A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
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Akwesasne is a unique community with many different perspectives and opportunities regarding governance, but one unified constant is that the leadership is beholden to the community. This means there is a high expectation that leadership is accountable to the community and that the community can and should start questioning when leadership makes questionable choices to block or impede good governance. I have searched for community government documents like council resolutions. To my surprise, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council has many of...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. The two community meetings held this past December about the impending land claims settlement revealed not only wide dissatisfaction with the proposal but also the need for the Mohawk Nation to transform back into an actual functioning government. As it now stands the Nation Council conducts the cycle of ceremonies which are done with enthusiasm and skill; they are well organized and have become central to the preservation of a distinct Indigenous identity drawing people from across Akwesasne and far beyond. But, as I...
by Melinda Myers Add a fresh look and fragrance to your holidays with a potted Rosemary plant. This favorite herb of cooks, crafters, and gardeners can be sheared into the shape of a wreath, small tree or orb and found at garden centers and florists. The pine scent and attractive foliage make it a wonderful addition to the holidays. It adds nice color, texture, and fragrance to any room or holiday decor. Add a bow and decorative pot for the perfect hostess or holiday gift. Rosemary was as...
By Doug George-Kanentiio At a public gathering at the Mohawk Nation longhouse on December 3rd the latest version of the land claims settlement was reviewed and commented upon in accordance with the traditional customs and procedures. Beginning with the recitation of the Ohenton Karihwatehkwen, the people were encouraged to stand and speak but to do so with respect and patience. Tobacco was set to fire to express gratitude for the opportunity to address this critical issue while calling for clarity in thinking, in an effort to reach consensus, n...
By Melinda Myers Add a bit of greenery to your front steps, window box or patio with a winter container garden. You'll find all the ingredients you need at your local garden center, craft store, and maybe even a few in your backyard. Start with a walk through your yard and look for evergreens and other potential ingredients for your winter containers. Fruits like rose hips, winterberries, holly berries, crabapples and others add color to the container. Fluffy seedheads of grasses make a nice...
To our community, I would like to send a Niawen kowa to everyone who helped out with our annual St. Regis Mission St. Kateri Circle Pie Sale and Craft Sale held at the Turtle’s Nest. We brought 24 craft vendors together, to showcase all of their hard work and it was beautiful. Everyone did a good job! We also promoted 8 groups within our community, such as: St. Regis Kateri Circle – 50/50 Holiday Raffle HAVFD -Raffle Tickets CKON 97.3 Radio - Giveaway Akwesasne Senior Club – Raffle Tickets Kawehnoke Recreation – Merry Moolah Tickets St. Reg...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. I have been to Palestine-Israel twice-once in 1984 as part of a spiritual pilgrimage group and in 2012 accompanying my wife Joanne Shenandoah as she performed in Bethlehem. During my first trip I saw the remnants of a region which was recovering from the 1982 conflict with Lebanon with exceptionally tight security throughout the country. Large groups of American armed soldiers patrolled the towns and rural areas supported by tanks and other armored vehicles. Small, specialized units trained in desert warfare would be...
by Melinda Myers Tropical plants are filling our homes and workspaces, adding beauty, relieving stress, and boosting creativity, productivity, and focus. Keep these plants healthy and looking their best by providing for their basic needs. Select plants that will thrive in the growing conditions found in your home or office and with your level of care. Busy gardeners should look for low-maintenance plants like ZZ plants, Chinese evergreens, pothos and philodendrons while others may choose ferns,...
by Melinda Myers Every gardener, new or experienced, appreciates tools to help them better enjoy their hobby. Some may be looking for ergonomically designed tools to help them garden longer while newbies may need some basic tools as they are getting started. A peek in their shed may help you decide which must-have tool to give them this holiday season. Every gardener needs a bypass pruner for deadheading, trimming and pruning stems between ¼" and1". Bypass pruners have two sharp blades li...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. On October 27 CBC’s investigative show “The Fifth Estate” exposed the performer Buffy Ste. Marie as an imposter. Her 60-year career as an indigenous singer was contrary to the actual truth of her birth. Ms. Ste. Marie was born Beverly Santamaria to non-Native parents in Stoneham, Massachusetts. She is not Cree, not Native and not Canadian. The responses to this was initially disbelief followed by statements of either condemnation or support. I read many comments and sought to express my sympathy to the singer while...
by Melinda Myers The holidays are quickly approaching and finding the perfect gift for those on your list can be challenging. With many people downsizing or striving for a minimalistic lifestyle, finding the perfect gift gets even more difficult. Gifting something that is unique, useful and provides multiple functions may be the solution. Consider gifts that help family and friends on your gift list save time and space and support their lifestyle and hobbies. These are gifts that are more...
Niawenko:wa to Potsdam State Women’s Hockey Head Coach Olivia Cook, for making our first -ever trip to a Potsdam hockey game so memorable. It was an exciting game and a joy to watch those skilled players on the ice. My niece Addison Thompson got to meet Coach Cook after the game and the coach offered her some skating tips and offered great words of encouragement to this 10 year old player. You’ll see us again in the stands! Emily Tarbell...
by Melinda Myers This holiday, give a gift that keeps giving and requires no dusting. Gift friends and family a beautiful amaryllis that is sure to generate smiles as they watch the bulb transform into beautiful blossoms. Select unique varieties for the avid gardeners on your list. Double Dancing Queen has 8" blooms with layers of ruffled snow-white petals adorned with brushstrokes of scarlet red. The flowers of Evergreen amaryllis feature mint green petals, and Wild Amazone has long, recurved...
My dear wounded warrior, May our love heal thy nature As we tread gently upon our dear Mother Her embrace may always be changing Yet steady & infinite - never ending How thy relations, I love you Konoronkwa How thankful thy heart is Blessed by all ye Spirit…. -herbi m. francis-tatro...
Tisha Thompson Co-Coordinator of the 2023 Akwesasne Fashion Show, Shares Her Thank You’s For Those Who Helped Make the Show a Success: “The 2023 Akwesasne Fashion Show was an amazing success! Each year gets better and better. We couldn’t have pulled off such an amazing show without all the assistance from our “behind the scenes” crews. We did our best to cover all of our bases and ensure the show went off without a hitch. This couldn’t have been possible without all of the assistance we received from our volunteers. I can’t say enough good t...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. The color orange represents the ongoing struggle by indigenous residential school survivors to identify the missing children, locate their burial sites, determine how they died and reunite them with their respective families. Only when we have precise facts can we move ahead to bringing criminal charges against the institutions which administered the 150 schools and failed to prevent the blatant and ongoing abuse of the children under their care. To date very few of the abusers have been brought to justice. There can b...
She:kon sewakwekon! Niawen akwekon sewatakari:te! Akwekon ne Akwesasne Rontatewieni:io TsiIonteweionstakwa kawatsireson’a teietsinonweratens! Niawen ko:wa tsi nikon ketkon tisewatkawas ne askwaiatakeha. On behalf of the Akwesasne Freedom School students, staff and families thank you very much for making our 2023 annual dinner and quilt auction a huge success! A total of 41 quilts, all donated to the Akwesasne Freedom School by parents, families and friends from near and far! Niawen ko:wa/big thank to all who continue to support our school to t...
Bringing our minds as we put everything into place with our minds at rest. Drying our eyes, understanding we create new memories with the times we shared. During our final days in we’ve been put thru praying for a safe journey with goodbyes and farewells As we were tested we tried to remember everything when we were not at our best. Looking around things may not be the same. As we were heard his name when we put you through with numerous thoughts of prayers. Thank yous that need to be said… Thank yous for Letting us grieve Thank you for the...
The Akwesasne Powwow Committee would like to thank the community, volunteers, and visitors for coming out and supporting the Akwesasne Powwow. Nia:wen to the many dancers and drummers who blessed our grounds throughout powwow weekend. Niawen ko:wa to our sponsors, without you there could not be a powwow of this magnitude: -Akwesasne Community Partnership Funds consisting of: The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of Akwesasne, the Mohawk Bingo Palace and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. MCA BMO Financial Group Upper Canada District School Board Catholic...
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, Bernice Lazore, Judy Cole and I, Rosemary Bonaparte had the opportunity to attend the dedication ceremony of the Holy Bible in Mohawk at the United Church in Oka, Quebec. The words of welcome in this service were by Elder Harvey Satewas Gabriel who was instrumental in having this project come to fruition. His whole family was very involved in this as well as the entire United Church congregation. The United Church in Oka is a small chapel which seats about one...
By Paul Hetzler Each fall deciduous trees, ice-cream stands, and marinas close for the same reason: as daylight dwindles and cold creeps in, they become less profitable. When income dips down to equal the cost of doing business, a wise proprietor will turn off the lights and lock the doors until spring. Some enterprising holdouts stay solvent longer than others who are in the same business. Perhaps they have less competition or a better location. Conversely, a few businesses close their shops at the first whiff of autumn. Those are the ones...
by Melinda Myers Extreme heat, drought, torrential rains, and hungry critters may be wreaking havoc on your garden. After weeding, watering, and waiting you may be finding less, diseased, or misshapen tomatoes. Don't give up. Make a few adjustments in garden maintenance to boost the current and future tomato harvests. Blossom end rot is a common problem on the first set of fruit. It's due to a calcium deficiency often caused by fluctuations in soil moisture frequently seen on the first set of...
By Paul Hetzler Unless you have bees up your nose on a regular basis, don’t blame late-season allergies on goldenrod. However, if you do find bees in your schnozz, seek medical (and perhaps entomological) help immediately. While most plants respond to the shrinking hours of daylight in the late summer by starting to wind down their business for the season, goldenrod is a “short-day” plant, the type that is stimulated to bloom by dwindling light. It is a perennial in the aster family, and is widespread across North America. Conti...
by Melinda Myers Don't panic when you find a powdery white substance covering the leaves of some of your flowers, vegetables, and shrubs. This is a good clue that your plants are infected with the fungal disease, powdery mildew. Most otherwise healthy plants can tolerate the damage and perennials will return the following year. You may see this disease on a variety of plants including zinnia, phlox, bee balm, lilacs, roses, cucumbers, and squash. Powdery mildew is caused by several different...
by Melinda Myers Boost your fall garden harvest with some midsummer plantings. Fill vacant spaces left in the vegetable garden after harvesting lettuce, spinach, and other early maturing crops. Expand your edible plantings to other vacant spots in flowerbeds, mixed borders, and containers. Sow seeds of beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, and other vegetables that will have time to reach maturity before the end of your growing season. Simply count the number of days from planting to the average...
