Akwesasne Contemporary Issues Resource Collection

The Native territory of Akwesasne is located on the St. Lawrence River bordering St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The roughly 8,000 Mohawk people are governed by at least three different government entities; the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, recognized by New York State and the U.S. Federal Governments, The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, recognized by the provincial and federal jurisdictions in Canada, and the traditionalist Mohawk Nation Council, which has no standing with the outside governments. The Mohawk people are part of the Iroquois confederacy, which includes five other native groups scattered around New York and other states. For centuries, the Mohawks made their living off the land and in the waters surrounding their territory, but within the last 60 years, the presence of several industrial plants and a gradual waning of traditional hunting, fishing and farming activities have caused environmental harm to the territory and had negative health effects on its people. Today, legalized casino gambling has led to a degree of increased prosperity on the Mohawk reservation, though the territory faces many of the challenges other native groups face, including high unemployment, substance abuse and other ills.

The collection was donated by retiring St. Lawrence University Anthropology and African studies professor Celia Nyamweru. Dr. Nyamweru has taught courses on Social and Environmental issues facing Native people which included student involvement in government offices, schools and organizations at Akwesasne.