Name: Mohawk Akwesasne Freedom School Celebration
Start: 2022-10-08T18:30:00-04:00
Location: White Feather Farm

Mohawk Akwesasne Freedom School Celebration

The Theoria Foundation at White Feather Farm provides  residencies, multidisciplinary performances and educational programming for artists, innovators, and organizations whose work explores  connections between creativity and sustainability. Learn more about us at www.theoria.org.

Theoria Foundation

Underwater Panther Coalition and Theoria Foundation present a musical celebration of The Akwesasne Freedom School (Mohawk)

White Feather Farm

Join us for a multi-artist concert and celebration of The Akwesasne Freedom School (Mohawk), featuring words and music by Theresa &quot;Bear&quot; Fox, Kontiwennenha:wi (Akwesasne Women Singers), Jennifer Kreisberg (Ulali), Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas-“The One Who Wins”), Koyoltzintli, Karonhianonha, Ionawiienhawi &amp; Ga:waöwa:s.The Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) emerged as a center of Mohawk cultural resurgence in 1979 and continues to play a critical role in revitalizing a rich and diverse language and culture within the community of Akwesasne. It is a model of self-determination and best practices in language and cultural revitalization. AFS provides Mohawk immersion education, beginning each day with the Thanksgiving address, which forms the foundation of their culturally-rooted curriculum. This event will raise money and awareness for the school and celebrate local Indigeneity through Mohawk music and storytelling.Doors at 6:30PM // 7:00PM show$15 advance, $20 at the door, $10 students at the door, $10 children age 7-14 at the doorF﻿ood and refreshments by JoustAt the request of the artists, no alcohol will be served at this event. To learn more about the school and get involved, visit www.underwaterpanther.comUnderwater Panther Coalition (UPC) is committed to representing and amplifying Indigenous musical ontologies in contemporary contexts. UPC actively supports Indigenous communities and artists while seeking to improve and restore people&#x27;s relationships to all of life through Indigenous musical practices. We are focused on restoring the central role of music for maintaining balance, resilience, and cultural thriving in harmony with Mother Earth.To learn more about Theoria Foundation, visit www.theoria.orgFeatured Performers listed below:

Theresa 'Bear' Fox is Wolf Clan from Akwesasne. She is an incredibly gifted singer and songwriter whose music has had a great impact in uplifting her community and beyond. Her songs are known across Turtle Island and have been part of ceremonial restoration at Akwesasne. She is a three-time Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) winner. Songs began to come to her as a small child, but it wasn't until her 20's that she began writing and sharing her songs, "When I look back and think about it, I always had this beautiful gift, but I didn’t realize what I had." She continues, "The songs that come to me, it’s almost like someone, a spirit or something, is pushing on me." Theresa's warm and engaging presence is undeniable. Today she is busy performing widely and recording cd's on a steady basis, while balancing family and work life. Her children and now grandchildren all went to and are enrolled at AFS. Her latest CD is called 'Truth' and was released Spring of 2022.

Kontiwennenha:wi (Akwesasne Women Singers) Kontiwennenhawi was founded to celebrate, protect and preserve the Kanienkeha (Mohawk language), as well as the traditional Mohawk customs and stories, including oral traditions that are passed down from grandmother to granddaughter. It was founded on the belief that the easiest way to pass on the language and culture is through songs. Theresa Bear Fox explains, “In the beginning, I began writing in Kanienkeha (the Mohawk Language) for our women’s group, called Kontiwennenhawi, which translates to ‘Carriers of the Words’. Our language is struggling to survive right now, so it is important to me to put our language into the songs. Many children in the local schools are beginning to sing our songs. I have been writing songs for almost 20 years now, and it makes me very proud to know that in a small way, our women’s group and I are contributing to the survival of our language.” At various stages of their lives, the singers take time out of their personal and professional lives to assist their community whenever possible. Aside from singing Haudenosaunee social songs, they work with elders and fluent speakers from Akwasasne to ensure the correct usage, pronunciation and spelling of words. The songs contain messages that they believe are important for the Mohawk people to know and remember, songs that honor the Elders, the Teachers, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, and the Great Law of Peace. They are committed to continuing the traditions of their ancestors and preserving their language and customs through their songs.

Tom Porter : (Sakokwenionkwas-“The One Who Wins”) Is a Mohawk leader and spiritual elder. He is a member of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. He was the director of and, a teacher at the Akwesasne Freedom School and taught at the Kahnawake Survival School. He taught Mohawk language, philosophy and history at both schools as well as carpentry at Kahnawake. Tom worked as Secretary for the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs for 8 years and as interpreter for 11 years. Mr. Porter organized the “White Roots of Peace”, a traveling multi-media communications group designed to revitalize Native traditions and beliefs in North America. He has published and lectured extensively on the value of Mohawk and Indienous ways.

Koyoltzintli : “My art is rooted in the land that shaped me, and the stories it continuously tells.” Koyoltzintli, is an interdisciplinary artist, healer, and educator living in the USA. She grew up on the pacific coast and the Andean mountains in Ecuador, these are geographies that permeate her work. She focuses on sound, ancestral technologies, ritual, and storytelling through collaborative processes and personal narratives. Intersectional theories and earth-based healing inform her practice. Nominated for Prix Pictet in 2019, her work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, the United Nations, Aperture Foundation in NYC, and Paris Photo, among others. She has been an artist in residence in the US, France, and Italy and has taught at CalArts, SVA, ICP, and CUNY. She has received multiple awards and fellowships including the Photographic Fellowship at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, the NYFA Fellowship, and the IA grant by the Queens Council of the Arts. Her first monograph Other Stories was published in 2017 by Autograph ABP, and her work was featured in the Native issue of Aperture Magazine (no. 240). In 2021, her work was included in the book Latinx Photography in the United States by Elizabeth Ferrer chief curator at BRIC. In 2022 she is one of the artists in residence at Socrates Sculpture Park and she has been awarded the Latinx Artist Fellowship by US Latinx Art Forum (USLAF).

Karonhianonha : “She protects the skies” Mikayla Francis, Wolf Clan of Akwesasne, shares a mixture of new originals and covers.

Ionawiienhawi(He/him/they them)&amp; Ga:waöwa:s(They/them/Any pronouns) Are a Mohawk/Kanienkehaka and Senaca/onödowá’ga duo, in life and in music. Ionawiienhawi started their journey in performing at the Akwesasne freedom school at the age of 15 after a life long gift of singing, became a musician and in the past five years has played many of their events. Ga:waöwa:s is a lifelong singer and musician, who has been deeply involved in the White corn project at ganondagan and has played many events at Ganondagan State Historic Site. The two crossed paths at ganondagan in 2016, and are now on a path to creating music and art together since early 2022.

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Mohawk Akwesasne Freedom School Celebration

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