A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, Chief Rachel Roundpoint, Iakokari:io Clute, Margaret Peters, and Chief Brian David stand in front of the new billboard that promotes Mohawk.
Workers finish the final touches as the billboard comes to life with Nihahsenna:a Peters and Iakokari:io Clute who are pictured on the billboard.
If you drive west on 37 you may notice a new billboard across from the Tribal buildings. The billboard is part of MCA’s language initiative; a strategic plan to keep the Mohawk language flourishing. The billboard says: Tohsa Ionkwa:ti Kanien’keha Tewata:ti – Let’s Not Lose It, Let’s Speak Mohawk. Pictured on the billboard are Nihahsenna:a Peters, Iakokari:io and Raniehtanawenhtha Clute, and their father Ian Tehanonsake Clute designed the billboard. Present was AMBE member Margaret Peters, Chief Rachel Roundpoint, Chief Brian David and Grand Chief Mike Mitchell.
Margaret Peters came up with the idea and suggested it to Rachel Roundpoint. Margaret said the preservation and expansion of Mohawk is her mission. She travels across the confederacy to promote language initiatives that work, and sometimes learns a thing or two on her travels. Margaret commended MCA on being so supportive of her mission and Rachel for making the billboard a reality.
Chief Rachel Roundpoint said she wanted to keep the billboard’s message short and sweet. She explained how MCA has a strategic plan with four initiatives, one of them being the billboard, and some being implementing signs in all districts and making March 31 Mohawk Language Day.
Grand Chief Mike Mitchell said it is one of the many projects to preserve the language. He wants to stress to the young people that they are the next generation. He expressed the pride in turning around the path of Mohawk, saying ten years ago it would not be possible. This billboard is a message about our language to everyone, “We have carried it all these generations, let’s carry it a few more. Our language is tied to our heritage.”
Chief Brian David said it was fitting to unveil the billboard on National Aboriginal Day. He explained how the billboard was a milestone after first setting up language programs at MCA, “it signifies our commitment; let’s not talk about it, let’s do it.” Keeping the Mohawk language thriving is both inspirational and challenging he noted, and he commended Rachel on a wonderful job.
The billboard is just one of the many language initiatives to come.
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