Oral History Documentary,
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
This important project preserves the cultural heritage of Kahnawà:ke through oral histories.
Know History supported the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke to interview twenty-five community Elders and their families over a two-year period, highlighting the Nation’s cultural heritage through their stories and remembrances of families, the land, community life, and more. The project culminated in the premiere of “Resistance and Resilience: Stories and Remembrances of our Elders,” an hour-long video featuring highlights from the interviews. These precious stories and remembrances are now preserved for future generations in Kahnawà:ke, ensuring the continuation of the oral tradition and cultural heritage. We are very proud to announce that the project was shortlisted for the 2023 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming. We worked with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke and Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language & Cultural Center on this project and Know History undertook all aspects of this project as an in-kind donation.
Shortlisted for the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming
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It is crucially important that the roots of our Kahnawà:ke heritage and identity are passed down multi-generationally so that the younger generation has the tools they need to maintain the cultural and political strength of our people. They will gain the psychological resilience needed to create positive futures for the generations to come.
– Gerald Taiaiake Alfred
