MARGARET ROSE PETERS "Kaweienon:ni"

AKWESASNE – Margaret Rose (Cook) Peters "Kaweienon:ni", Snipe Clan, 56, of Kawehno:ke Apartment Road, passed away Tuesday morning, September 3, 2019 at Cornwall Community Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kaweienon:ni was born March 11, 1963 in Cornwall, the daughter of the late Richard and Catherine (LaFrance) Cook. She married Theodore J. Peters on May 5, 1989 in Fort Covington.

Kaweienon:wi dedicated her life to the education and continuity of the Mohawk Language within her community. She was currently the Mohawk Curriculum and Resource Director for AMBE. In her 30 years of teaching, she has helped guide her community in retaining and relearning their language. Throughout those 30 years she has taught for AMBE, Akwesasne Freedom School, Queens University, SUNY Potsdam and several other institutions. She proudly taught her children and grandchildren to become fluent in Mohawk. She sat on the Sweetgrass Committee and was recently working with Quebec MP Marc Miller lobbying to secure funding to ensure that the Mohawk language was federally recognized. She also recently made history by being the first person to provide simultaneous translation in the House of Commons. She was a member of the Mohawk Nation Longhouse and was an Editor for the Indian Time Newspaper. She liked watching scary movies, shopping, relaxing at her home while watching her favorite television shows, and enjoying scenic car rides in the Adirondacks during the fall to take in the beautiful colors of the season. She was her grandson's biggest fan on the lacrosse field and cherished the time she was able to spend with her children, grandchildren, and family.

She is survived by her husband, Teddy; her children, Travis "Tehatase", Kawennahente (Ian), Teioswathe (Harvey), and Nihahsennaas (Elisha); her stepchildren, Terri (Brooke), Dawn, and Tammy; and many grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth (Richard) Cook-Peters; her brothers, Charles (Joan) Cook and Dominic (Missy) Cook; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Richard, Madeleine, James, Clarence, and Michael Cook.

Friends called at the Akwesasne Homemakers on Wednesday until 9:30 AM Thursday. Her funeral ceremony will be held Thursday, September 5, at 11:00 AM at the Mohawk Nation Longhouse with burial to follow in Solomon Road Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Akwesasne Caring Hearts, Tina's Pride, Akwesasne Cancer Support Group or either Mohawk Language Immersion Program in Akwesasne.

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