Community News

Getting To Know Us: Helen Beaver

By Awëö:nyë΄ | Reprinted from Gai:wanöhge′ V12I10, Gahsa΄kneh Wis 2020

We have lost another precious asset to our community, Helen Beaver, better known to all as Akso:d. A very wise “Ole” turtle tells us learners all the time “we aren’t going to be here forever” but when you can work with them every day all year long it sure does seem like they will be or when you have had as many years as we did with Akso:d it sure feels like it!

Photo courtesy of Aedzaniyo Seneca

Akso:d started working with the language program in 2011, she had worked with ECLC for many years prior. Where I also had the opportunity to work with her, all three of my girls were brought up with her. Akso:d was very quiet and meek, however she truly enjoyed working with children all ages especially babies. She used to always swaddle them and rock them to sleep for nap time. If you didn’t learn how to swaddle your baby by her then you don’t know how.

We will continue to be inspired by her lifelong lessons not only in learning language, but also in raising our children and in how we are intended to treat one another. She might not be here with us on earth but she will always be in our minds and hearts. We will cherish the countless memories we have made with Akso:d over the years, from the notes she shared, to the fieldtrips she went on with us, the language she spoke to us and the recordings we have of her.

Dëyetinö:nyöh heh Nigagwegöh Wa’ökiya’dage:ha’! Nya:wëh Akso:d.