Massena schools hold Native American celebrations

Staff

The J.W. Leary Junior High and Massena Central School held day-long celebrations last week in observance of Native American Day. The Massena School District is attended by hundreds of Akwesasne residents who embraced the opportunity to showcase their culture and history and share it with their non-Mohawk schoolmates and faculty members.

Both schools ended their planned festivities with a social, and Mohawk youth led the entire event from singing and dancing to announcing and explaining the proper social dance etiquette.

Schools in all districts in and around Akwesasne have taken many steps in recent years to learn more about Mohawk and Native American culture; as a result students have become more involved and proud and many of them enjoy the opportunity to bring their traditions into school.