I like to pray in my Native language when I praise and worship our Creator, as he gave that tongue to us and it is my deepest belief he enjoys to hear that language echoed back to him. What he breathes out, he breathes back in again, so as he has given that language to me, I am careful to breathe it back out to him.
My elders used to counsel me to use my language to commune with the Spirit of all Life. They had many names for the Spirit. They would call him Mamogosnan, Gshemnedo, Shkwedensi, Kaponkaget, Shkwedekaget, Jakeshkishgwen, Jayekekendeget or Jayekekendet, Nekmekeye’et, and so many other names, but it was not just one or two names they had for identifying the Spirit we call God. The Hebrews are the same in that they have many different names for our Creator, all describing a different aspect of him. We Neshnabek were no different.
I also pray in the many various tongues the Holy Ghost has given since I am filled with him. God is of such an infinite variety in our many languages, and when I am praying I often am not totally aware of which language I am using when the Holy Ghost is praying through me. Sometimes he simply groans and moans through me but I know I am communicating with God nonetheless. We sometimes pray in the tongues of angels, as the scriptures indicate and other languages, some of which the Holy Spirit translates for me to know what I am praying. There are times I prophesy in another language and the Holy Spirit will translate for those present so all will praise him and know what God has said. It is all the same Spirit; the Son, the God, and his Holy Spirit. It is so wondrous, this thing of walking with the Spirit and to be led of him in all things. This Faith Walk is simply gratifying and so uplifting.
Nin se Neaseno.
Énagdewendemyan 