SRCS Celebrates Native American Day

 

Special guests the Thompson Brothers: Lyle, Miles, Jerome and Jeremy. Photo: Derrick Lafrance.

By Derrick Lafrance

The annual event in which our neighbors learn about some aspects of our culture was held Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at Salmon River Middle and High School.

In addition to sharing our traditional song and dance, the students got to meet and greet several world class lacrosse players. The Thompson Brothers stopped in for a presentation and shared with the students some life lessons. Jeremy, Lyle, Haina and Jerome Junior are the talk of the lacrosse world and play for different teams in the professional ranks. Their awards and accolades are many, but that wasn't the focus of their talk. They wanted to tell the kids about the long hard road to the top.

Miles told the middle schoolers about how college didn't teach him everything. He had to learn much on his own.

"I wanted to start good habits that led into my freshmen year. I educated myself on how to take care of ourselves, knowing what to put in our bodies," he said.

Jeremy is the oldest of the Thompson siblings and in part to that he became their leader. He had to learn fast to adapt to college life and not just on the lacrosse field.

Akwesasne Men's Singers with members of the Mohawk Club. Standing L-R: Cora Gibson, Tyren Lazore, Courtland Sunday, Ian Clute, Rawisaketskwas, Leland Clute, Ronatines and Kanenstenhawi. Front: Kaianonkie Cook, Ierakas Mitchell, Iohseriio Peters-Martin, Brounetta Terrance, Kahentase Terrance and Jade Jackson. Photo: Derrick Lafrance.

"It was an eye opener, I had my first kid going into college. I had to really manage my time, one and a half hours to spend with family then classes and practice."

Jeremy added everyone is going to have roadblocks in life. "It's up to you to achieve it."

After the lacrosse presentation the assembly was shown a movie which was produced by the school's Native Film Club. The story was about an old traveler who was turned away when he asked for shelter. He finally came to a house where a mother and daughter took him in and let him rest. He was sickly, and he taught them how to gather medicine for him. After he felt better, he revealed himself as a young man and thanked them for their kindness.

The final part of the day was a social in the middle school gym. The Akwesasne Men's Singers did their traditional songs and encouraged the crowd to dance. The one dance that was a hit was the "Duck Dance." The first timers caught on and everyone enjoyed the social.

That led up to lunch where the Mohawk Club provided traditional Corn Soup, Fried Bread and Strawberry drink.

 

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