Akwesasne program helps students make their own regalia for graduation

Sonny B. White borrowed regalia to wear to his graduationin 2012; now he runsa program that teaches youth to make their ownregalia to wear at the end of the school year.

"I believe that it's important that our youth have an outfit that they can be proud of and that they can wear on a big day like their graduation. It's a big accomplishment," he said.

White isfromAkwesasne, a Kanien'keh:ka (Mohawk) community thatstraddles the Quebec, Ontario and New York state borders, and the program is calledRatitsienhannhnha, whichmeans "They're tending the fire" in Kanien'kha(Mohawk language).

Threefree workshops were offered, forkastowa (traditional men's headdress) and women's hair pieces;moccasins, and ribbon shirts or yokes.

White said he'd often travel to visit elders so he could listen and learn from them, an opportunityhe said many don't get.

Instead of travelling seven hours to another community, "Why not just bring the elder into their household through Zoom?" he said.

So he wrote grant proposalsto hold classes about various aspects of Haudenosaunee culture.

At 16, Wahsontanoron Roundpointis graduating fromTR Leger's campus in Akwesasnetwo years ahead of her peers as a result of being homeschooled and skipping two grades.

Shesigned up for all three workshops.

"I think it's a great opportunity to allow people to make things their own and to learn about their own culture and why they wear it," Roundpoint said.

Roundpoint plans on attending the Royal Military Collegein Kingston, Ont., after graduation and wants to be a shipoperator.

"I grew up on Cornwall Island,and there's always ships around," she said.

"My father, he works at the St. Lawrence Seaway."

April Scott-Clarke, communications managerfortheUpper Canada District School Board,said viaemail that TR Leger hasalways allowed students to wear regalia at graduation ceremonies.

"Student voice and expression is a priority for us," Scott-Clarke said.

Christine Stacey-Montour,a seamstress from Kahnaw:ke with 30 years experience, said she is busy every year sewing graduation outfits for peoplefrom Kahnaw:ke and other Haudenosaunee communities.

Montour said she's been booked solid for 2024 graduation orders since last June and has five new orders so farfor next year.

She sews ribbon shirts, dresses and skirts, and baby items in addition to custom tailoring and repairs. A basic men's ribbon shirt takes her five to six hours to complete; that's without a design or applique pattern which adds hours depending on its intricacy.

She said she loves the idea of a program like Ratitsienhannhnha.One of the reasons, Montour said, is becausethere aren't as many peoplewho are stillsewing,

"The older ones who were doing work and taking on orders, one had passed away maybe eight years ago and then the other two, they're retired. They do not take any orders now."

Whitesays making your own regalia adds to themeaning.

"You get to wear the outfit and you're like, 'Man, I remember like when this was just all getting cut out and I was really unsure and now I'm wearing it.' So it's a sense of pride."