Shé:kon to another holiday season
One of Kawisaiénhne Albany’s favourite moments at the annual Christmas Wreath Fundraiser is seeing some of the community’s first-language speakers come in a group to buy their tickets.
“Everybody’s speaking in Kanien’kéha, and that’s exactly what we want. We want to hear Kanien’kéha,” said Albany, who graduated last year from the Ratiwennenhá:wi immersion program.
Heading into December, the usual signs of the Kanesatake’s yuletide season are arriving, and it’s safe to say this now includes the annual Christmas Wreath Fundraiser, which is in its third year of raffling prize packages sponsored by local organizations and businesses to raise money for language initiatives.
“All the funds go toward the language, to help with the language, any language workshop that we need, especially toward immersion programs,” said Albany, a member of the Kanehsatà:ke Language Fundraiser Committee that organizes the wreath event.
The wreath fundraiser runs for two weeks this year, from November 25 to December 8, at the Church Hall, with doors open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For $10, community members can buy a sheet of 12 tickets to distribute however they want between 10 themed wreaths.
For instance, some might be drawn to the Smarty Pants Academy wreath, valued at $2,000. The Mohawk Gas Bar-sponsored prize pack includes an iPad Air, an iPad case with a keyboard, AirPods, a coffee tumbler, and a collection of Kanien’kéha reading materials.
Some might prefer to spoil their child - or their inner child – with the Nice List wreath, sponsored by Kahnekí:io. It comes replete with Lego, Nerf, and Bluey products.
Other packages include items like tools, hunting gear, or cleaning equipment - including a new washer and dryer.
“There’s a lot of support,” said Albany. “We were very surprised because the first year we did it, we were so nervous. We didn’t even know if we were going to make money off it. It was really good. The second year we did it was even better.”
For immersion program language student Kahontókta Beauvais, the fundraiser is a welcome reminder of the support for language revitalization in town.
“I think it’s a great way for our community to support the language,” said Beauvais.
As an aspiring language teacher, she likes to think of the difference initiatives like this one make for the future of Kanien’kéha in Kanesatake.
“It gives us hope that the language is going to be continued through the next seven generations and passed down. The language is so beautiful also. It makes you see things so differently,” Beauvais said.
“It’s really nice,” said Albany. “It shows our community still has a lot of Mohawk speakers around and everybody’s learning. There’s a lot more interest to speak Kanien’kéha.”
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The draw will be held on December 8 at 5 p.m. to select the lucky winners. .
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
