{ title: 'Indian time. (Rooseveltown, N.Y.) 1983-current, February 11, 1987, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1987-02-11/ed-1/seq-1/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1987-02-11/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1987-02-11/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn87008345/1987-02-11/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Northern NY Library Network
A Voice From The Eastern Door February 11, 1987 Volume 5, Number 3 Bomb Threat Closes Bri 11 if ( an.ithan Customs on K awelmohkowanofra received a made. A number of similar threats have been r< telephone <-..tll fchruarx 10 indicating that a bomb, had been Canada Custojjiis in the recent past. b li f Ak'Oti / The calling telephone <..tll fchruarx 10 indicating tha , |il;u rtl on one of the bridges. Police from Akwesasne,'Ontario /•, The calling d N Nk ld th bid fr bout one hour while a layv and coul an g New Noik closed the bridges for about one hour while a fd d h'bid g and could sk-.iirli u .\* m.Hir \o bombs were found and the bridges were said. ir-nm-ned to traffic. No suspects were .identified;or arrests . : n of threats is a serious crime under Canadian result in imprisonment upon convicti>n .sources Jf -c.; •• « '. '*..• •» . o . .»•\ i V/' • >-•• • -• • •'. ..\•• ••' '•'•-.- • • P.A.S.N.V. Lands Up tor Sale The l'ouei- Unhnrily of the State of New' York (P A.S:N-Y.) annotmicil recenily Ihnt it would be selling lands along ther St. I aw rence liiver lhat il considered \ex(!ess.\ .'•.-..• ... .'•• •'\•'. Mohe:-i \\ (,i.i\es i'..\.S.\.Y. Keal Estate Director, sfciiel at an IM!OI ma! iniciiii^ ,it the St. Kegis Mohawk Tribal Council that in-, in j.ani/aiHui was expecting .the, Akwesasife Land Claims ' \..I'ji.utv in make a loruial request -for the r^liirn of ,the .Mud- to the Mohawk community here. •.'.'•'.•\.'.':. .-.-.\•• •• the l.aud ( lainis Committee;, composed of Mohawk Nation delegates linn I .at ranee, Doug Cieorge-Kanehliio, Ylulunvk ( oiincil ot \knesa.sne representatives Billy Sunday and John I.a/ore; Si Kegis Tribal Chiefs Rosemary Bonaparte; Brenda i al lam e and lormer chief Leonard Garrbw, will be meetihg with I s. and New \ork State officials March'.'4 fa Massena, \ \ -•;•• v .'.;'; - • '••' r'•-.';•:•. '.• (,ia\i> said the lands foi sale included a number erf'islands : in the M I .awi-ence including Croil Island (formerly calledflaxler Mand), long Saull Island and a number of stiialter islands near \\ addinglon, \ ^ Also up for sale are mainland parcels that P.A!S.\N.Y.. purchased before the construction Lawrence Seaway thirty years ago. . The?'Power Authority had decided thai the land ..longer part erf.its prese;nt or future plans. A notice -posed sale erf'.the lands was published in area new The islands in particular are of interest to the Li Committee since the Akwesasne people have histori cised ownership of the lands with some individual holding title iintil die Lunsiiuiuiuii .;.»•' ,iiu- :«^V/ \Canadian\,islands, in the .same area the-Departmen • Affairs--holds land use rights because of a elai \MOhawk .Council of Akwesasne lhat those islands the Long Sault Parkway,.were nnuv surrendered. Viraves saiel his company was prepared jo start n of the lanels. RA.S.N.Y. also holds possession ol Island which was taken from Akwesasne in I.S20 u leruationat boundary ua.s placed north ol thai i nliart has two hydro electric pouiM' dams loea'iee '-eluding the massive St. Laurence Power Dam. (,ra' inelicate P.A.8.N.Y. woulel be willing to discuss tin Bitrnharl. to Akwesasne. iceived bv <D powfc* paojE^i / '' if Hie SI. •; were no if flu; pro- papers, mi Claii^s a IK ever of Indian n by the including 'gotiations Barnharl ien-the in- land, liar there in- es did not return of Freedom School Students Note Mohawk Langua^ Revival Students of the Akwesasne Freedom School I have ac- complished what their director calls a \miracle!\ I y opening h hk idi i i h ht language. had spent Opening p the Mohawk Midwinter ceremonies in the Mohawt School Director Tom Porter-Sakokwanonkwas many- hours teaching the students lwjnv to say ti h y pg Prayer, which is a ancient Mohawk greeting to the natural work! recited before any meeting, social dance or The prayer begins by giving thanks to he earth the to the waters, plants, animals, treeis, winds, thund arid sun before acknowledging the four spiritual and the Creator. The students of the Freedom School have since il in 1979 Used the Opening Prayer to start their — With the developing of a 1 complete Mohawk Ian ' riculum the prayer has become the first phase t organized work schedule for the students. ; Participants at the Midwinter were greatly impre . ability of the students, some of whom vveie as yo years old, to stand '.-before a few bundled people with confidence and clarity. One of the Mohawk le tendance noted that the students ability to spea even when they came from non-Mohawk speaking the fulfillment of an ancient prophesy which sa Mohawk people would regain the use of the langua. ing it: The four Freedom Serhool students who spoke winter were Cody Back-Karonhionke, five years ok Dave and Loretta Back of Otskwarhene; Ternn ticoke, seven years old, the son of Betty and Kevin Skahentowaneh, 10, the son of Jake and Judy Five Generations In these times of fast life styles it is refreshing to stop and ex- amine our families. Pictured above are Cecelia Sunday, her son Peter Sunday, Granddaughter Dora Lazore, Great Grand- daughter Christie Lazore and Great Great Grandson Michael Cook. This represents five generations. Our families are the most important resource th.V ,v have left. What makes this five generation portrait so unique is that ail of these people speak the Mohawk Language except for Michael, who does not speak any language yet. It is hopeful that he wi|l also learn our language with the help of his elders. r ' •• ; Orthinenson and Aronienens, 11, the son the Toi and Porter of Ahnawate. ceremony, proceeds ers, moon, guardians beginning chool day. ?uage cur- if a highly. >sed by the jng as five and speak iders in at-, . Mohawk,, lomes, vyas, el that thei ;e after los- it the Mid-j and son of' atase Nan- Nanticoke; Swamp' of Director Sakowanonkwas said, \We started the jyiidwinter Ceremonies the way our people diel hundreds of years ago, long before the coming of the white nu noted that the Midwinter gave the community .renewthemsetv.es and to thank the Creator for th and look forward to the one coming. Wolf Clan Chief Richard Mitchell — Aroniateka observed that a 200 year old prophesy told of a time when, lose to the purification of the world, the young people woul< the ceremonies when the chiefs disagree with each Alice New Year n.\ He also chance to e past year take e)ver other and •the language comes close to being lost. Aroniateka said this might be that time but it meant purification was near. Tribal Council to Issue Cigarette Licenses The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council agreed to issue tem- porary cigarette permits to those retailers who Indicate they are willing to pay the Council $0.15 per carton tax as a result of a resolution passed at the regular Tribal monthly meetihg February 7 in Tekahswenkarorens, ^ The resolution, which passed by a vote estimated at 50 to 10, was worded so that the objectionable Word 'tax' was replaced by the word royalty' at the request of Tribal Chief Julius Herne. ' ' ' ' ':' :-' ' :'' : : Also passed at the tribal meeting was a resolution to s^nd a letter of support to Massena Memorial Hosdpital tojhelp defeat a state plan to turn the hospital from a treatment -Facility to a nursing home with emergency capabilities. : \] , The assembly also agreed to set up procedures fc r the Tribe so it could accept financial donations and also to ac jept Health Director Mike Cook's plan to seek funding for the c< instruction of a medical facility here at Akwesasne Wenniseriiosta Celebrates 81st Year One of Akwesasne's most noted bas-ketmakers and a Mohawk activist of many years, Mary Tebo-Wenniseriiosta, celebrated lier 81st birthelay February 2nd. A resident of Ahnawate Wenniseriiosta looked back at her many years of hard work here at Akwesasne with satisfaction at having rais- ed a family and fought hard to maintain the traditions of the Mohawk Nation. VVenniseriiosta was born at Akwesasne in 1906, the daughter of the late John and Minnie Papineau Thompson. She attended school on St. Regis island up to the fourth grade before leaving to help .her family by making baskets. Wen- niseriiosta remembers she was eighteen when she turned to the. Mohawk traditions as her way of life. She said that Peter Papineau, her uncle, was a strong traditionalist and influenced her greatly. .'•••'''.' VA'cnniseriiosta recalls the many hours she and her cousin,. Louis Papineau, spent learning about the Great Law of Peace. Wenniseriiosta said that, like her, manv Mohawks in their teenager years are alse) looking te> the traditions to help I hem make it through difficult times.' Many Akwesasnenorens will recall Wenniseriiosta's fight a quarter .century ago to preserve the right of our people to-live anywhere at Akwesasne regardless if they were on the \American\ or \Canadian\ rolls. Even while she was jailed for her beliefs she never vvaivered from her committment to the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Debates Economic Development The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is presently examining a number of ideas that could lead to jobs for people here. Council Chief Michael Mitchell told a public meeting at the Community Building in Kanatakon on that the Council was try- ing to encourage a sewing factory called Maxville Tops Gar- ment Industry to locate at Akwesasne. The company would employ up to 100 people. Economic Development Officer Dennis Chaussi said that a hockey stick firm, Victoriaville, was also being approached to possibly make use of the Snye pre-fab building or the lacrosse stick factory on Cornwall Island which would employ 60 Mohawks. Chief Mitchell said that the Mohawk workers at the Levi fac- tor in Cornwall had the reputation of being the best there but their travel expenses were so high plus the taxes they pay that out of a check of $200.00 the workers were lucky to bring home $100.00. A factory on Akwesasne would pay the average worker $275.00 Chaussi noted, ail of which would be tax free. Mitchell said the Council was trying to get the old lacrosse stick factory back from the Department of Indian Affairs which has a lien on it because of previous loans. The asking price for the building was $25,000.00 but it would cost another $85,000.00 to renovate. Vaughn Sunday, of the Coun- cil's Economic Development Office, said the council might be able to trade off the cost of renovations in return for rent. Council member Mary David said a fur garment company had also been examined. David said the company; Sheila's Furs, has a factory in Oka, Quebec, that presently employs 14 people full-time and was looking to establish an office at Akwesasne so that the furs could be distributed in the United States. David told the company that Akwesasne wanted to be more than juJBt a front but wanted to become involved in the production proceass itself Negotiations with the company will continue:''/.'•-..•:•'•'•-T.;'.'•.• • • : • • Great Law. Wenniseriiosla suffered family and financial! hard- ships because her imprisonment but in the end she wen her fight with New York. Long after most of her Mohawk arii i non- Indian opponents have gone she. maintains her home at Ahnawate. Her latest battle is against the construction of a water line through her property because*, she feels, the water line will be used for things other than family homes. Wenniseriiosta has had her baskets displayed in such jlaces as the Museum of the American Indian in New York, it the Madison County Historical Sejciety, in Cooperstown, N.V. and in Gettysburg,.NX She has taught basketry in Syracusel here at Akwesasne and at Onondaga. When Dennis Banks was liv- ing at Onondaga she taught him to weave a basket that later sold for $1,000.00. Wenniseriiosta advised Banks to take up basketmaking because she remembered when she Was in\ jail the guards would come to her cell every morning with a bowl of hot water which they used to wash her hands. She thought this was very nice of them. They did this every day until she was released.; Only later did she learn that the guards washed her hands because she had worn away her fingerprints making baskets and they thought that by washing her hands the prints would come back! ; : S. Wenniseriiosta has given birth to seven children, five of whom survive. She has been blessed with 41 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She keeps busy today with her family and taking part in the activities at the Longhou8e. Akwesasne Youth Coalition The Akwesasne Youth Coalition held a meeting on Tuesday, February 10,1987 at the St. Regis Recreation Hall in St. Regis. The Coalition is an organization composed of local committees, organizations, programs and athletic teams. The Coalition meets monthly and is a support organization. We support each others programs and planned activities. Jhe Coalition will be putting a calendar of events in the in- dian Time to let everyone know what is happening in Akwesasne There are a lot of activities for youth, adults or both. Many of the activities have no charge. _ • The riext meeting for the Youth Coalition wHI be March 10, 1987 at the Drug and Alcohol Djvi ton on Cornwall Island, Please try to attend. o :. Events In Akwesasne Friday, February 13th: Turkey, Hai n dinner and all the fixins at the Freedom School 11:30 a.m. tii all are served. ... ' Friday, February 13th: Pre-K, K, 1st and 2nd graders from Village will attend circus. Monday, March 2nd: Workshop \Cire forthe Caregivers\ St. Hegis Rec, Hall 1 to 4 p.m. : Monday March 2nd: Workshop for parents. St. Regis Jtec, Hall at. 7 p.m. • • \- : : '--' : \- • '\\ .'!' : .V,'r ••; •••.-'\.. ;:;.- ':- v Tuesday, March 3rd; Workshop from 9 to 4 for those Who work w th youth. Bea Shawanda will be the facilitator for the three workshops. Workshops are all FREE. ; SaturdJ y, February 14; Valentine's Day Dance at Billy's Bingo Hall from 9 to 1 a.m. Admission is $3.00. This will be a non- alcoholic dance. '' '.•';.\•\;/••', 1-'•-.,-.., .•'.-:\. :> . ' .-'•.-•' .'••\••:•\.-• Sunday, February 15 and every Sunday there after: Turkey ihoot at the Freedom School. StarU at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. $3.90(am) or $4.00(can) a shot. Come and enjoy the fun. Sundayi February 22nd: Syne School of Dance Conomittee host* a Volleyball Tournament for amateurs. See Lorraine Bero for more information. i ; ; Wednesday, February 11: Quilting classes at Old Island School. Everyone welcome. Bring needle and thimble. 7 p.m. to 9 p:m. -- - \ • •\-.•'-;/'.• ;••-.- '•'. • \ ?. • • -. : ; \\• • •' '•;• ! WATCH FOR MORE EVENTS IN THE NEXT ISSUE!!
