Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program first began hosting the annual Disability Awareness Day as a way to bring awareness to the available Tribal Programs. It has expanded since that time to include programs from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and New York State run programs. This year’s event drew a crowd of approximately 100 people who were looking for information on how to assist in the daily lives of those with a range of disabilities.

“Disability has a broad definition to the word,” said Jason McDonald the Acting Community and Family Support Division Director at the Tribe. “When we were first funded people were unaware of the TVR program so we put this event together to help inform the community of how to access services.”

The main organizers for this event included the TVR staff who hosted everyone. They include Nicole David, Joe Chamberlain, Holly Boots, Deidre Rourke and Jason McDonald. Another program with the SRMT who attended was the Family Support Program who serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

“We have a woodshop within the program,” said Melissa Jock a FSP worker. “Our clients can pick any wood project to work on and many create their own as they go.”

A table that had been assembled by two participants with their woodshop was raffled off during the course of the day. The lucky winner of the table was Sandra King who won the item that was assembled by Joseph Lafrance and stained by Dexter Herne.

Tsi Takaianon:ni “Foot Prints” is another program that is run within FSP and had a grand opening in November 2010. This program currently works with seven children who fall within the Autism spectrum and they go almost every day. This past summer the program planted a garden with the participants and worked each day to maintain it once planted.

“Eventually the hope is to have this program expand to take adults in the mornings,” said Jock. “…and they want to eventually have a farmers market to try and sell their wood projects and vegetables.”

The Three Sisters Program (formerly known as the STOP Domestic Violence Program) was on hand to advocate for their services. The Three Sisters Program provides confidential services that includes a 24-hour crisis response and advocacy to name a few. They have started to help sponsor training with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police’s Sexual Assault Response Team.

“We have changed our logo and our name, the focus of the program is to a more positive and healing way,” said Amie Barnes the Sexual Assault Case Manager and Educator. “We are trying to make sure we get the best care for our clients and for the community.”

In addition to these programs there was also the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Wholistic Health & Wellness Program who focuses on preventative medicine.

“I had a lot of information here on how to handle bullying and alcohol and drug addictions,” said Leona Barnes. “I thought this event was good and each program gave out information that a lot of people can use.”

For more information about Tribal programs call 518-358-2272. Mohawk Council of Akwesasne programs can be reached at Kanonkwatsheriio at 613-575-2341 for more information.