ABGC, AFS, and SLU hit up the Big Apple!

The Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club along with St. Lawrence University and the Akwesasne Freedom School attended a trip to New York City on April 3rd-5th. The group consisted of 3 Freedom School students, 4 Boys & Girls Club members, and 11 St. Lawrence University students. The goal of the trip was to help the students and club members to realize the different cultures that are around us, and gain a better cultural awareness for both college students and Junior High students.

When arrived in the city, the students all had dinner and got to know one another. They laughed and enjoyed the cuisine and rested for a full day in the Natural History Museum with an IMAX showing, along with the American Indian Museum, where they had an exhibit of Women’s Native dresses of all the tribes through the United States. There was also a Haudenasaunee exhibit that explained the 6 nations, and the director of that was excited to meet students from Akwesasne, and said that she herself was from Kahnawake, but grew up in the city. All the students regaled in the awe of the different displays and general differences that the museum’s had to offer. Not surprising, the different cultures that were shown opened the student’s eyes to how people lived and live in different countries of the world. After shopping in Times Square, the students met for dinner at an Asian-fusion restaurant in Queens. They expressed the excitement and how they enjoyed the area!

The high interest in being in the city was washed over the faces as they had walked through Times Square, and rode the subway. Hesitant at first, but with each step they got more enthusiastic about the lights, and the fast-paced life. Very quickly the students walked around like they grew up in the city. “I want to go back. ” one of the students said before lights out Saturday night. Sunday morning, we travelled through the city with some sight-seeing, and it again was another look at really what a mixing pot that we do live in. The students were excited to tell their own stories while being in the Big Apple, and the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club members and Akwesasne Freedom School students would like to give a Niawen:kowa to St. Lawrence University for funding the trip, and giving them a wonderful experience in diversity!