Community Callout for Renovated IGA Building Name

AKWESASNE – Following its closure more than one decade ago, efforts are visibly underway to breathe new life into the former-IGA Building for the benefit of the Akwesasne community. It will provide a consolidated location for tribal programs and services, and we invite community members to help in identifying its new name.

In the Summer of 2018, an initial community callout was made for some possible building names; as plans called for 100,000-square feet of office space for tribal programs, a 3,500 square-foot multipurpose room for meetings and community functions, a modern food distribution center, and incubator space for small businesses, as well as other amenities to meet the needs of a growing community.

Several names were suggested that reflected the building's ideal use as a gathering place for tribal members to seek community services. Some of the suggested names were "First Americans" or "First Peoples" Tribal Building, Tese'niohsken'n - "They Gather Together", Akwesasne Community Service Center, The Partridge Drum Building, and the Indigenous Gathering Administration/Arena – to keep the IGA acronym.

Given the amount of time that has passed, another callout is being made for additional names. Please email your suggested name to [email protected] by Monday, Enniskó:wa/March 27th to be considered. Keep in mind that the selected name will be translated into Kanien'keha (Mohawk language) to support efforts to promote and strengthen our language.

The former-IGA Renovation Project is on target for a Spring 2024 completion date, but for more information about the project please see the presentation provided at the February 2023 Tribal Meeting located on the Tribal Members Portal.