Friends of the Big River Dive into The St. Lawrence at Akwesasne Winter Carnival

Cornwall, ON - The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) is extending a special invitation to the public from both sides of the St. Lawrence to join them in activities and an information exchange that focuses on the health of the River. For those of us who live along the Seaway, the mighty St. Lawrence River (Kaniatarowanen:neh or The Big River in Mohawk) is the lifeblood that runs through the heart of our daily lives. On Sunday, February 15th, from 9 am to 4 pm, the entire family is invited to dive into the Great River by attending Ionkwatén:ro ne tsi kaniatará:kie or Friends of the River.

Hosted by the MCA Department of Tehotiiennawa:kon in partnership with this year's Akwesasne Winter Carnival with involvement from the St. Lawrence River Restoration Council, this family event takes place this year at the St. Regis Mohawk School. Canadian visitors can take the Seaway International Bridge at Cornwall, make their way through the Three Nations Crossing, and travel New York State Hwy 37 east to the school located at 385 Church Street in Hogansburg, NY. Free return bridge passes will be handed out to the first 60 visitors.

Henry Lickers, Environmental Science Officer with the MCA, says, "This River is the History and Heart of the Mohawk People". With that in mind, presentations and exhibits from MCA and numerous partners will focus on a variety of River related programs including information on some of the thousands of species of fish and wildlife that live in and along her shores and habitat protection. Special guests include the International Secretariat for Water with their large interactive water course display, Turtle Island Conservation Project from the Toronto Zoo, Thousand Islands National Park; The Akwesasne Archeological Field School, St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences, Raisin Region Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation, Ontario Power Generation, Plenty Canada Eel Program, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Programs and lots more. It is a day of fun, learning, and discovery on and along the Big River.

Ionkwatén:ro ne tsi kaniatará:kie promises lots of fun for the entire family. Along with the hands-on displays, children's activities, and interactive exhibits there will be a free soup and sandwich lunch, coffee, snacks, giveaways, as well as a variety of door prizes, including an appropriately River related Pelican Pursuit 8 ft. Kayak.

"We all have a common interest in the health of the St. Lawrence and how the River affects our environment because it influences the health, economic and social values of each one of us and our families," says River Institute Executive Director, Dr. Jeff Ridal. "We are grateful to the MCA for this opportunity and look forward to once again participating in this event."