They are our GREATEST TEACHERS and our WISDOM KEEPERS.

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Gratitude for the Natural World

Reprinted from Ganondagan June eNews & Updates

Indigenous to North America, S:he:s-ah Ojisdadö’shä’, commonly called wild strawberry, is a ground-hugging herbaceous perennial that spreads into large colonies by runners. You can spot these plants along woodland openings, meadows, prairies, and cleared areas including roadsides. At Ganondagan you can find them along Earth is Our Mother Trail. They are identifiable by their hairy leaf which has three coarsely toothed leaflets on a single stem. In April-June they blossom with small, five-petaled white flowers with a yellow center made up of many stamens. Blossoms give way to fruits which mature to red in a much smaller size (to 1/2” and across) than fruits produced by cultivated strawberry plants. Seeds are embedded in the pits of the strawberries.

In the Haudenosaunee Creation Story, it is said that when Skywoman fell from the Sky World she brought with her a wild strawberry plant and planted it on the turtle’s back that became North America. The strawberry is celebrated each year as the leader of the berries as it is the first fruit of the season. Aside from the benefits of the fruit, the leaves and root are also used medicinally to treat various ailments including sore throats and gout.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Additional source: SNI Cultural Plants and Trees – A Study of the Proposed US Rte 219 Corridor

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An evening to honor, recognize and uplift our community language & cultural knowledge keepers. Hosted by Agwadeyesta Dogeh, friends and supporters. To be held at the Seneca Allegany Casino Event Center on September 14, 2023 from 4-8pm.

Stop down to the ACC for Breakfast on Sunday, June 25th, 2023 from 8-10:30am to hear more about how you can be-a-part of this special gathering.

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As a high-profile Native American role model, Farmer discussed connecting with Indigenous students. He previously visited various schools through out Canada to connect with students to produce film projects. A motivational speaker and comedian, Farmer also appeared in the 1998 movie “Smoke Signals.” He’s also a talented musician who performs with the band Gary Farmer & The Troublemakers.

You can follow Farmer on Instagram at @garytroublemaker. This special event was funded via the Title VI and My Brother’s Keeper programs.

The post Gary Farmer from “Rez Dogs” Visits Silver Creek! appeared first on SNI Official Newsletter.

Sat. & Sun., July 22nd & 23rd from 10am-5pm daily, the annual event showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through dance, music, storytelling, traditional craft demonstrations, a Native American Arts Market, children’s activities, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, Indigenous food, and more! This year’s festival features Native folk-rock band, December Wind (Mohawk), hoop dance champions and performers, the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw), storytellers Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) & Tonia Galban (Mohawk), and Haudenosaunee social dancers, Indigenous Spirit Dancers. Visit ganondagan.org for more information.

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On May 25, 2023, NYS Senator George Borrello visited the Allegany Territory. He met with the 4th-7th grade student leaders teams to talk about leadership followed by an escorted tour from the 7th grade team. Once complete, the Senator was accompanied by four high school students through the STEAM area at Salamanca High School. Senator Borrello said “Thank you to the student leaders in grades 4-7 and the high school student leaders at SCCSD for meeting with me and giving me a tour of Seneca Intermediate School and the STEAM Lab. I had a blast! I was very impressed with the questions the students asked and the projects they are working on in the STEAM Lab. They are doing wonderful work at Salamanca Central.”

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Payton Pietraszek, Bear Clan member of the Seneca Nation, the daughter of Sandy (Way) and Larry Pietraszek graduated from Pembroke High School of Pembroke, Massachusetts on Saturday, June 3, 2023. She was the Class Treasurer, VP of Key Club, VP of Amnesty International, Co-Founder of the Multicultural Club, member of the National Honor Society, member of the Computer Science Honor Society, and member of the Future Women Engineers. She will be attending Stevens Institute of Technology, located in Hoboken, NJ, and majoring in Engineering. Please join us in celebrating her hard work and achievements. Congratulations! Ja:göh!

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Congratulations are in order to Ira E. John (Seneca, Allegany Territory) who graduated this spring from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sports Science and Criminology. He is pictured here with his grandmothers Kay Redeye (left) and Barbara John (right). His grandfathers are the late Earl Redeye, Sr. and the late Leland John, Jr. His super proud parents are Don and Sally John of Ohi:yo’. Congratulations, Ira! Ja:göh!

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independenthealth.com

Ja:göh Shelby Weston, Onödowa’ga:’ from Cattaraugus Territory of the Turtle clan, for being awarded the 2023 Diversity & Inclusion All*Star for her volunteer work in the Thrifty Panther. The award is based on “A high school senior dedicated to advocating for those facing racism, bias, and inequality and who has helped their peers take positive action bridging the social divide within the school or community.”

The Counseling Department nominated Shelby for this award based on her work in the Thrifty Panther which provides clothing, school supplies, and personal items to students in need. Shelby volunteers at the Thrifty Panther every day under the supervision of Mrs. Draegert.

For the 16th consecutive year, Independent Health and Business First have teamed up to offer a program that identifies and honors our Community All-Stars, a group of extraordinary Western New York high school seniors who have shown a commitment to positively impacting the lives of those in their school or community.

All-Stars are nominated in three categories:
• Community All-Stars
• Wellness All-Stars
• Diversity & Inclusion All-Stars

These students demonstrate the following qualities:
• Be of good character.
• Have made a difference in their community through their community service.
• Embrace the diversity of students throughout their school.
• Be friendly and open to all.

Congratulations, Shelby!

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Reposted from Salamanca City Central School District FB Page

Buster Mitchell, a Mohawk from Akwesasne, was instrumental in the founding of NAIEA/NY. An elementary teacher for 12 years, Buster furthered his graduate education to become of the first Native American principals in New York State. He served as principal for 18 years, leaving a positive legacy and impact at the St. Regis Mohawk School. His friends and colleagues remember him for his deep and abiding commitment to the education advancement of Native American Children, youth and adults, and especially for his love of sports, boating, skiing and golf, as well as his unending sense of humor. His family graciously gave NAIEA/NY permission to honor him by naming this annual award for continued education service to Native American Education, the William “Buster” Mitchell Educator of the Year Award.

During the NAIEA/NY (Native American Indian Education Association of New York) conference in Niagara Falls earlier this month, Andrea Cooke was awarded the William “Buster” Mitchell Educator of the Year Award. Ms. Cooke has been a Seneca culture and language teacher and educator for 20 plus years in schools serving native youth. She has worked on Ohi:yo’ territory, Cattaraugus territory and on Onondaga territory. In addition, she has been active in the Seneca and Onondaga communities her entire adult life. If you know Ms. Cooke, you know she holds a wealth of knowledge about Hodinöhšyonih culture and is dedicated to educating anyone willing to listen. She has boundless energy and is an active and proud mother of seven, grandmother of fourteen and clan mother of the deer clan. Ms. Cooke has been working in Salamanca School District for the last seven years with six as a teacher and becoming part of the Native American Curriculum Team last July. Ja:göh Ms. Cooke!!

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