AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) hosted various events and community partners at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena on Saturday, Feb. 2 as part of World Wetlands Day.
“We have been doing this for the past four years I believe,” said Scott Peters, Environmental Assessment Officer with the MCA Environment program. “We are getting more partners show up and more interest in it each year.”
Interactive learning booths were set up by volunteers of the River Institute, Parks Canada, South Nation Conservation Authority, Cornwall Divers Club, Coopers Marsh and more organizations of Cornwall, SDG and Akwesasne. Each organization showed how they contribute to the health of our region’s wetlands.
Peters commended the work of all local organizations and how they strive to monitor the health of the St. Lawrence River and surrounding wetlands.
“Akwesasne people know that the area is full of wetlands,” said Peters. “Right now, a lot of the wetlands we had are disappearing…what we are trying to do it promote what we have and how we can return other areas back to well functioning wetlands…basically get the awareness out there.”
“The importance of it for us really is the biodiversity and the animals, plants, and how we use it. It’s not just to purify water…we have medicines in there, food, harvestable things,” he added.
Peters feels that environmental education is important for people of all ages.
“If you’re not out in nature…you’re not necessarily going to be interested in the type of fish and everything out there…but everything is connected, that’s why we need to preserve (it),” said Peters. Peters also believes that when children learn about environmentally beneficial habits, they will influence their parents to adopt those habits.
“This puppet show attraction is good because it touches on environmental issues and it touches on relationships between First Nations peoples and…non First Nations peoples,” said Peters.
Attendees also had the opportunity to enter a raffle to win a kayak at the event.
The MCA will also have environmental initiative information displayed at the Akwesasne Winter Carnival on Feb. 16 at St. Regis Recreation.
