Alamikhôwadin: Greeting the New Year

Today – December 23rd, 2022 on the Gregorian calendar – we meet the first new moon following the winter solstice, marking the beginning of the Abenaki year centered upon the sun and moon cycles: it is the arrival sign of piligaden - a New Year. On this day, we greet each other in recognition of being drawn together in this time and place - atowiwi - with all that those relationships may entail. These constantly-changing dynamics are not always easy, or they fall short of our expectations or assumptions. At this time of acknowledging renewal, it is customary to ask for forgiveness of our family, friends, and community as we enter the new cycle together.

Forgiveness and healing come through becoming aware of what is lacking, or what is interfering, with the continuity of Spirit - the river of life - and then mindfully addressing that disconnection or obstruction. Beginning the New Year with Alamikos, the first month - known as the Greetings Maker – which follows the winter solstice and the return of Nmahom Gizos (Grandfather Sun), there is a tradition of asking for forgiveness and enabling a fresh start in the new season. As elder Joseph Elie Joubert tells us: “The new year’s forgiveness time is [also] called Anhaldamawadin, the act of forgiving. We would go to the house of the people we offended during the past year and say the following: “Anhaldamawi kassi plilawawlan”. It is basically saying “Forgive me for the many wrongs I did you.”

And so we say, to all my relatives here - Ni k'’didamelbna n’dalôgomômek Wantastegok:

“Please forgive any wrong I may have done to you.” - “Liwlaldamana anhaldamawi kasi palilawalian.”

It is a new year.

Alosada kassiwi, mina ta mina. Let us walk together, again and again.