Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program Hosts Áse Tsi Tewá:ton Experience 2017

The Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program hosted a two-day hands on conference, which allowed guests to participate in the traditional teachings being taught through the ACR's programs. The Áse Tsi Tewá:ton Experience has held similar events the last four years, the difference this year is the apprentices were able to take the lead in the traditional teachings. Prior to this year, the apprentices had the assistance of their master teachers while still being in the process of learning the knowledge required for their category. There are four different categories within the Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program; fishing and river use, traditional medicines and healing, hunting and trapping and horticulture and traditional foods.

The apprentices have been a part of the program for the last four years, becoming knowledgeable in the category they chose. This is the last year for the apprentices with them graduating on December 22nd, 2017. The apprentices will be the first graduates of the Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program, but hopefully not the last. The program comes to an end in December, with the hopes of more funding for the next group of apprentices.

The Akwesasne Cultural Restoration Program was established by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in 2013 as a result of the St. Lawrence Environment Natural Resource Damage Assessment Settlement. The name of the program in Mohawk is "Áse Tsi Tewá:ton," which means "make it new again". This meaning describes what the ACR program is doing for the Mohawk culture: bringing new life to traditions and cultural practices while strengthening the connection of people to the land.

The main component of the program is the Cultural Apprenticeship Program. This four-year apprenticeship is based on traditional, land-based and cultural practices in which masters oversee apprentices to specialize and become masters themselves in the category of their choice. All participants must also commit to learning the Mohawk language with the goal of fluency upon completion of the program.

The main goal of the program is to ensure that the Mohawk culture survives through the increased knowledge of land-based traditions and by increasing the number of people in the community who are practicing traditions in these areas. It is expected that once apprentices become masters in one of the areas, they will commit to passing the culture and language on to future generations.

The apprentices got their first taste of sharing their knowledge with community members and individuals from all over the world during the two-day event. There were individuals who travelled from across the country to experience the Áse Tsi Tewá:ton experience. Some of the different teachings taught throughout the two days were: the craft of herbal remedies, food preservation, the ancient art of cornhusk twining, tobacco pouch making, smokehouse teachings, otter skinning and process of stretching fur, traditional food revitalization, herbal wellness, black ash splint bracelets and the Mohawk earache remedy - skunk oil.

There were plenty of door prizes and good food given out during the two-day experience. Many people were able to come out and enjoy the experience.

Office Manager Amberdawn Lafrance states "This year's event is really significant because the 4th year apprentices were able to take the lead and present solo. Prior to this year, they had their teacher's help, it was progressive. The first year the teachers took the lead with the apprentice's help. The second year was more of teamwork between the teacher and apprentice. The third year the apprentice lead with the teacher's help. This event the apprentice took the lead, and did it all on their own."

If the program is successful in securing funding, there will be a callout at the end of 2018, for another four-year apprenticeship program to begin in 2019.