The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe welcomed the Columbia University 2025 International Program on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Policy cohort to Akwesasne. This is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the cohort has the opportunity to visit Akwesasne in person.
The Program is offered through Columbia University's Institute for the Study of Human Rights, the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race and Teachers College in partnership with the University of British Columbia, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The program provides participants with the opportunity to review and analyze major questions in Indigenous Affairs today, specifically the interaction between the Indigenous movement, and the interstate system over the past 50 years. The course focuses on human rights studies, international law, political science, Indigenous studies, and more.
The program cohort had participants from over a dozen countries from all over the globe. In Akwesasne, the group toured the Akwesasne Cultural Center, and toured the Akwesasne Freedom School, and met with a representative from the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs.
The Tribe focused its time on how it exercises its sovereignty and self-determination through its Policing, Environment Division, Social Services programming, Tribal Court, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Compliance Department, including the new Food Distribution Grocery Store at the Community Services Building. To end the tour, the Tribal Council hosted a reception in the Ionkwakiohkwaro:ron Tribal Administration Building where the students had the opportunity to discuss major issues the Tribe is facing. Many students voiced that they witnessed similarities on issues they face in their home countries, and applauded the Tribe for its honest conversation and perseverance.
A very special niá:wen/thank you to Prof. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Academic Coordinator of the Program, Professor Andrew Erueti, Professor Prem Phyak, and Sophia Corbisiero, Coordinator of the International Program for including Akwesasne in the global conversation in Indigenous Affairs!