A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Trees waiting to be planted at the St. Regis Recreation Center.
A single tree stands out at the Kawehno:ke Recreation Center. All three rec centers and schools will have trees planted for them.
Three children standing among trees to be planted at the St. Regis Recreation Centre.
Work being completed at the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena Butterfly Garden, sitting in the tractor is JR Skidders, Curtis Lazore on far right, Sawentatnon Skidders.
The line of white flags shown here marks where trees will be planted at the arena.
Besides trees, shrubs and flowers will be planted in the butterfly garden.
More flowers and shrubs that will be planted by the time this article hits the stands.
The Akwesasne Restoration Project (ARP) was an idea 4 years into the making - how do we start making real changes that will make a big difference in the future? The project has three objectives: plant more native species, beautify Akwesasne and hopefully create enough interest within the local governments to start implementing long term goals for planting more on a sustainable level.
The ARP is managed by Northern Landscapes and funded by Mohawks of Akwesasne Community Trust Fund.
The ARP team can be seen working in Tsi Snaihne, Kawehno:ke and Kana:takon on any given day as they work through the process of planting trees – marking them out, ensuring lines aren't cut, placing trees where they will be planted and moving equipment.
Sawentanon Skidders and JR Skidders of Northern Landscapes noted, once completed they will have over 220 - 40mm caliper trees throughout Akwesasne. As they progress with the project, they will continue to share updates.
The Akwesasne Mohawk School on Kawehno:ke has over 50 sugar maple trees planted on the property for children to tap trees in the future."
Sawentanon Skidders said, "This is just one tiny step in trying to put back into the environment in a positive and impactful way."
All plants used in this project are indigenous and have many uses within our Haudenosaunee culture. Part of this project includes planting over 1000 sweetgrass plants in different areas of Akwesasne.
A large part of the ARP is to create a massive butterfly garden north of the A'nowara'ko:wa Arena. The butterfly garden will have thousands of native plants, fruit and nut trees and will be complimented by installing a walking trail for community members.
Northern Landscapes took several components from previous projects completed off-reserve and incorporated them in the ARP. The OPG-Ontario Power Generation butterfly garden was a Northern Landscapes project completed in 2019 with over 10,000 plants. The OPG butterfly garden was on one mound, this project will be spread throughout Akwesasne with the main focal point being at the Arena.
They expect to finish at the end of November. By the end of the ARP, Akwesasne will have over 5000 new shrubs and flowers and 220 trees planted.
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