Content area
Full Text
ARTS SPOTLIGHT: IN MEMORY OF LEON SHENANDOAH, FIRE KEEPER
THIS INFORMATION WAS PASSED ON TO US BY SEVERAL of our readers and is printed here to honor a man of very high character and distinction. Leon Shenandoah was the Fire Keeper of the Central Fire for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy for over a quarter of a century.
Leon Shenandoah held a very sacred and ancient title. He was the "Tadodaho" from 1967 to his passing in 1996. Shenandoah was a great orator who served the people well and preserved the traditions of the people. When he was a small child, as he crawled along the floor, a pot of hot water was accidentally spilt on him scalding his entire body, which almost killed him. He was taken to a medicine man to be healed. A sacred ceremony was performed for Shenandoah, and during the ceremony a man stood up and said "You are that Boy!" This same man predicted that someday Shenandoah would hold a special position amongst his people.
As we know, Leon Shenandoah did grow up to hold the special title of Tadodaho, and he was highly admired by all. He worked hard even in the face of great hardship to promote the teachings of the Great Law of Peace, Kaianeraserakowa. The proceeding account tells of how the Haudenosaunee...