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Iroquois Social Photo/Foto: HIDVL
  • Title: Iroquois Social
  • Holdings: video (HIDVL)
  • Duration: 01:35:46
  • Language: English
  • Date: 21 Apr 1995
  • Location: Held at The American Indian Community House, New York City.
  • Type-Format: performance
  • Cast: Akwesasne Mohawk Singers
  • Credits: American Indian Community House, producer ; Tom Porter, creator ; Akwesasne Mohawk Singers, creators ; Tom Porter (Akwesasne Mohawk), host/narrator

Iroquois Social

Tom Porter (Akwesasne Mohawk) hosts an Iroquois social at the American Indian Community House (AICH). The Akwesasne Mohawk Singers perform stomp dances, round dances, women's dances and couple's dances and their accompanying songs. The round dance shown here is an Iroquois social dance, which can be done both inside and outside the traditional longhouse. Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas, "The One Who Wins") is the spokesman and Chief Spiritual Leader of the Mohawk Community of Kanatsiohareke (Ga na jó ha lay: gay) in Fonda, New York. A member of the Bear Clan, he was raised as part of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation in upstate New York. Mr. Porter acted as Bear Clan Chief in the traditional longhouse movement, opposite the state-sanctioned Tribal Council. He has served numerous positions on the Mohawk Nation of Chiefs Council for over 25 years. The Akwesasne Mohawk Singers are among the foremost performers of Iroquois traditions in North America today. They live on their ancestral land along the St. Lawrence River where northern New York meets southern Ontario and Quebec.


Video