Holiday auction supports Mohawk language

By Candice-Rose Gagnon

BELLEVILLE – A holiday online auction to support Tydendinaga Mohawk Territory’s Mohawk-language school, Tsi Tyonnheht Onkwawenna, is in its final days.

The funds raised will go right back to Mohawk language programs in the territory.

There is a wide variety of items for auction, including traditional gifts and wares. All money raised will go back to the Language Circle, which supports adult and child Mohawk immersion programs. Items were donated by parents of students, and community members.

“We are doing our best here to revive and revitalize the Mohawk language in our community,” says Callie Hill,  executive director at Tsi Tyonnheht Onkwawenna.

“The best way to do that is through our children, and we’ve seen a lot of success. Our teachers are now second-language speakers from our community,” Hill said. The online auction is one of many events throughout the year that the Language Circle runs to support its programs.

The Language Circle receives about $50,000 a year from the federal government, said Hill, which is not enough to keep the programs alive and to pay salaries. Small fundraising events throughout  the year enable programs to continue.

“Our language is in a way more critical state then I think our neighbours realize in Belleville and Napanee. So we like opportunities like this, where we can do some awareness, education and outreach, so people realize what we are doing and how important our work is and how their support is greatly appreciated,”

Hill said there are less than 60 native Mohawk speakers left in the area. Across Ontario as a whole, there are about 3,000, according to the Tyendinaga library’s website.