Submitted by David Arquette

It is that time of the year where Shonkwaia'tíson (Our Creator) puts the sap back into the maple trees for the people to make maple syrup. For the past 25 years, the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment (ATFE) has put together a Maple Project to educate the younger generations about the importance of tapping maple trees. We also make maple syrup for the people for our ceremonies and provide maple sap to those who request it, as well as provide sap to the longhouse when we give thanks to the maple trees.

Oianoron Lyons and Kiorionhiakwente Francis.

Another purpose of the project is for the people to come together, tell stories and visit while we boil maple sap. It is very important that we not lose the traditional cultural practice of making maple syrup. In the past, people have told us they have maple trees on their property but have no means to collect and boil the sap. Now, we are able to provide the taps and buckets to collect the sap and have people bring it to the sugar shack to boil.

When we are all done, we donate the syrup to the Mohawk Nation Longhouse and the Akwesasne Freedom School for their annual breakfast fundraiser. This is a community project and the only way we can keep this project going is through volunteers and donations of wood, money, equipment and labor. If anyone from the community would like to volunteer or would like to schedule a group to visit the sugar shack, call David Arquette at 518-333-0228. Niawenkó:wa!