A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Bob Stevenson told animated stories to interested children last week as part of the Native American Day festivities.
Brad Bonaparte showed items from the collection of his brother, Darren Bonaparte.
Basket-maker Linda Jackson talks with staff and students about her love of basket-making.
Students viewed items brought in by Tasha Thompson.
Caroline Bigtree showed jewelry she makes, including a barrette she plans to raffle off at the Kateri Hall’s craft fair.
Linda Jackson explained that the black ash used in basket-making can be used for many things. When it’s wet, it can be shaped into almost anything.
Joe Barnes showed his air brush paintings.
Florence Benedict talked to students about basket-making, with her granddaughter Jasmine Benedict.
Artist Joni White showed her artwork, while posing with her father, Dave White, a Salmon River staff member who helps in organizing Native American events.
A dozen or so Native American artists and craftspeople from Akwesasne were invited to the Salmon River Central campus last week to show students their work and share their knowledge of culture and crafts related to the Haudenosaunee.
For two days artists set up tables in the school’s two elementary gymnasiums. The school’s elementary grades (of both Salmon River and the St. Regis Mohawk School) took turns walking through the gymnasiums and visiting with the artists who donated their time.
Joni White and Joe Barnes showed their paintings; Brad Bonaparte showed artifacts like wampum belts that belong to his brother, Darren; Bob Stevenson told stories; Jasmine and Florence Benedict and Linda Jackson showed their unique basket-making; Caroline Bigtree showed jewelry; and Tasha Thompson showed clothing she’s made.
The event was part of the school’s multi-day celebration of Native American Day. Due to the school’s recent changes that include the St. Regis Mohawk School taking up temporary residence at the campus school, there was not enough space for an elementary social, which is the tradition.
School officials planned the alternative event in hopes of still engaging students with knowledge of Native American culture, while planning for a large social in the springtime using the school’s arena. The arena’s rink currently has ice, and no other area of the school is presently large enough to house a social for the number of elementary students at the school.
This week, however, the high school and middle school students did participate in the annual Native American social for their grades.
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