Dean George and the Art of Maple Syrup Making

This past week the St. Regis Mohawk School Pre-K through grade 5 students were able to celebrate as they were welcomed by Stacey and Gabe Oakes for another year at their sugar shack across from the school. Dean and Doogie George spent the week teaching the students about how maple syrup is made, and some of the traditional teachings that go along with it. Students learned about how the season is opened with the burning of sacred tobacco and to say thanks to the Orontakeri (sap) before they were all able to have a taste. At the sugar shack they were able to see the boiler, and see how sap is turned into maple syrup. At the end all of the students were able to participate in the tsiskoko'neha (Robin Dance) and received a small bottle of maple syrup before finishing up.