Ateronhiata:se
She:kon, my name is Ateronhiata:se and I'm from a community called Kahnawake. I'm Kanien'keha:ka and I speak fluently in my language. I follow my culture with respect because I know it's very important. I grew up in the longhouse along with some of my friends and family. I also like to go hunting in the Fall time with my stepfather, grandfather, and uncle. They taught my a lot about hunting and I respect them because they taught me on their own time. All of this that I've talked about so far connects to my culture and I'm really proud to be who I am because I'm still able to connect with mother earth and my culture.
I spend most of my free time at the longhouse with some of my friends. We share our songs and words that we personally know. So you can say we have have fun and we learn at the same time.Going to the longhouse has kept me on the right path because it keeps me away from all the drugs and alcohol going around in town.Going to the longhouse made me want to learn more about our culture, and with an easy decision I did so. I also joined a fasting group that Kanen'to:kon started at the beginning of this school year. It really excites me to be part of this group because I am able to experience what my ancestors did way back in order to become a man. In the past, the kids would fast for three days and three nights without any food or water and so I see myself becoming a man or maturing by doing this. Even some grown men would have fears about doing this kind of healing for themselves.
Well, that's all I've got to say and I really hope to see more and more people showing up to our practices. The longhouse makes me happy because no one there is drinking or doing drugs. When I am around others they try to make drinking sound like fun and it hurts me to hear this, and it makes me feel like I get the after efffects of a hangover. There are some very good outcomes that come from that house, and I hope to see some of you there.
