Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo explains how the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (“The Words Before All”) inspires her work as an artist:

[In Kanien’kéha]

I am from the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation.

The words before all...

I give thanks to our mother Earth for all she put on the Earth,

...in the Earth,

...in the waters,

...and in the sky.

Thank you. Those are all my words.

This is a short way of saying our Ohèn:ton Kariwatéhkwen, which is often referred to as our Thanksgiving Address. But the words roughly translate to ‘the words before all.’ I was taught to say this every day. So in the morning when I get up, I say this. And often before any events that we have, someone will say this but much longer versions. Because it is a way to give thanks for us. To honour and to respect everything on Earth. To acknowledge every thing’s importance, every one’s importance, and remind us of our place. That we are just one element in this whole beautiful place.

“How do we actually live every day in action?”

I brought some cedar that I found on the ground. It is one of our medicine plants. But these branches are not on the tree anymore. We give thanks to the animals, we give thanks to the insects, we give thanks to the food that the plants give us. We give thanks to the four directions of the winds. We give thanks to the thunders, to grandmother moon, to our brother the sun, and so much more. And when we do that, it’s not just words. It’s not just a theory that sounds good. How do we actually live it? How do we actually live every day in action? That respect. How do I truly look at a tree and truly feel: this is my family? Truly acknowledge the intelligence, the life, our connection. How do I truly live that? This life is just as important as my life. We’re so human focused, and we’re so disconnected. So I think about this a lot and I don’t fully understand it all, but sometimes my dance helps bring me to another level. Because when I dance, suddenly the boundaries disappear.