Jaden Sha'tekarihonni Barnes-Sharrow

Jaden was born into this world on January 6, 1997 in Cornwall, Ontario, arriving earlier than expected. Her parents, Meghan Barnes and Arthur Sharrow fell in love with her instantly and quickly learned that their little girl would do things her way.

She grew up happily in Akwesasne and Cornwall, with a strong connection to the family homestead on Kawehno:ke. She attended Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education schools and graduated in 2015 from Cornwall Collegiate Vocational School. She was an excellent and polite student and was active in community sports and activities. Jaden had a creative mind and her parents knew from the start they had an artist on their hands. She was able to see the beauty in all things. As she grew, so did her curiosity for life. She wanted to experience it in every way possible. She recently had been participating in an au-pair program in Torino, Italy with a family she quickly came to love.

Jaden loved volleyball and proudly played for the Akwesasne Soaring Eagles in the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) for four years, alongside her cousins Janisa, Jackie and Iakokweniestha, and her best friend's Seven and Ienonhkwatsheriiostha. She also played for the Wolfpack Attack alongside her aunts, Tammy, Sheri, Joni and great Aunt Betty. She had a powerful serve that surprised many coming from such a tiny girl.

Jaden proudly completed the 4-year Ohero:kon Rites of Passage, during which time she developed a deep sense of pride toward her own self-identity, personal growth, traditional culture and connection to Mother Earth. It was then her love for all things big and small grew. She had a great love for her family, her pets, nature and the outdoors, hiking with her Tota Steve, riding snowmobiles with her Bubba, and most of all she loved being a Big Sister to all her siblings and watching them grow up. She was gifted in visual arts & design. She developed a talent for capturing beauty through her eyes with her photography and art. Her own grace and beauty, shining through from the inside out, left an impression on all who met and knew her. She was the girl you wanted to know.

Jaden was extremely family-oriented and took pride in her close-knit family bonds. She was especially close to her brother Carsten often referring to him as her best friend. Her family knew she would achieve any goal she set for herself and that she would make them proud in anything she did. Her wanderlust and desire to try new things lead her to Italy where she embraced her new worldliness and all that she was learning about Italian culture and people. The adventure opened her eyes and heart to a large world that was at her fingertips and hers to discover.

Jaden was a kind, compassionate and loving girl who had grown into a brave, independent and ambitious young lady with great respect for her family, culture, community and the world. She loved her friends and especially loved to bring them together. She appreciated the little things in life and took time to see the beauty in the world. She was funny, gentle and gifted in many ways. She was afraid of very little.

Jaden is survived by her mother, Meghan Barnes and her brother Carsten, her father and his wife, Arthur Sharrow and Betina Arney, and sisters Natasia, Nevaeh and brother Naylon. She is also survived by her maternal Totas, Steve & Angie Barnes, her paternal Tota Girl Janice Sharrow and her special Grampa Vince Phillips, her great-grandmother Greta Barnes, her aunts Leah Barnes, Joni Cole, Tammy & Brandon David, and Sherri & Aronienens Porter, Jen Johnson and an uncle Joe "Boat" Sharrow and many great aunts, uncles, cousins and many close friends whom she referred to as sisters.

Jaden was predeceased by her paternal grandfather Joseph Sharrow, her maternal great-grandparents Stanley and Elizabeth Francis, her great-grandfather Wilbur Barnes, her paternal great-grandparents Leo and Charlotte Swamp, and George and Agnes Sharrow, and recently, an uncle, Jamie Cole.

Friends and family called at the home of Jaden's mother Meghan Barnes on Tuesday. A traditional longhouse ceremony and burial was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the Mohawk Nation Longhouse on Route 37/Longhouse Road, Akwesasne.

Both Meghan and Arthur, and their families, would like to thank the entire community for the outpouring of support, love, strength and compassion during this heartbreaking time. This has truly taken the entire community and three countries to bring our girl home. We will heal together. Nia:wen.

Arrangements are with the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena, where memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.donaldsonfh.com.