To Gus and The Staff at the O non kwa son a Pharmacy

To Gus and The Staff at the O non kwa son a Pharmacy,

I want to take this time to say Niawenko:wa for all your years of service to our Community. Gus, you and your staff are Amazing!!! When I worked at the Akwesasne and Kawehnoke Medical Clinics, not once did you or your staff ever lose patience with me when I would call your pharmacy, and sometimes it was several times a day! Everyone was always very helpful and kind, and not once did I ever hang up the phone frustrated.

Gus, you definitely have a Big Heart and it is for this Community. I have seen how you have concern and care for the people of Akwesasne whether it be for an elder, a newborn, anyone for that matter, you wanted to make sure they got what was needed. If you were having difficulties getting it I could see the concern on your face. You have always wanted and given the Best service to this Community. You provided the delivery service, which was great for our Community. We never had that until you opened up your pharmacy.

I also want to say Niawenko:wa for the care and service you have given to my Tota Mae Thompson, who is 100 years old. Fortunately, so far we have been able to keep her at home, you and your staff have played a big part in this. You have delivered to her house many times over the years things she has needed, medications and supplies, which made our lives so much easier to get it delivered right to her door. Once again I have to say we have had to call you sometimes several times in a day or in a week and you and your staff have always been kind and helpful. I will always be Grateful to all you and your staff have done for Our Community, My Tota Mae, and My Family. It is with deep sadness to see your Pharmacy close ‘cause in my books you are the Best Pharmacy in the World!!! Because no other Pharmacy is staffed with people from Akwesasne who have a Heart and want to see the best service be given to OUR People like your Pharmacy does!!!

When I was growing up I heard more than once that we should go get an education and come back and give back to Akwesasne by using the skills we have learned away at school. Gus, you have done just that and so Much more!!! You didn’t just come back and work for someone else, which you could have. You did something no one else had done before, you opened the first ever Pharmacy that was owned and operated by someone from Akwesasne, which had a full staff all from Akwesasne. It wasn’t easy for you to do because of where we are situated. You had to get more than one license to operate so you could service everyone in Akwesasne. You trained in the States, but still had to get your license in Quebec and Ontario to be able to service everyone in Akwesasne, which you certainly did, even that didn’t stop you. You were a man with a Vision to help Akwesasne by having the First Native owned and operated Pharmacy with delivery service right to peoples’ homes. This was unheard of before you came and you blazed this trail and you are an inspiration to all of us. You even offer a yearly monetary award to a successful applicant from Akwesasne planning to go into the Health Field.

I don’t want to see you and your staff go. I don’t know all the details of why you’re leaving but I have an idea. I will say if there is any way you can work things out to stay please stay, and if anyone can help him to stay please try. In my view, if we lose you Gus and your staff at O non kwa son a Pharmacy, Akwesasne will suffer a great loss that’s for sure!!

You will be greatly greatly missed!!!!!! Please don’t go!

Kimmy Karonhioktha Jacobs