FIREKEEPER AWARD

On Sunday, June 17, 2012, the Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School was awarded a FIREKEEPER AWARD for being an outstanding community project partner and for the longstanding good work for the Indigenous World from the Seventh Generation Fund. The award ceremony took place at the “Keeping the Homefires Burning Gathering” on the 35th anniversary celebration in Tamaya, New Mexico.

A special gift of a feather hand crafted out of bone was given along with the award, which was accepted by Elvera Sargent and Taiothorake King (son of Kevin & Sheila King).

Elvera was invited to attend the conference to serve on the “Tradition, Innovation, Education and Leadership Panel,” and present the work of the Akwesasne Freedom School. She decided to invite Taiothorake, who is a graduate of the Akwesasne Freedom School, who did a wonderful job representing the school. As a sociable young man he made many new friends, both young and old at the conference.

The Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School was organized in 1994 as a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a prosperous future to the students of the Akwesasne Freedom School.

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development was founded in 1977, as a result of a call from Indigenous communities in the Americas during the cultural, social and political renaissance era of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Leaders at the time, such as the primary founder the late Daniel Bomberry (Salish/Cayuga), included chiefs, clan mothers, youth and community activists who established the organization to respond to the needs of grassroots Indigenous communities and initiatives engaged in cultural revitalization, leadership development, tribal sovereignty, and culturally appropriate economic development strategies. The Seventh Generation Fund grew and evolved into the foremost Indigenous non-profit/social-profit organization in the United States. Today, their mission remains as their founders originally envisioned: dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples and the sovereignty of tribal Nations.

They have long recognized the critical need at the Native grassroots community level for access to resources, technical assistance and training to address an overall need for healthy and sustainable environments. Their work throughout the Americas has consistently been based on traditional Native concepts of holistic ecological stewardship. SGF and the communities they serve have long understood the direct relationships between a healthy environment, social justice and community well being. They remain focused on supporting grassroots development through Native community empowerment and action.

The organization derives its name from a precept of the Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy), which mandates that chiefs consider the impact of their decisions on the seven generations yet to come. This principle guides them in their front line work with all the grassroots Native communities they support in revitalization, restoration, preservation, planning and development projects.

Elvera dedicates the award to the students, teachers and parents of the Akwesasne Freedom School, because without them the award would not have been possible. The students, who work very hard at learning the Kanienkeha language and culture so that it is continued in the future. The teachers who make a commitment to the language and culture and treat each student as their own; and the parents who take on a lot of responsibility, such as driving their children to and from school each day, and the extra work needed to ensure the school continues to operate by participating in the administration of it. She offers her sincere niawen ko:was and appreciation to the board and staff of the Seventh Generation Fund.