87.9 FM Karennaon:we Opens Its Doors To Community Members

By: Jaclyn Hall

It has been just over one year since one ambitious community member, Shatekaronhiase, decided he was going to begin a one-of-a-kind radio station playing traditional First Nations music. On December 21st, 2017 the radio station was up and running, free for anyone in the area to tune in and listen. But it was not all smooth sailing in the beginning of production. The radio station crashed after a short while, forcing Shatekaronhiase to begin fundraising for new equipment. The fundraising effort was a success, and also verification that people were tuning in to 87.9 FM, to listen to his radio station.

Fast forward a year later, the radio station is still up and running. Recently, a new radio tower was donated, making it a possibility for a second similar radio station to be created. The new tower could also be used to help expand the signal of the original radio station, 87.9 FM. Decisions still need to be made before we find out if there will be a second Karennaon:we Radio Station in the near future.

Volunteers willingly donate their space, time and voice, to record music. The 87.9 FM Karennaon:we Studio has an open-door policy allowing people to stop in to donate music, sing and/or record new tracks. Although the radio station plays music in the Mohawk language, community members have been able to record personal music in English and Mohawk. The English music may not make it on the airwaves, but the opportunity to record music is there. The studio straddles the northern/southern border in Tsi Snaihne. A sign displayed at the road which reads "87.9 FM Karennaon:we," lets you know where the studio is located. If you have old records, CDs, or cassette tapes with Mohawk songs, bring them by. The music does not have to be traditional or ceremony songs, if it's in the Mohawk language, 87.9 FM will air it.

There is another way that Akwesasne community members can tune in. There is a website, which provides songs you can listen to for free, equalskiesmedia.com. The website provides the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy an opportunity to access the music, free of charge. The website also gives you the option to send in music.

This is one person's efforts to keep the Mohawk language and music alive.

Shatekaronhiase stated, "What I would like with this radio station, is just a natural way of learning where you're flooded with knowledge and information, that you don't have a choice but to take it all in. It's all going into people's brains whether they like it or not. That's why I'll switch it up every two weeks, it gives people the opportunity to learn the songs, learn the language. People will ask when I'm changing the songs up, they know all of it already, but that's what I want. Sometimes, I will play music that relates to what is going on at the time.

After this weekend and being unable to find speakers for the community members who passed away, I decided to pay it forward. I record speeches, too, and I want to teach 3 people the condolence speech so that we will have enough people to speak in the future. I do this all for free. I know sometimes the only way to get things done is with money, which is too bad. I can see a change in people already, it doesn't hurt the elders so much anymore, to hear the language on the radio, to hear the songs."

After speaking with Shatekaronhiase and two volunteers at the studio I was invited to record the tag line for the radio station. After several tries, I was able to say the entire sentence and understand it. So, it is true, that learning to speak a second language can be done at any age. You may be someone who has always dreamed of speaking your native language or learning to sing social songs. There are people within our community who are willing to teach anyone who wants to learn, all you need to do is ask. If you are interested in contacting Shatekaronhiase to donate music, record music, learn the Mohawk language and/or songs, you can e-mail him at [email protected].