Kontírio Tánon Káhon’k

During the fall months, staff and students at the Akwesasne Freedom School gathered together to send special greetings and thanks to kontírio, the wild animals that provide us with food, clothing and shelter. We see them near our homes, in the forests and along the rivers and we continue to be so happy they are still here and hope that it will always be so.

Since August, students in levels 3, 4 and 5 have been working to learn Tsi Kiotáhsawen Tsi Ohontsiá:te (How the earth began) in the Mohawk language. They learned that the birds and animals were the first to inhabit the earth, when it was only a water filled place. They prepared this world for Skywoman and did everything they could, even sacrificing their own lives, to help her. We realized that from the beginning of time, we as human beings owe our very existence to the animals, and are thankful for the help that the turtle, muskrat, beaver, otter and water birds provided the first woman. We were very fortunate this fall that Skye Fox, an AFS parent and skilled hunter, provided the school with 2 geese. Despite cold temperatures and high winds, students and staff collected goose feathers, prepared goose meat and learned many Kanien’kéha words associated with bird anatomy and preparation. We enjoyed a feast of goose meat at the end of the term and will use the feathers at a later time, when we prepare Kastó:was and fans.

We were also happy to receive a donation of deer legs from Wenhnitanó:ron Seymour’s family, as well as from Brent and other hunters at Onondaga. Darrell Thompson taught the students who are learning about Kaianere’kó:wa (The Great Law) and Karihwí:io (The Good Message) about the importance of deer, since they made the trails in the brush that were followed by our ancestors who were trying to escape from violence and warfare. Darrell taught AFS students how to boil the legs for glue and sinew, how pieces of bones were used to hold feathers in kastó:was and how hooves were used as parts of our traditional outfits. Students learned to use tobacco and our language to show proper respect to wildlife and birds who sacrifice their lives so that we may live. He also told students a bear medicine story, and explained why proper respect must always be shown toward animals, fish or birds, before and after they are killed.

We were extremely fortunate that two elders, Delia Cook and Bill Loran, were to able to come to the Freedom School to share their traditional knowledge with students in levels 7 and 8, teaching them the skills and Mohawk language used in leatherwork. Bill worked with the young men to make leather leggings and breechcloths. This work will continue next semester, as the young men work on beadwork, yokes and kastó:was. We were also able to share the Mohawk words used in leather-making with the community through the weekly Mohawk lesson printed in Indian Time and heard on CKON radio. Delia Cook worked with our beautiful young women in levels 6, 7 and 8 to prepare leather yokes and skirts. After they have completed their work, we have asked the young women to share their newly acquired knowledge, skills and language with younger students at the school.

The upper level students will continue to work hard during the month of January to finish their outfits and learn ceremonial speeches and songs in preparation for midwinter ceremonies. The young men and women will be wearing the outfits they make when they travel from classroom to classroom at the school informing our staff and students about upcoming midwinter ceremonies. Last year, we began a tradition at the school by asking the upper level girls to bundle the young men to act as “Rotinontsistowá:nens” delivering the message about midwinter ceremonies to all of our teachers, staff and students, encouraging them to put aside their work and go to the longhouse for this important event. The young men dressed in traditional leather, fur and corn husks to symbolize that we were fortunate for a good harvest of corn and meat this year. They talked about the seven dancers, the star constellation known as Pleiades, who are overhead at the time of midwinter. The young men carried corn pounders through the snow to make a path for the people to follow to the longhouse. During the next semester, the students will be working hard to prepare for this important role.

This past semester, a donation of chairs provided an opportunity for upper level students in grades 7 and 8 to demonstrate their artistic talents. Students painted designs from the earth and sky onto their chairs, which they presented to their families at the end of the school semester.

Students and teachers at the school welcomed parents and grandparents to the school during last Wednesday’s blizzard to join us for a wild game lunch. We are thankful to all the parents for their generous donation of wild game, fish, wild rice and desserts for the feast, which was accompanied by squash and potatoes that the students at the school grew themselves in raised bed gardens this past summer. The foods were delicious and everyone is looking forward to the next celebration, perhaps when we have some fish and muskrats to share!

Students and teachers in level preK to 9 sponsored Kontí:rio Awenhnísera (Animal Day) by dressing up as animals to give our greetings to the kontí:rio and just have fun together. We completed our semester with a parent activity day and social dance. The boys at the school had been practicing songs with Dean George, Aronhiá:es Herne and Skye Fox and his sons and nephews. We were thankful to be able to share our traditional music and songs, which express our gratitude to the birds and animals for all they do. It was a great semester! If you should see one of our teachers or elders, please thank them for sharing their knowledge, skills, songs, culture and language with us. We are so thankful to still hear our language spoken and appreciate all their extremely hard work in teaching our future generations. And… if you should see one of our students or former students, please encourage them to continue to speak and learn our language. Niá:wen!