Winter Coat Drive For Standing Rock Concludes Successfully

In September, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne hosted a coat drive for the Standing Rock Sioux community in North Dakota, where thousands have gathered at a camp to protect the tribe’s lands against the Dakota Access Pipeline construction. This jacket drive was extremely successful due to the community’s assistance with over 60 bags of coats collected. Thirty bags were sent to Standing Rock, as it was indicated they were no longer in need of coats. The remaining coats will be donated to those in need in Akwesasne and the surrounding communities.

MCA Kawehno:ke District Chief Troy Thompson, who initiated the coat drive, would like to thank the community for their overwhelming support and would like to extend appreciation to all of the organizations that allowed drop-off bins for the jackets to be placed in their locations, including: the Mohawk Government Offices in Kana:takon; Kanonhkwatsheri:io in Kana:takon; the Kawehno:ke Fire Hall (HAVFD Station #2); the Kawehno:ke Recreation; Iohahi:io in Tsi Snaihne; and the Seven Dancers Coalition Offices in Hogansburg.

Although collections for jackets have concluded, Chief Thompson is excited to announce that in the near future, t-shirts in support of Standing Rock will be sold with all proceeds donated to the “protectors” and their families who will remain at the camp in Standing Rock. For more information, please contact Kawehno:ke District Chief Troy Thompson at 613-363-3498.