STORIES / Okara’shòn:’a
Mohawk names
Growing up, we only used the Mohawk language so when I started going to Kateri School in Kahnawake, I only knew maybe half a dozen words of English. So I had a hard time.
The kind of work I do
My last iron job was in 2004 in Sorel. That was when I was having problems with my lower hernia. I had to have surgery.
A little bit of trouble
Most of the children in immersion came from English speaking families, and there were people out there with second language, but few. So, we had to be very strict in the school, that it was total immersion.
A special time
After a few years in the classroom, I became principal of Karonhianónhnha Immersion School. Oh my goodness, those were the days.
Running water
When I was a little kid growing up, we had electricity, but we didn’t have running water. It was emptying the shit pail, having to carry water, having to do chores, all of those kinds of things.
TV and radio
When I came into the world in 1957, Kahnawake had already gone through a lot of changes compared to my mom’s time. Back then, everybody spoke Mohawk.
Before the seaway
The swimming area for young people was what they called ‘the wharf’. It was in front of the hospital, about where the water filtration plant is today.
Rubbed off
Way back when, I think the community was closer than what we are now. It’s still close, but there was more respect at that time. I guess we put money first, before anything else.
Three times
I never knew my father. He passed away when I was only 6 months old. My brother and sister, they were lucky they were never carted away to the residential school, because of my grandparents.
Greedy people
A lot of people, you give them a place on the land, their shares, but not everybody is happy receiving their area or money. They want everything.
An elder’s secret
When we were children, I was always in a hurry to grow up. The elders, the women, they would tell me, “It’s not as exciting as you think.
Growing up in Kahnawake
When I was growing up in the village of Kahnawake, the area was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
The return of the doll
We moved so many times that eventually, I lost the Christmas doll. Fifteen years ago, I was at a scrapping workshop with a very close and devoted friend, Pauline Wiedow. We were all sharing our favourite stories, and I told my story of the doll.
Christmas doll
Christmas was my favourite time of year. When I was about six years old, they had the most beautiful Christmas doll in the display of the general store.
D’ailleboust general store
There was a general store adjacent to the church. It was called Louis D'ailleboust store, and this store had everything and anything.
Where I grew up
It’s a joy to see my grandchildren where I grew up. I never thought I’d have grandchildren. All of a sudden, you’re raising your own family, then the grandchildren come along.
Kahnawake before 1955
There’s a little house on the map named Tom Jacobs. Right behind that, by the river, there was a Manhattan beach, they called it. It was my brother’s place, William Cross The River.