Mohawk School students learn value of trees

Wednesday April 7th, was a special day for two classes at the St. Regis Mohawk School.

The lucky classes were Mrs. Bailey’s grade three and Mrs. LaSala’s grade 6.  On this morning, Mr. Les Benedict, an employee from the St. Regis Mohawk Environmental Division, spoke to the students of these two classes about trees (Okwireshon:a).

All Kindergarten, grade 3, and grade 6 classes have begun to study various trees in Mrs. King’s Mohawk Language and Culture classes.  It was evident that the students are limited in their knowledge of a natural element that is so useful to us in so many ways.   

Les brought in “cookie” samples for the students. The children thought they were going to be testing baked cookies at first. They soon learned that when a tree is sliced, the age of a tree can be determined by its visible rings.  One sample he brought was about 10 inches in diameter. Surprisingly, the Black Ash (Ehsa) tree cookie measured about 80 years old. He explained how to identify trees by looking at the leaves, bark, seeds and places of where they grow.  Les compared trees to people and how easily the students can remember names and identity of a tree by looking at their characteristics, just like people.

The students also learned about two classes of trees, broadleaf and conifers. The broad leafs are more common and visible than the conifers.  The leaves are broad like the shape of a hand whereas needles grow on the conifer trees.  Les then asked the students to look around their classroom to see if they could see any symbolism related to trees. Answers came about such as Tree of Peace, Five Nation Belt, baskets, desks, pencils, paper, doors, cabinets, kastowas, splints and so many more.

The students have learned about Wahta (maple), Orikowa (cherry), Sewahiowane (apple), Ohosera (basswood), Onennohkara (hickory), Kaneron (white ash), and Ehsa (black ash). In the beginning of the presentation, Les asked how many students would like be involved in a job that dealt with trees in Forestry, there was one hand raised.  By the end of the valuable time we all had together with Mr. Benedict, he asked the question again.

About half the class raised their hand this time.

Niawenko:wa to Les and to the Environmental Division of the Mohawk Tribe for allowing our students to learn more about Okwireshon:a.  This information was so valuable and will definitely cause our young people to pay closer attention to our surroundings.