Students, staff and faculty came together for fifth annual Wáhta Óshes

On the Friday before Spring Break students, staff and faculty from the First People’s Centre, Decolonization and Indigenization Studies Certificate and the Social Change and Solidarity profile inaugurated the fifth annual Wáhta Óshes:  Dawson Maple Syrup Project. The project is an effort to engage in land-based pedagogy, indigenize curriculum, re-indigenize a small piece of occupied Tiohtià:ke and discuss the Indigenous practice of tapping maple trees, a story that is often hidden by the cultural phenomena of the cabane a sucre.

“We’ve had an exceptionally unexceptional winter this year, with plenty of snow and below freezing temperatures,” said Tiawentí:non Canadian, Coordinator of the First Peoples’ Centre. “It feels like the first real winter in a long time. A long winter is exactly why wáhta ó:kwire’ and orontákeri’ (Maple trees and maple sap) are so important to Kanien’kehá:ka.

“The sap we collect is our first medicine of the year, it helps to reset our bodies after months of being cooped indoors. This is why before we drill into the trees, we say the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, to bring our minds together and give thanks for every aspect of creation involved in the process of making maple syrup. Once you start, it becomes obvious that everything is connected.”

This year we had our most productive year yet.  Thanks to all of the students, staff and teachers who helped make it happen.

-Submitted by Ben Lander, Coordinator of the Decolonization and Indigenization Studies Certificate