Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Submitted by Jacey Rourke, AMBE Communications Officer

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, Kana:takon School grade six students participated in a "community walk" around the village of Kana:takon. As part of the "VOICES of Children and Youth" project the students identified areas of Kana:takon they see as either safe or unsafe from their perspective and experience. The goal was to share their recommendations with the VOICES research team, members from the Mohawk Council, and Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service in hopes of creating change that would prevent injury amongst their peers and other Akwesasronon youth.

The students were eager to share their unique perspective with the VOICES research team that consists of Dr. Rose-Alma McDonald of Katenies Research and Management Services, Project Lead; Ashley Tarbell and Waheson Lazore of MCA Communications Unit; Jacey Rourke, AMBE Communications and Quality Assurance Officer; and Leona Lafrance, Grade Six Teacher at Kana:takon School. The VOICES research team extended an invitation to special guests Kawehno:ke District Chief Carolyn Francis and Tsi Snaihne District Chief Connie Lazore; AMPS Community Service Officer Norman King and AMPS Constable Zimmer. Ottawa Citizen Columnist Elizabeth Payne and Photographer Wayne Cuddington also joined the community walk as they are working on a project examining childhood safety in Canada.

The students identified five locations as unsafe. The students made safety recommendations that included: to increase or add visible signage, add or update safety mechanisms such as fences and railings, and removing harmful or toxic debris from play areas such as rocks, broken glass, household waste or used needles.

As for places where they feel safe the students identified the MCA administration buildings and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service station. AMPS Staff Sergeant Ranatiiostha Swamp and AMPS Community Service Officer Norman King greeted the students, facilitated a tour of the AMPS facility and presented each child with an AMPS t-shirt. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service generously provided a patrol car escort during the "community walk" to provide further safety to our young students.

The VOICES project is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health and Research in partnership with the Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education, University of British Columbia, York University and Katenies Research and Management Services. The goal of the VOICES project is to build capacity within the community of Akwesasne to influence change toward safety and injury prevention amongst Akwesasronon children and youth.

Niawenko:wa to our funders and for those who participated with the grade six Kana:takon School students on their community walk, as well as for listening to what these young Akwesasronon students had to say with regards to community safety. This important project is designed to empower our next generation of leaders by allowing them to use their voice to impact change for other children and youth in Akwesasne.