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Iyatiku, The-Mother-Corn.
EY*TEKW
[to Whom the tenth day of November, day 314, is dedicated]

Geography/Culture: America, North: Keres.
Description: Earth Mother; Corn Woman; Mother Goddess of the people; She Who guides and counsels the people to peace; She Who welcomes us home when we cast off this coil of flesh as huskers cast off the leaves that wrap the corn; She Who lives where the four rivers of life come together at Shipap, from where She sends forth Her counsel and greets those entering the spirit world.
To Whom Sacred: white (the color of Shipap); Shipap itself, which is Her abode; a gambling game (which She gave to Her people during a drought).

Source: Allen SH 18, 20, 29, 45, 239
Irriaku, Sacred-Corn-Ear-Bundle.
ERE*KW

Geography/Culture: America, North: Keres.
Description: She Who maintains the connections between individuals of the tribe and between the tribe and non-human supernaturals; She Who is the Heart of Iyatiku; She Who represents the power of Iyatiku; She Who serves as a reminder of Iyatiku's charge that people should always share the fruits of Her body and ever remain at peace in their hearts and relationships (the rains only come to peaceful people).

Source: Allen SH 17-18.
Istoakoa, ----.
ESTO*KO*

Geography/Culture: America, North: Keres.
Description: Reed woman.
To Whom Sacred: perhaps reed-flute (carried by the Aurena -- they also wear three eagle feathers and ctc'otika feathers (white-striped) on their heads, bells, and wear woman's dress).

Source: Allen SH 232.
Naiya-Iyatiku, Mother-Corn-Woman.
NIY*-EY*TEKW

Geography/Culture: America, North: Keres.
Description: Mother chief; Gaurdian at the gate of the spirit world.
To Whom Sacred: the color yellow (with which women's faces should be painted at death so that She will recognise them as women when they arrive at the gate of the spirit world).
Without Her presence at every ceremony the power a rite is designed to create or release cannot be generated; She is also associated with healing.
Source: Allen SH 17, 270


worked on: October, August 1991; June 1990.
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