North Country At Work

Iakonikonriiosta married an ironworker and moved to Akwesasne. Her husband traveled to work every week, so she was only able to see him on the weekends.

Wenknitanwon Seymour was in her twentieth year of teaching at the Akwesasne Freedom School and about to retire. She said that she’s seen student’s appreciation for the school change over the years, but that recently they seem to appreciate learning their own language and culture.

Iakonikonriiosta grew up in an ironworking family in Syracuse, and she was surrounded by Mohawk ironworkers throughout her childhood. She says she learned a lot from her father and uncles, all of whom worked the iron.

Monica Peters is a virtual reality developer who grew up and lives in Akwesasne. She primarily focuses on work related to indigenous people, including VR development aimed at teaching users Mohawk language. Monica describes growing up fascinated with technology, a passion that eventually turned into a career.

Monica Peters is a virtual reality developer who grew up and lives in Akwesasne. She primarily focuses on work related to indigenous people, including VR development aimed at teaching users Mohawk language. Monica’s “Kakwitene VR” program teaches users Mohawk language in a colorful world. Here she describes what it’s like to be in the VR […]

Monica Peters is a virtual reality developer who grew up and lives in Akwesasne. She primarily focuses on work related to indigenous people, including VR development aimed at teaching users Mohawk language. Developing her program “Kakwitene VR” was extremely difficult because there are no Mohawk speech engines, a technology that allows computers to understand spoken language. […]

Tsionatiio Thomas had been teaching at the Akwesasne Freedom School for 5-6 years and was a student before teaching. She spoke about when her students start to appreciate the importance of learning their own language and culture.

Kawennatente Cook grew up going to the Akwesasne Freedom School, and had been a teacher at the school for 14 years. She said she’s always felt like the school was a family, and she tries to continue that feeling now that she is a teacher herself.

Iawentas Nanticoke had been teaching at the Akwesasne Freedom School for 17 years. She said that she understood the importance of knowing her language from a very early age.

Jayson Cook grew up speaking Mohawk and had been teaching at the Akwesasne Freedom School for 8 months. He described how learning his own language when he was young made him frustrated when it wasn’t as accepted outside of his home.