Yapa

iconThe First Age of Spirit

Book 1 – The Beginning

5   The Count and Name of Generations

1Of all the knowledge one must learn,
2The first and last is family.
3Father we call “father”;
4Mother we call “mother”;
5Sister from the same mother or father we call “sister”;
6And women of the same skin name and moiety we call “sister”;
7Brother from the same mother or father we call “brother”;
8And men from the same skin name and moiety we call “brother”;
9And brother of our father or mother we call “uncle”;
10And older men of the same moiety as teachers we call “uncle”;
11And sister of our father or mother we call “aunty”;
12And older women of the same moiety as teachers we call “aunty”;
13Our son we call “boy” or “son”;
14And the son of our brothers or sisters we call “boy” or “nephew”;
15Our daughter we call “girl” or “daughter”;
16And the daughter of our brothers or sisters we call “girl” or “niece”;
17Our grandson we call “boy” or “son”;
18And the grandson of our brothers or sisters we call “boy” or “grandnephew”;
19Our granddaughter we call “girl” or “granddaughter”;
20And the granddaughter of our brothers or sisters we call “girl” or “grand niece”;
21Our grandfather we call “grandfather” or “elder”;
22And grandfathers of the same moiety we call “grandfather” or “elder”;
23Our grandmother we call “grandmother” or “lady”;
24And grandmothers of the same moiety we call “grandmother” or “lady”;
25And all those who have lived and died from the tribe we call “ancestors”;
26And all sisters that have died within a year we do not speak their name;
27And all brothers that have died within a year we do not speak their name;
28And all girls, daughters or nieces that have died, we do not speak their name for three years;
29And all boys, sons or nephews that have died, we do not speak their name for three years;
30And all mothers, aunties and ladies that have died, we do not speak their name for five years;
31And all fathers, uncles and elders that have died, we do not speak their name for five years;
32We call our father ancestor our “father” or “father ancestor” and all boys, sons, nephews, fathers, uncles and elders of our father ancestor we call first ancestors and their relation;
33We call our mother ancestor our “mother” or “mother ancestor” and all girls, daughters, nieces, mothers, aunties and ladies of our mother ancestor we call first ancestors and their relation;
34We call our grandfather ancestor our “grandfather” or “first grandfather ancestor” and all boys, sons, nephews, fathers, uncles and elders of our first grandfather ancestor we call second ancestors and their relation;
35We call our grandmother ancestor our “grandmother” or “first grandmother ancestor” and all girls, daughters, nieces, mothers, aunties and ladies of our first grandmother ancestor we call second ancestors and their relation;
36We call our great grandfather ancestor our “second grandfather ancestor” and all boys, sons, nephews, fathers, uncles and elders of our second grandfather ancestor we call third ancestors and their relation;
37We call our great grandmother ancestor our “second grandmother ancestor” and all girls, daughters, nieces, mothers, aunties and ladies of our second grandmother ancestor we call third ancestors and their relation;
38We call our great great grandfather ancestor our “third grandfather ancestor” and all boys, sons, nephews, fathers, uncles and elders of our third grandfather ancestor we call fourth ancestors and their relation;
39We call our great great grandmother ancestor our “third grandmother ancestor” and all girls, daughters, nieces, mothers, aunties and ladies of our third grandmother ancestor we call fourth ancestors and their relation;
40We call our great great great grandfather ancestor our “fourth grandfather ancestor” and all boys, sons, nephews, fathers, uncles and elders of our fourth grandfather ancestor we call fifth ancestors and their relation;
41We call our great great great grandmother ancestor our “fourth grandmother ancestor” and all girls, daughters, nieces, mothers, aunties and ladies of our fourth grandmother ancestor we call fifth ancestors and their relation;
42Our tribe of a different moiety we call “cousins” or “tribe”;
43And members of the same skin name but from a different tribe we call “cousins” or “family”;
44And members who share a common ancestor back to our one hundredth grandfather or grandmother ancestor we call “family”.
45A man or woman who cannot remember their ancestors,
46Cannot represent moiety or tribe.
47Only men and women that honor family may represent family.
48Only men and women that honor moiety may represent moiety.
49Only men and women that keep alive the memory of ancestors,
50May speak for ancestors and tribe.
51As the ancient song of law tells us:
52"(Remember) family, (honor) ancestors, (honor) skin"