! I will forever remember the name he bestowed on me 🙂