This sculptured vase is an original and contemporary piece of Iroquois pottery. The woman symbolizes both Mother Earth and Grandmother Moon. The humming bird side is Mother Earth and the circle side is Grandmother Moon who controls many of the life cycles on earth. Both of them work together in perfect harmony. The humming bird symbolizes the beauty and fascination of life as they always capture our attention. They help in the continuing life cycle of the woodland flowers through pollination. According to legend the woodland flowers are also female as they nourish and heal as a mother would to her baby. The woodland flower symbolizes life, health, growth and fertility. The turtle is a clan and also symbolizes the land, more specifically the continent of North America or “ Turtle Island ”. The earth and the human beings are part of an infinity (sky world, universe, heavens) of dynamic life and order continuously rejuvenating and evolving through cycles (circles). The earth is part of a pure and perfect order. The heron is a clan and symbolizes slow and graceful movement or patience.

            “I am at the center of the universe

             Before me is beauty

             Behind me is beauty

             Above me is beauty

             Below me is beauty

             All around me is beauty

             I live in beauty”                        Nauajo Prayer Chant

Steven T. Smith

Gah-loon-yah-day

(Standing Sky)

Mohawk Potter