Who we are

Established in 2022, “Sharing Our Stories” is a collection of stories told by Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) elders and knowledge keepers rooted in the movement to replant the traditional language, culture, and history of the Indigenous community in Kahnawake and surrounding Kanien’kehá:ka communities. We translate each story into Kanien’kehá in order to help us with this project.

This project aims to create a teaching tool for generations to come. We have been collecting stories from residential and Indian day school survivors, Mohawk Warriors, medicine men and traditional healers, farmers and seed savers, educators, ironworkers, land defenders, artists, and more.

We are consulting storytellers throughout, taking time on our translations, and scoring archives to find information, records, maps, and photos that support the stories in our care.

View of the Bay Ridge - Shore Road and Parkway area - in New York City from the Verrazano-Narrows bridge. Kanien’kehá:ka helped build a lot of infrastructure in New York City through ironwork. (Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)

Mission statement

Our mission is to empower Kanien’kehá:ka communities by collecting and preserving their stories, language, culture, and history. Through the publication of stories in both English and Kanien'kéha, we aim to foster cross-cultural understanding, nurture cultural traditions, and encourage community connection. Our project serves as a teaching tool - promoting respect, appreciation, and conservation of Indigenous culture, language and history for future generations.

First Kahnawake powwow in 1991 (Courtesy: Martin Loft)

Objectives

  1. Preserve and promote the traditional language, culture, and history of the Kanien’kehá:ka community in Kahnawake and other Indigenous communities through the collection and sharing of their stories.

  2. Foster a sense of community and connection among Kanien’kehá:ka people by creating a shared resource of their stories and traditional knowledge.

  3. Address the legacy of colonization and residential schools by creating a space for Indigenous people to reclaim their stories and histories.

  4. Build bridges of understanding and empathy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities by promoting cross-cultural exchange and education about the traditional language, culture, and history of the Kanien’kehá:ka community.

  5. Develop a teaching tool that can be used in schools, community centers, and other educational settings to promote understanding and respect for Indigenous culture and history.

Saint-Lawrence train bridge (next to the Mercier bridge) built in 1886. This photo would have been taken not far from the current post office in Kahnawake and the man are by the current bank in town. (Courtesy: Sonny Joe Cross)

Story topics

Reconciliation
Indian day & residential school
Land claims & land defenders
Language
Agriculture
Medicine
Family
Ceremonies, dances and songs
Traditional ways of governance
Ironwork
Mohawk warriors
St. Lawrence Seaway
Communities before and after contact
Education
Longhouse traditions

In our interviewing process, we allow the elders and knowledge keepers to lead the conversation and share with us whatever they feel comfortable with. From this, we’ve collected a large range of story topics. These include:

Credit: Emma McLaughlin

What People Are Saying

“Sharing our Stories is so important for the younger generation to learn about life in Kahnawake, as told by the Elders - how simple life was and how hard they worked, planting and preserving their produce. With no phones, most entertained themselves outdoors.”

— Peggy Mayo-Standup

KAHNAWAKE ELDER

“ I feel that it’s important that us Elders tell our stories because we’re not going to be here forever. After we’re gone, our stories are going to live on for the younger generation. It’s been an exciting experience. I always look forward to going for my next interview.”

— Leonard Atonnion Bordeau

KAHNAWAKE ELDER

“We can envision their life just by their story being told. I love hearing about how they grew up. Stories were always told in Kanien‘kéha by our grandparents, parents just like today. I cut out and keep every story to help me learn.”

— Queenie Mccomber

KAHNAWAKE COMMUNITY MEMBER

I really enjoy Sharing Our Stories. As a second language speaker, I am always on the hunt for Kanien’kéha reading material that I can use to practice my comprehension, and refresh my memory for spelling. Often times the resources available in the community are geared toward beginners, and are not challenging enough for my son and I. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw entire stories were being translated into Kanien’kéha with Sharing Our Stories.

What I like to do is read the Kanien’kéha first, and then read the English after to see how well my understanding matched up with the text. If I encountered any words I did not recognize, I look for them in the English text to see what they were. And vice versa.

I also like that the stories come from our elders, who are so precious to us and have memories that need to be shared. It is important to learn our history, our values, and understand what life was like in Kahnawà:ke. The topics shared are always interesting, educational, or humorous to read. I like looking at the old pictures as well.

While I enjoy reading at length, it can be hard to find time during the busy day to do so, so it comes in handy that the stories are short. It doesn’t take long or too much effort to read them, and it’s great for littles ones with shorter attention spans. My son is 5-years-old and a first language speaker, so I like to collect the stories and read them to him. The stories are short enough for him to sit through (given it is not a kids’ picture book) and he gets to learn new things and new words at the same time.

I hope to eventually put all the stories together in one book so that my son can read back on them when he’s older and at a higher reading level. This is a very valuable resource for learners and I hope it continues

— Karihwiióstha Callie Montour

KAHNAWAKE COMMUNITY MEMBER

Meet the Team

  • EMMA MCLAUGHLIN

    PROGRAM MANAGER

    Emma is an environmental studies graduate of Concordia University. They have worked for many environmental organizations such as Sierra Club Canada, EcoQuartier and Farmers for Climate Solutions but has always been drawn to social justice and community work which has led her to working for Ionkwaká:raton. With her job, she has been able to meaningfully engage with this community and build relationships with people in impactful ways.

  • ONAWA JACOBS

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Onawa joined The Eastern Door and Sharing Our Stories/Ionkwaká:raton team in November 2023 as the Director of Operations. She brings with her a diverse background in education, career counselling, and management. Onawa’s primary roles are to oversee the general operations of TED and SOS, manage human resources, monitor operational budgets, and direct public relations.

  • SAHAWISÓ:KO' ARQUETTE

    DIRECTOR OF TRANSLATION

    Sahawisó:ko’ has been translating for the Eastern Door and Ionkwaká:raton since 2021. He began his Kanien’kéha’ language career after graduating the Kanien’kéha’ Ratiwennahní:rats Adult Immersion Program in 2020 where he continued on as a teaching assistant at Karonhianónhnha’ tsi ionterihwaienstáhkhwa’ for three years. In his spare time he continues to expand his knowledge through his relationships with fellow speakers and elders.

  • Herb Rice

    DIRECTOR OF REVENUE GENERATION

    Herb worked at Tewatohnhi’saktha for 12 years where he provided employment placement services to organization’s clients; researched strategic training areas; implemented and administered training projects. In 2015, he became self-employed RAH Consulting wherein he has provided consulting services for organizations and individuals within Kahnawake. Since 2021, he has been the co-host of Tetewatheren on K103.7 in Kahnawake.

  • Jonathan Turenne

    ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    Jonathan is a Political Science graduate and has worked on numerous projects centered around indigenous student communities and the queer student community. Jonathan has been working for Ionkwaká:raton since 2021, helping with fundraising and administrative tasks. With a deep understanding for history and culture, he is working on expanding the project to Kanehsatà:ke elders, ensuring their voices and legacies continue to inspire and educate future generations.

  • AARON MCCOMBER

    KAHNAWAKE STORY COLLECTOR

    Aaron grew up in Kahnawake and has always wanted a voice in his community. Although he attended both elementary and high school off the reservation, he has always wanted to know more about his culture and heritage. Aaron would find working with elders and engaging with community members gave him a sense of belonging. With a strong passion for writing, he has finally found the outlet his voice was looking for and is now working hard to learn about his roots here in Kahnawake.

  • Kassidy Jacobs

    KAHNAWAKE STORY COLLECTOR

    Kassidy grew up both around and in Kahnawa:ke, and has always dreamed of having a career within various forms of news broadcasting. She is currently enrolled at Concordia University with a major in Journalism and a minor in First People Studies. With a powerful zeal for storytelling, Kassidy has begun working for Ionkwaka:raton to broaden her experiences, and build stronger knowledge and connections within her community.

  • OWEN MAYO

    KAHNAWAKE STORY COLLECTOR

    Owen was raised in Kahnawake and at a young age began dancing in powwows. He has travelled the world through song and dance and over the years he has met with many elders over many territories. He works with Services Parajudiciaires autochtones du Québec, bringing traditional knowledge to inmates at a Montreal Detention Center. Owen has always cherished oral history and is very excited to be part of Ionkwaká:raton.

Meet the Board of directors

  • Peggy Mayo-Standup

    BOARD MEMBER

    Peggy is an active member of her community in Kahnawake. She has been the president on several boards throughout her life including the Golden Age Club and the Kahnawake radio station, K103. Her studies in legal and secretarial studies led her to becoming the first female native court worker in the province of Quebec in 1980-1986. She was also an elected official of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake from 1990-2012, covering many portfolios including fiscal, administration and justice.

  • Leonard Atonnion Bordeau

    BOARD MEMBER

    Atonnion grew up speaking Kanien'kéha or Mohawk with his family in Kahnawake and has resided there for most of his life. The first years of his life were spent on the family farm before their land was taken from them for the construction of the St Lawrence Seaway. He has worked as an ironworker in many cities and towns across North America and has also taught Kanien'kéha at both Karonhianónhnha Tsi Ionterihwaienstáhkhwa School and Kahnawake Survival School.

  • Angelo Pino

    BOARD MEMBER



  • Kahente Horn-Miller

    BOARD MEMBER