Kanien’kéha Awenhnísera “Tehonkierónnions”

Many Ahkwesahsronon can attest to the fact that preserving the Kanien’kéha language is of the utmost importance. Since March 31, 2012, we can breathe a little easier as the strength of our language was showcased as students as young as 7 to the adult students presented plays all in Kanien’kéha.

The idea of having one these shows here in Akwesasne came from the very first community language shows that started in Kanehsatà:ke in 1991. Kahnawà:ke followed in later years. Since 2006, Ahkwesahsne started to host these language shows as a way of celebrating Aboriginal Language Day and to showcase language skills in an entertaining way.

This past Friday night was no different as students from the Skahwatsí:ra program, Ahkwesahsne Freedom School, and MCA starred in plays that had audience members laughing.

The night started out with the Ohènton Karihwatéhkwen(Opening Address) done by 3rd grader Kakwiranó:ron Thompson while Grand Chief Mike Mitchell followed with a welcoming.

3rd and 4th graders from the Skahwatsí:ra program started the entertainment when they sang songs that were translated into Kanien’kéha. Those songs included Sáksten, Iah Theteiokié:ren Ísta, and Kahnawà:ke Wà:ke. 2nd and 3rd graders followed with a play titled Onon’onsera’kó:wa. They ended their time with social dance songs. Ahkwesahsne Freedom School grades 5 and 6 had played out the story Kakwiranó:ron ne Wáhta. Kontiwennenhá:wi followed with songs off of their newest CD called Tsionathonwisen.

The next group of performers to go on were from Kahnawà:ke. Tóta tánon Ohkwá:ri is a popular group that uses puppets to tell stories in our language. They have a youtube channel called KORCulturalCenter in which they have videos of their stories. On this particular night, Oh Nonkié:ren tsi Onónhkwa Tehshakó:wi ne Rotihskaré:wake, which is the story of how the Bear Clan received the medicines, was told using an assortment of puppets.

The next group was the MCA/AEDA Tsi Tewatá:ti Kanien’kéha. Their show was titled Rate’tsién’tsne Wa’ákwe. Audience members were laughing as a range of different characters visited the doctor. Another group of MCA employees performed a story titled A’nó:wara. The story was about the Box Turtle, who doesn’t have a Kanien’kéha name. He meets with different turtles to see if they know his name. It wasn’t until the end when he meets with the Snapping Turtle that he learns what his name is.

Yenarà:ken was the next play told by a large group who travelled all the way from Kenhtè:ke (Tyendinaga.) The story was Kanien’kéha rendition of snow white.

The next group was the most surprising of the night as students enrolled in the class from SUNY Potsdam Kanien’kéha 103 performed a story they had written themselves. The majority of the class is non-Native and spoke our language with ease. They performed a story of a group of people on a job interview. Tears were shed as laughter filled the room.

Kaweienonni Peters, who has a commitment to keep our language alive by teaching and sharing everything she knows about Kanien’kéha, organized this event. She is the professor of the class from SUNY Potsdam and an AMBE Kanien’kéha Curriculum Specialist. On this night, Kaweienonni acted as MC and made sure the whole night ran as smoothly as possible.

Niawenhko:wa goes out to all who participated in the night, students and teachers, parents and other family members who came out to enjoy a night of Kanien’kéhaka and a big niawenhkó:wa to Kaweienonni Peters, who continues to commit herself to keeping our language alive.