AUNTIE: On this edition of The Aunties Dandelion – we are talking with Six Nations Auntie emergent Otsistohkwí:yo Melissa Elliott. Otsistohkwí:yo is a mom, an advanced Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) language speaker -- and the kindergarten teacher and Early Years faculty chair at Skarónhyasekó:wa – the Everlasting Tree School - one of the first Waldorf education inspired Mohawk language immersion programs in Canada. Otsistohkwí:yo believes profoundly in the dynamic nature of our Mohawk ways – and dedicates her energy to exploring and challenging our language and culture. OTSISTOHKWÍ:YO: When culture is living, language is living – it is transforming. So nobody has the one answer and so everyone has a piece of it so we make it a new truth… like a new way. Something new comes in when we start asking these questions, finding answers and then we start applying it. Just living it. AUNTIE: As a single mom, Otsistohkwí:yo spent three years becoming an advanced Mohawk speaker – and now conveys to her students and the community the depth of meaning embedded in the Mohawk language. OTSISTOHKWÍ:YO: When you are addressing Mother Earth like Yethi'nihsténha tsyonhwentsyá:te teyethinonhweratónnyon né:'e tsi teyonkwarahsi'ta'kenseráhkwénhake tsi nón:we tyeyonkwatawénryes – so when we talk about Mother Earth, we talk about what we do on her back like it is so beautiful that we can move about, move our feet and shuffle it along on her back while we are wandering about this Earth. Like it is is a very beautiful, descriptive language. AUNTIE: The conversation begins with a discussion of the impact of Otsistohkwí:yo’s students spending their school days outside – shuffling along on the back of Mother Earth. There’s so much to explore with this young Mohawk Auntie. And as always – listen to your aunties.
Click here for the Facebook link to Skaronhya:se'kó:wa - Everlasting Tree School
Here is the Wikipedia link describing Waldorf Education.
This is the website for the Mohawk language immersion program Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa at Six Nations of the Grand River
Click here for the link to A Mind Spread Out on the Ground - the book about Otsistohkwí:yo's family written by her sister Alicia Elliott.