KANIEN'KEHAKA ONKWAWEN:NA RAOTITIOHKWA
Mission Statement
Established in 1978, the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center was created to preserve and enrich the language and culture of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) of Kahnawà:ke.
About This Cause
To support, promote and fulfill the goals of the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center - the following are brief descriptions of the various language and cultural education programs and activities the organization offers to the community. Tóta tánon Ohkwá:ri: a puppet show in the Kanien’kéha language. It revolves around Tóta, (who has a wealth of knowledge of Kanien’keha:ka ways) and her grandson Ohkwá:ri (who is imaginative, curious and active). The show’s objectives are to promote and foster oral proficiency abilities in Kanien’kéha for viewers, to create awareness of the health priorities in Kahnawà:ke; mental wellness, substance abuse/addictions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer, to write the show in a way that the characters are firmly rooted in Haudenosaunee culture and values and that is inclusive for all children in Kahnawà:ke. The show is broadcast on the local cable channel in Kahnawà:ke. Curriculum resources: at KORLCC resources are created to foster authentic language and culturally based learning. The strength of our curriculum lies within its collaborative development where learners, facilitators and administrators participate in shaping and creating content. Our aim to create curriculum resources that strengthen the language and cultural capacity of our community via the preservation, promotion, and enrichment of our cosmology and ideology, while at the same time promoting awareness of Kanien’kehá:ka values and worldviews. Kanien'kéha Ratiwennahní:rats: a 2-year adult immersion language program offered to community members as an opportunity to reconnect to their language and culture. The program consists of a project based curriculum enhanced with hands-on Onkwehonwehnéha experiences, grammar lessons and daily activities geared towards fostering the advancement of spoken language proficiency. Museum: Our permanent exhibit has been compiled to share the rich culture and history of the Kanien’kehá:ka with visitors from around the world. Beginning with the foundation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to the 1990 Oka Crisis, the permanent exhibit features key cultural and historical areas that best explain who we are as Kanien’kehá:ka. In addition to our permanent exhibit, we also play host to alternating thematic exhibits featuring local artists from Kahnawà:ke