Native Earth Environmental Youth Camp 2010

On Tuesday August 10^th, 2010 students, environmental officials, and educators from across the Haudenosaunee Confederacy gathered at the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environmental Division office to set out on a week long journey to Thompson Island. There, they were met for orientation by Ken Jock, Angela Dunn, Setanta O’Ceillaigh, Julie Jacobs, and Craig Arquette from SRMT Environment and Henry Lickers and Scott Peters from Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Environment. Student’s involved

Bob Stevenson’s Thompson Island Transport

with the Youth Camp, sponsored in partnership with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry and the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force, travelled from Oneida, Onondaga, Tonawanda, Tuscarora, Six Nations, Akwesasne and Cayuga Nation. There was also a student from the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and a student from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. In all, there were 15 students who attended. The group of students, chaperones and their gear were transported shortly after orientation from Adam’s Marina to Thompson Island. The Thompson Island Youth Camp is managed by, Bob Stevenson from Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.

Eddy Grey explaining the medicinal use of plants and flowers

Upon arrival on the island, the group joined in a social gathering for the Ohenten Kariwatekwen, Thanksgiving. Dave Arquette, from the Haudenosaunee Environment Task Force, explained to the students what we give thanks for and the reasons why. This was the official start to the Environmental Youth Camp.

Jacob McLester works on his cattail mat

Throughout the week, the island was visited by many guest speakers, traditional leadership, and environmental officials. One of the first to begin the activities was Eddie Grey, Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, Turtle Clan leader. His presentation offered knowledge to the young minds as his showed them many types of plants which are used for medicinal purposes. He explained each plant’s name in the Mohawk Language, its medicinal purposes, when it should or shouldn’t be picked and how it is prepared. Later on, he took the group through some of the trails on Thompson Island showing some of the available plants and flowers while again, explaining each one as they went along.

Lionel LaCoix displays lynx pelt

Dr. Robin Kimmerer,director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at ESF, showed the group different uses for cattails and cattail making. Later on during the day, guest speaker Darryl Thompson from the Akwesasne Freedom School spoke with the group. Because the group was working with the cattails, Darryl began by telling of the legends associated with the cattails as the group listened in amazement. He spoke of the cattail teachings and told a creation story about cattails. When it got dark that night the students and chaperones sat around the camp fire in preparation for a nightly council meeting. They also had a special guest join them, Dan Hill from the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force in Cayuga. He amazed his listeners with stories about his flute and played several of his songs he wrote.

Kontiwennenha:wi on Thompson Island

The following day, the group was visited by Lionel LaCroix, a Metis trapper from Quebec who amazed the students with several types of traps, pelts and furs from different animals and interesting facts about beaver populations. One of the highlights of his display was the pelt of a lynx. He talked about the fur trade in general and some history of the trade. Lionel ended up spending some time with the group on the island and departed the next day.

Les Benedict shows the students how pound for splint making

Later on, during the evening, a group of Mohawk Women singers, Kontiwennenha:wi, were transported by boat to the camp for a social. Everyone engaged and joined in dancing while a traditional meal was provided by Thompson Island’s top chefs. It was truly an amazing sight to see these young adults engage in the dance. When I had asked, one of them mentioned that they dance every year in their nation’s pow-wow. Some of the dances were the Smoke Dance, Alligator Dance, Stomp Dance and the Duck Dance. The singers were later transported back at the end of the day.

Mike McDonald teaches students about the Two-Row Wampum

Friday’s activities included Log Pounding and Splint Making with St. Regis Mohawk Tribes, Les Benedict and Richard David from Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. Everyone got a chance to take a few swings at a water soaked Black Ash log which was used to create the splints that were cleaned and prepared for basket making. Although the group did not get a chance to learn how to make the actual baskets, they learned some of the importance in splint preparation. Les Benedict and Richard David work together on the Black Ash Project.

Earnie Thompson’s shuttle service

The Native Earth Environmental Youth Camp (NEEYC) celebrated its second year. The program was developed to teach students traditional relations to our earth while integrating tradition and scientific knowledge. It’s also established to enhance our youth’s traditional ecological knowledge and teach them about environmental science and field ecology. The activities that were listed above were only a few of many presentations during the first week at Thompson Island. Other guest speakers included Leslie Allee who talked about the Lost Ladybug Project, Peggy Pyke-Thompson from Mohawk Council’s Environment Division who spoke about wetlands ecology, Arnold Printup who did Archeology with the students, Jr. Cook who spoke about traditional values and Mike McDonald who presented different Wampum’s and what they mean. Each one of these speakers did a remarkable job on each of their presentations.

BR: Kele McAleer, Landon Leading Fox, Billy Canton, Kioronhiakwente Francis FR: Brandon VanEvery, Aliza Potter, Erin Confer, Tristan McAleer, Chelsea VanEvery, Denise Dodge, Jacob McLester, Taiotarakie King, Elizabeth Uebelhoer, Eric Miller, Kentaratiron Arquette, Keane Thomspn-Point

On Sunday August 30^th, 2010 the group packed their gear and was transported back to main land where they headed for Cranberry Lake Biological Station. There, they enjoyed a full day of traditional and scientific knowledge of fisheries biology that was presented by Director of the Tuscarora Environment and SUNY-ESF grad student, Neil Patterson Jr. He also showed the group how to prepare the days catches for eating. There was a day of forest ecology and tree identification which was presented by Robin Kimmerer. Robin also talked about Indigenous Architecture; the study of a traditional wigwam. Among the guests and chaperones that were at Cranberry Lake were Bob Wall, a Potawatomi elder and Catherine Landis, an ESF grad student. Throughout the week Bob talked about the physics and philosophy of canoeing, learning fire building techniques and fire building contest, map and compass games, and he even showed them how to make a solar compass. Catherine Landis covered learning about bird songs and even had a game of Bird Song Jeopardy.

Students planting sweet grass

In between all the presentations, and during the evenings, the students and chaperones enjoyed the opportunity to go canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and they played volleyball. They became more connected to their environment as they learned about traditional science and more about themselves and the environment. They made new friends and grew closer together connecting each of their nations through one another.

Brigitte Evering and students are first ones to start a fire with a single match

A special Nia:wen Kówa goes out to Marie Thompson, Bob Stevenson, and Earnie Thompson for their gracious hospitality on Thompson Island. The program was established by SUNY-ESF, Robin Kimmerer, the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force, Dave Arquette, Tuscarora Environment Programs, Neil Patterson, Trent Universities, Dan Longboat, and Oneidas, Brian Connors. The program was made possible with the assistance of Rachel Becker from SUNY-ESF, Brigitte Evering from Trent University, Daygot Leeyos from Onieda, Dean George from Akwesasne, and Noah Point from the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force.

Students at Cranberry Lake

On Tuesday August 20^th, 2010 Indian Nations located throughout New York State met up with U.S., E.P.A.  Officials to discuss different topics and concerns each Nation had about the environment. Also joining the group were officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation. This year’s annual meeting was held in Niagara Falls at the Crowne Plaza, only a short distance from the Falls.

The first day the entire group of Tribal Officials, Nation leadership, Nation delegates, and Governmental Employees went on a field trip guided by Tuscarora Nations, Neil Patterson and Bryan Printup. The meeting began with some presentations and videos provided by EPA, Lorraine Graves, and St. Regis Mohawk Tribes, Angela Benedict-Dunn. After lunch the group took a short walk down to the Niagara Falls where Neil Patterson talked about the history of the falls while giving the group an opportunity to ask questions and take scenic pictures. From there, the group returned in time to catch a chartered bus tour taken to New York Power Authority’s, Power Vista, located approximately 4 ½ miles downstream of the Niagara Falls. One of the highlights of this guided tour at the Power Vista was a display called “The Times of the Tuscarora” which exhibited a timeline of Tuscarora Nation from 800 A.D until now.

The following day each Nation had the opportunity to discuss, individually, any environmental questions and concerns with E.P.A. Later on, during the evening, everyone came together for a family style dinner at one of Niagara Falls distinguished restaurants called The Como. There, the group ate together while getting to know each other on a personal level and also discussing more about the environment informally.

On the last day, everyone came together meeting formally to discuss topics such as Hydro-Fracturing, Global Climate Change, and other important topics including Nation and EPA relationships.

Over all, the annual Indian Nation Leadership Meeting was a success, bringing each Nation along with some of E.P.A.’s top leadership together, moving forward, building strong relationships, and creating a better environment for Indian Nations.