The Hodinöhsyo:nih refer to this body of knowledge as Ögwë’ö:we:ka:‘ (pronounced oh-gweh-oh-weh-gah in the Seneca language). This means all the things that pertain to the Way of Life of the Original People, whom we call Ögwë’ö:we: (pronounced O-gweh-uh-weh-ka).
Ögwë’ö:we:ka:’ includes everything that makes up the unique identity of the Original People – the language, customs, values, mores, ethics, philosophy, traditions, beliefs and patterns of behavior that were inherited from their ancestors. Ögwë’ö:we:ka:’ includes the shared values, beliefs, mores, traditions and cultural practices as well as a common history.
