North Country At Work

Six Nations ironworker poses on the Burlington Sky Way Bridge. 1958. Photo by Gar Lunney. Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Photo courtesy of the Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum.

Reen Cook, longtime radio host and community celebrity, on the air at CKON, a community radio station based in Akwesasne. 2013. Photo taken by David Sommerstein.

Luthier Glenn Hill holds a guitar he made inside his home studio. Hogansburg, NY. Photo taken by Amy Feiereisel.

Carrie Hill is a modern basket maker and the owner of Chill Baskets. She works out of a home studio and has work in museums and collections around the world. Making baskets from sweetgrass and black ash splint is a tradition that goes back generations in her family, but Carrie learned as an adult, from her […]

Carrie Hill is a modern basket maker and the owner of Chill Baskets. She works out of a home studio and has work in museums and collections around the world. She says it has been rewarding beyond measure, and describes her personal style as ‘colorful, balanced, and very Carrie.’ Photo taken October 2019. Hogansburg, NY. Photo by […]

Norman Tarbell worked on the iron for 33 years, and for most of them he was traveling to and from Akwesasne every week. He said that the nomadic lifestyle built a sense of comradery among all the ironworkers.

Darryl Lazore started iron working in New York City when he was just 15 years old. Here he describes the steep learning curve he faced as a brand new worker far away from home. Photo courtesy of Darryl Lazore.

Theresa Bear Fox is an Akwesasne-based singer and songwriter. She spoke about singing in both Mohawk and English, and how her songs allow her to personally connect with her listeners. The photo is of Fox performing at the Native American Music Awards. Photo courtesy of Theresa Bear Fox.

Katsitsionni Fox is a documentary filmmaker from Akwesasne. Katsitsionni described how openness makes for a good documentary filmmaker, and her favorite moments on a shoot. Director Katsitsionni Fox holds a microphone while interviewing Pete Jemison. Photo courtesy of Katsitsionni Fox.

Director Katsitsionni Fox holds a microphone while interviewing Pete Jemison. Katsitsionni is a documentary filmmaker from Akwesasne. One of Katsitsionni’s most recent films was focused on her daughter and friends, and what growing up is like for Mohawk youth. She spoke about the advantages of being close to your subjects as a filmmaker. Photo courtesy […]