KAIROS Nation to Nation Bike Tour Stops in Akwesasne

Over several days, members of KAIROS and the OTESHA Project, two groups devoted to Social Justice and fostering Nation to Nation relationships and cultural understanding, spent time in Akwesasne. The tour includes three members of the community who will accompany the group until they reach the Powwow in Tyendinaga. Leaving Akwesasne last Wednesday, the tour will last two and a half weeks, and make stops in several communities along the way. In each of these communities a Blanket Activity will be held with participation from community members and members of the Nation to Nation Bike tour.

The blanket activity is a teaching tool developed by KAIROS, wherein participants act as either the indigenous people, or the newcomers. Once begun, there are several blankets spread out, which signifies Canada before first contact. Over the course of the activity, scripts are read by the participants, and the blankets (or territory) is folded in and gets smaller, as the activity explores the history of Aboriginal and European relations.

Bike Tour participants arrived in Akwesasne on Saturday, and began their time in Akwesasne with a stay at the Thompson Island Cultural Camp, where members of KAIROS and OTESHA were treated to workshops, presentations, and all the beauty that Thompson Island has to offer. The first night after settling in a presentation by Aronhiahes Herne gave an intro to Mohawk Culture and a telling of the Creation Story. Sunday the group attended the Friendship Day on the island, and then went back to Thompson Island. Monday and Tuesday there were more presentations on history and culture, ending with a social dance at the Native North American Travelling College led by the Akwesasne Women Singers. Wednesday was the big sendoff marking the beginning of the Tour.

Besides Akwesasne, tour stops include Mille Roches Campground, Morrisburg, Prescott, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Tyendinaga powwow from August 9-13, and finally the tour disbands in Belleville after a retreat August 13-14.

Matt Shaff, a tour organizer from OTESHA said, “KAIROS wanted to bring indigenous and non-indigenous youth together to open conversations about what our nation to nation conversation looks like. So we went looking for people who were open-minded, self-aware, and want to learn more about how our relationship could be better than what it is.”

Wabigonikwe, a community member who works for MCA, was hired on by KAIROS as a Co-facilitator and will be looking after the logistics of the group, and will be on the road with the group. Wabigonikwe said, “I was really interested in both an athletic basis and building bridges and making new connections.”

Karhiiosta Benedict is participating as a rider and gave her reasons for going on the tour. “I really needed to get out of my own element and break free of all the stress and stereotypes, and learn for myself what it means to be from Akwesasne, and how I want other people to view us, because I am sick of the negativity,” Benedict said.

If you are interested in attending any of the events as they travel through the length of the tour, you may go to otesha.ca and view the trip itinerary.