Help Angela during her time of need!

Shé:kon sewakwékon,

My name is Iokaréntha. I am the daughter of Angela Elijah. If you don’t know who she is, I will tell you a bit about her.

My mother, Angela (known to many of her students as Kahentehtha), is one of the most selfless and kind-hearted people I know, which makes her an exceptionally great leader, teacher, Ista and Tota. If she’s not in the classroom teaching, she’s either travelling to another community, organizing meetings to help with nation building, or she’s spending time with her children, and grandchildren. My mother has worked tirelessly as a Mohawk language teacher for roughly 41 years now, in Akwesasne, Six Nations and Oneida. She has sat in the position of clan mother for nearly 22 years for the Sharenhówane, wolf clan title, naming babies, giving advice, words of encouragement and guidance whenever and wherever needed. She has spent her entire life advocating for our rights as Hotinonshón:ni. Whenever she’s called upon by her nation, clan and people, she jumps in the car and travels the 5-6 hours home, takes endless phone calls, all with no complaints, as she’s spent most of her years living away from Akwesasne. In the most recent years she’s been raising two of her grandchildren, while experiencing some ongoing health issues, but that has never deterred her from carrying out her responsibilities.

Recently, she started building a forever home, so that she could finally return back to her home community of Akwesasne and be closer to family. Due to health issues, she has ended up in critical care twice in the last couple of months, which has prevented her from working and put a halt on her ability to finish her home. My mother is not one to ask for help, so I am asking on her behalf. Any and all donations will go towards the cost of purchasing materials to finish the interior of her home and to offset any cost to her while recovering, so that she can move home as soon as possible. That being said, I say Niá:wen in advance to all that are willing to help. It is greatly appreciated!