Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Letter to the Editor:

As a mother and a woman of the Kanonsesne, I for one, am glad that when I come home to Akwesasne there is an absence of Christmas decor. We’re raising our son as a traditional child active in the Longhouse and as a family we don’t celebrate any Church based holidays. We have and we will continue to explain to our 5-year old the origins and the intended reasons for each holiday and why these holidays don’t pertain to us; as we don’t believe in Jesus Christ.

Every year during each holiday we are forced to deal with everyone else’s beliefs. At the stores, on TV, on the radio, and especially at school. (Even when we ask at the beginning of the year that our son remain exempt from such activities.) So much for separation of Church and State.

In a world where we are bombarded with images of celebrating Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter, St. Patricks Day, and Halloween (yes, Halloween is a church based holiday), I greatly appreciate coming home to a community that isn’t doused in someone else’s beliefs. I’m proud of that. Even if this means that because of it, some people will choose to call my home, “a poor little Indian Reservation.”

Lunce White