A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
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Chrystalynn Jock “I opened presents then laid down on the couch then I got sick from my baby cousin then I played with my toys.” Damien Thompson “I got an Xbox 360 and had a sleepover and then I came home and played all day on my Xbox and again the next day and again and again” Eric Mitchell “I went to Titus Mountain and went to my cousins and I played outside. I went to Titus Mountain again but my Ma broke her leg and we couldn’t go again.” Raighanne Torrence “My friend came to my house and we...
National health statistics state that the Native American populations are 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, 1.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease, 1.6 times more likely to be obese, 60% more likely to have a stroke, 40% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney/renal pelvic cancer, and 1.3 times more likely to have high blood pressure. With all of these frightening statistics, it is no surprise that individuals such as Jeremiah Point and Corrine Johnson are hosting a food documentary series in the hopes of...
Niioieren Perkins is an artist who describes her medium as beadwork designs that “employ raised beadwork techniques which are distinctive for its three-dimensional look…although my artwork is based on traditional techniques, I incorporate unique contemporary styles that I bring to my creations.” Niioieren’s ability to combine traditional beadwork with more contemporary styles is exceptional as is her uncanny eye for color combinations and both have given her the rare opportunity to have her wor... Full story
The AAMB Professional Development and Employment Program and its participants are working on a community project that will benefit the impoverished Attawapiskat First Nation located in Northern Ontario. This community project involves utilizing the skills they have been learning in the course and applying it to help the Attawapiskat (or “People of the Parting Rocks”) this winter. The nine students that are participating in the program are taught by Linda Lalonde, who is teaching them very pra...
The fact is we live in a world of ignorance. Many people believe that Native American people have integrated into North American society and ways of life and have become near extinct, if not completely extinct. Some believe Native American people are comprised of one group of people instead of a myriad of different languages and cultures. Some claim that they are “1/3 Cherokee” or that their “Great-great-great Grandmother was Apache.” According to others, we live in Teepees and get around...
The Brass Horse Lounge was packed when the Akwesasne Basket Drive held their second annual Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday Dec. 4th from 3-5pm. Kids and parents stood and sat to watch the Magician and his magic tricks. If the kids lost interest in the magic show, as kids have a tendency to do, they could get their faces painted. Or stuff their faces with pizza and paint it with pizza sauce. Or sit with Santa Claus and his wife Mrs. Claus and have their picture taken. Or have clowns m...
Kerdy Mitcho is a very diverse artist. He can work with a pencil, airbrush, or guitar. He is also a big supporter of Akwesasne charity and is the founder of the non-profit organization called Red Root Studios. Kerdy is also a St. Lawrence College Alum where he studied Fine Arts and took classes at Iohahiio Adult Education Center in Tsi Snaihne. As all people have both strengths and weaknesses, Kerdy is a firm believer in the positive outcome of collaboration. He originally started out doing comi... Full story
Santa Paws came to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe on Saturday Dec. 3 to take pictures with local cats and dogs. For the three-hours that the event was running, 28-dogs and 1-cat showed up to get their pictures taken. While the animals were waiting, they could check out the bake sale for some treats or to try on some very fashionable donated items. All money raised would help stray and abandoned animals that have been picked up by the SRMT Animal Control. Many of the stray and abandoned animals...
The Akwesasne Women’s Reproductive Health Research Project has been collecting data from eligible female participants to test the theory that PCBs and other toxic pollutants may be having adverse effects on women’s reproductive capabilities. At this stage, it is only a theory and they are emphasizing the potential importance of this program should their findings be true. In order for the project to succeed, they are required to have a total of 180 participants by the end of 2012. As of Wednesday Nov. 7th, they need 75 more participants. The...
The Akwesasne Mohawk School has undergone many changes in the past few years. They have had additions and extensive renovations done to the building, Mr. Papineau retired as principle and Sharlee Thomas stepped in to take his place, and the academics have changed as well. In Karin Thompson’s first grade class, students are utilizing the Scholastic Interactive Lesson plan learning about the Secrets of a Forest Habitat where they learn to read diagrams about animals that live on the forest f...
The Akwesasne Basket Drive and Mountain of Toys hosted a Comedy Hypnosis show with Jack Hirsh at the Brass Horse Friday Nov. 25. Most holiday fundraisers and events are geared towards children, but the volunteers for the Basket Drive and Mountain of Toys wanted to do something to entertain the adults of the community who make the success of the organization possible. “The community,” said Sesir Herne, “is what makes this possible every holiday.” Contrary to popular belief, the state of hypnosi...
The business students at the Iohahiio Adult Education Center got philanthropic for their entrepreneur and marketing courses this semester. They held a Grand Prix event at Iohahiio on Monday Nov. 28th at 1:30pm to raise funds for the Akwesasne Freedom School, North Franklin Sports, Carson Phillips Trust Fund, and the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club. Students were divided into four groups and each group chose one of the aforementioned non-profit organizations to raise money for. They had to put the...
A book signing took place at The Bear’s Den gift shop Sunday afternoon with author Cheri L. Farnsworth who has written the non-fiction paranormal series Haunted Northern New York and has recently begun writing true crime books, the most recently released being Wicked Northern New York. Fans were able to meet, take pictures with and have their books signed by Farnsworth. In 2000, Cheri Farnsworth had the sudden desire to write non-fiction books but wasn’t sure what she wanted write about. Tha...
This year, 12-students from the SRCS chorus group made it through auditions for the Zone 6 Area All-State Festival. This highly competitive event held auditions in Lake Placid during the summer and the actual competition was in Beekmantown the last weekend in September. These students range in grades from 9-12 but some have been in chorus and singing together as early as the 3rd Grade. To make it to the Area All-State is seen as a big accomplishment for any individual but a huge accomplishment...
On the cloudy morning of Monday Nov. 21 at the Salmon River Central School, students, faculty and community members came together to honor the late Jake Tekaronianeken “Where Two Skies Come Together” Swamp of Akwesasne. Students from the school performed the opening and closing Thanksgiving Address for this event which was followed by a brief summary of the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy done by Bear Clan Sub-Chief, Aronhiaies Herne. This story, which takes up to ten days for the...
The SUNY Potsdam students held an Artists Showcase, Dinner and Social Wednesday Nov. 16 on campus at the Students Center in Potsdam. The Potsdam Association of Native Americans (PANA) wanted to host this event to share Native culture and craft with fellow Potsdam students in the hopes that they gain more knowledge and respect for Native culture. The day started with four artists from Akwesasne showcasing their work for the Potsdam students. The artists that were present were John and Lawrence...
The Akwesasne Cancer Support Group hosted their 2nd annual Hats for Hope Saturday, Nov. 19th at the Seniors Building located in Hogansburg. The group came together to cut and sew hats made of fleece for people going through cancer treatment in the area. All of the members of this group have been affected by cancer both directly or indirectly. They either knew someone close to them that battled cancer or were a cancer survivor themselves, like Dolores Thompson. Dolores described always being cold...
The Title VII Program along with the Salmon River Mohawk Club hosted a Fashion Show and Social Dance for the annual Native American Day Celebration at the Salmon River Central School on Tuesday Nov. 22. The festivities began at 8:30 am with a Fashion Show and Social for the Middle School grades, which was followed by lunch that included traditional corn soup and strawberry drink for the whole school. After lunch, it was the High School’s turn to participate in their own Fashion Show and S...
A Washoe-Paiute Native from Nevada, Mike Galban, came to the Akwesasne Cultural Center Sunday Nov. 20 to talk about, “A Present of Clothing - Native Clothing in the second half of the 18th Century.” This lecture showcased his research on traditional Native regalia that ranged from moccasins to breechcloths. Galban moved to New York State with his family in 1984 to an area outside of Rochester. He became involved in the Native Urban community and made friends with many people in the area as well as here in Akwesasne. His wife, Tonya Loran, is fr...
The 2011 Christmas Enchantment located at the Snye Recreation on Nov. 11-13 was a huge success. They did things a little bit different this year by giving everyone an equal opportunity to win the numerous and innovative trees that people donated by selling raffle tickets instead of holding an auction. Tickets were sold at 6 for $5.00 and they raised a very lucrative amount of money for the Snye Recreation Center as well as donating money to different local programs and conferences. The...
This week’s Elder Highlight will shine on elder May Cole. She has five brothers and sisters (Buster, Charlene, Bobby, Betty, and Helen) and raised eight boys and one girl (Edwin, Dennis, Wayne, Jeff, Harris, Brian, Sam, Steve, and Maxine). I visited her this week to pester her about her life and to hear what story she would tell me, this is some of what she had to say: When were you born? “1924” (for all of you without a calculator that makes her a young 87) Where did you grow up? “My grandpa...
The Salmon River Girls Varsity Soccer team lost the New York State Class B Regional Semifinal to the Beekmantown Eagles 4-0 Tuesday evening at SUNY Potsdam. The Salmon River Shamrocks made it to the Semifinal round after beating Potsdam Sandstoners with a score of 3-0 in the Section X Class C Soccer Championship. The Shamrocks started off the game strong in the first half but were dominated by the Eagles’ fast pace for the rest of the game. Goalkeeper for the Shamrocks, Amanda Reyome, kept her team within reach of winning with 20 saves, but the...
The Salmon River Girls Varsity Soccer team lost the New York State Class B Regional Semifinal to the Beekmantown Eagles 4-0 Tuesday evening at SUNY Potsdam. The Salmon River Shamrocks made it to the Semifinal round after beating Potsdam Sandstoners with a score of 3-0 in the Section X Class C Soccer Championship. The Shamrocks started off the game strong in the first half but were dominated by the Eagles’ fast pace for the rest of the game. Goalkeeper for the Shamrocks, Amanda Reyome, kept her t...
