http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/acs - LACS

http://pages.slic.com/mohawkna/freedom.htm - Freedom School

Background on the Freedom School and the LACS Service Class

The Akwesasne Freedom School (located near Massena, New York) teaches in Mohawk to sustain and nurture their language and traditional culture. The school does not receive government funds because it teaches in the native language and focuses the whole curriculum on Haudenosaunee teachings. Yet they do not charge tuition for that would exclude too many students. Instead, they rely on fund-raising. The whole notion of the school is to reverse the lingering influence of the the boarding school system and other factors that have damaged the Mohawk language and culture.

Fifteen years ago the Service Class at LACS (the Lehman Alternative Community School, a public school here in Ithaca) began a cross-cultural exchange with the Freedom School. Not only have the two schools built up trust and broken down stereotypes, but we have also worked on many projects together, from raised bed gardens to playgrounds. There are many projects to work on when the LACS students head up to Akwesasne this May (in November the Freedom School students visited LACS, helped at the Cayuga Farm, and had a wonderful time). There are some on-going projects we will work on: painting the class rooms and making murals related to Mohawk teachings; working together on fundraisers so the school can cover its costs; repairing and adding to the playground; building shelves for the root cellar we completed last year; and repairing and weatherizing a cultural education center so it can be used all year long. All of these may seem small, but each one keeps the Freedom School on track to pursue its mission of sustaining the traditional language and beliefs.

For paint supplies for cultural murals at the Freedom School.

The Freedom School curriculum in based on the Words Before All else, which teaches students to give thanks to all the parts of our world, from the birds to the moon to the spirits of those who came before us. Artwork is a key part of expressing and teaching about these values. Your gift will help kids create art and maintain their traditions.

Lumber and supplies to build shelves for a root cellar.

Last year we worked together to create a root cellar to help allow for healthy meals at the school all year long. We need to build shelves for the abundance of veggies that need to make it through the winter.

For repairs to our van that runs on veggie oil and is used for the cultural exchange and service work.

The cultural exchange with the Freedom School is part of a year-long service class at L.A.C.S. We engage in service projects throughout the Ithaca community, many of which concern breaking down barriers between groups. For instance, this year we have continued service work with teens incarcerated in nearby state facilities, as well as working with students at Caroline Elementary School on native issues and the creation of a garden, which in turns connects to learning about the link between sustainability and equity. We also use the van to get to and around Akwesasne in May. If we did not have the veggie van, we would need to spend $1,000 for a rental, which is money that could go towards projects at the Freedom School. This gift is a great way to support service, the Freedom School and a healthy environment.

For weatherizing and repairing a cultural center at the Freedom School.

There is an older building at the Freedom School used for cultural teachings. This includes talks by elders, but also for hands-on projects related to the traditions. We began repairing the building last year, but it still needs a good deal of work and a lot of weatherizing so it can be used year round. Your gift would allow for this vital element of the Freedom School.

In general support of the Akwesasne Freedom School program.

The freedom school is currently Pre-K – 9th grade, but they hope to expand into a full high school at some point. They rely on grants and fund-raising, for they cannot carry out their mission if they are tied to the state's curriculum. However, it costs a great deal to run a school and contributions go towards teachers' salaries, field trips and the endless cost of running a school on a shoestring budget.