Home Arts & Culture Wáhta, singing and beading highlights of Cultural Awareness Month

Wáhta, singing and beading highlights of Cultural Awareness Month

(Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door)
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It’s that time of year. The time when wáhta is tapped and bottled, and K103 Radio takes a morning to broadcast entirely in Kanien’kéha.

Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door
Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

The Kanienkehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center hosted the annual Wáhta Radio Show Wednesday that kicked off at 9 a.m., and ran until Joe McGregor, Leo Diabo and Edward “Fine Day” Jacobs wrapped the show with their signature bluegrass stylings.

Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door
Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

Other organizations that stopped by were Karihwanóron School, Step by Step Child and Family Center and the Iahkwahwatsirátatie Language Nest.

Students in the Ratiwennahní:rats adult immersion program pulled kitchen duty flipping pancakes and making eggs that were served up for lunch.

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Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

A seminal moment of every Cultural Awareness Month is the Mini Sing hosted by Kahnawake Survival School annually, which took place yesterday.

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Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

Groups from Iahkwahwatsirátatie, Karihwanó:ron, Indian Way, Kateri Karonhianónhnha School and the Kahnawake Youth Center joined their hosts from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

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Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

Every Monday and Wednesday since last month, a group of women and girls have been set up at the Kahnawake Youth Center needling their ways through leather and adorning Sioux-style baby moccasins destined for young Kanienkehá:ka feet.

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Daniel J. Rowe, The Eastern Door

Classes wrap Wednesday, but due to popular demand, facilitator Wahsontanoron Nicholas said there will likely be classes in the near future.

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Daniel J. Rowe is an award-winning reporter and photographer originally from BC. In addition to journalism, he produces and edits a Shakespeare-inspired blog and podcast called the Bard Brawl. His writing has also appeared in the Montreal Gazette, Canadian Press, U.S. Lacrosse magazine and elsewhere. His facial hair rotates with the season, and he’s recently discovered the genius of wearing a cowboy hat. He wrote for The Eastern Door from 2011 to 2019.