Union local 25
Ironworkers pose for a group photo while on the job in New Hampshire. (Credit: Aaron McComber)
Story told by Robert Diabo
When I was about 12 or 13, I went to Jefferson Junior High in Detroit. The city was still nice after World War II.
I quit school at 15, started doing odd jobs, and then got into tree work at 16.
I climbed up the trees and trimmed them down. I did that for about three years.
My older brother Mike was in the ironwork business and lived in Detroit with his family, so I had a place to stay.
Mike told me, “I got two sons that are growing up and when they become of age, I’m going to get them in.”
I asked him if he could also get me into the union in Detroit.
But back then it was hard. They weren’t taking any apprenticeships or anything.
It was a father-and-son deal, so you had to have family already in the union.
My father was in the business here in Montreal and he knew the ironwork business agents and people in the industry. So, I asked him to get me in instead.
He made some phone calls and about a month after I got my book for here in Montreal.
Eventually I transferred into Local 25, where I belong to now.
That’s how I started ironworking and traveling all over…
KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION
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KANIEN’KÉHA VERSION ↓
Ronanitiohkwakwe'nón:ni Local 25
A certificate presented to Robert Diabo signifying 45 years of being a member of union local 25. (Credit: Aaron McComber)
Robert Diabo ROKÁ:RATON
Ákta 12 tóka' ni' 13 shitewátien', Jefferson Junior High ne Tiohsahróntion nonkwá:ti wakaterihwaiensta'nónhne'. Shé:kon nikanatiióhne' ohnà:ken ne Tekeníhaton Teiaonhontsawéhrhon Waterí:io.
15 shitewátien' wa'kátka'we' tsi katerihwaiénstha', takatáhsawen' thikaio'tenhseraténion ontió'ten', sok ó:kwire' ontió'ten' 16 shitewátien'.
Wa'kerontarathénhseron' tánon' wa'katerontahseronniánion'. Ákta 3 niiohserá:ke ontió'ten' thí:ken.
Rakhtsì:'a Wíshe karistà:ke rothwistahtentia'tòn:ne' tánon' Tiohsahróntion thati'terón:tahkwe' ne raohwá:tsire, tho nón:we tki'terón:tahkwe'.
Wíshe wahakhró:ri', "Tékeni tewakewí:raien' rotisken'rakéhte' néne ronatehiahróntie' tánon' entekheia'tínion'te' nó:nen enhnohseraié:rite'."
Wahiri'wanón:tonhse' tóka' aón:ton' aontahatia'tínion'te Ronanitiohkwakwe'nonnì:ke ne Tiohsahróntion nonkwá:ti.
Nek tsi wentó:rehkwe' ne thò:ne. Kwah iah ónhka ionteweiénstha' tehshakotiié:naskwe' tóka' ni' ó:ia'k nahò:ten'.
Kwah nè:'e ne iatatièn:'a raoná:wen, ó:nen'k tsi ki' wáhi ó:nen enhshwatsiraién:take' ne ronanitiohkwakwe'nonnì:ke.
Karistà:ke rothwistahtentia'tòn:ne' ne rake'níha ne kèn:tho Tiohtià:ke tánon' shakoienteríhne' ne karistà:ke ronathwistahtentià:ton rontsterístha' ne kaio'tenhserá:kon. Thò:ne ki' wahiri'wanón:tonhse' aontahatia'tínion'te' niá:we'.
Iahatewennatárion' ki' tánon' ákta sewenhnì:ta ohnà:ken wa'onkéhnha'ne kèn:tho Tiohtià:ke.
Kháre' ó:nen ionsá:ke' tsi nonkwá:ti ne Local 25, tsi nón:we niwaká:wen nòn:wa.
Tho ní:ioht tsi takatáhsawen' tsi karisà:ke watió'te' tánon' tsi tekatstikáhwhas tsik nón:we...
Edited by: Aaron McComber, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translated by Karonhí:io Delaronde