Celebrating 25 Years of the Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre

by Jennifer Shea

Tyendinaga

The Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
is celebrating a major milestone—its 25th anniversary—this year. The celebration will be part of the
Territory’s annual community events on National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Founded by a group of parents concerned about preserving the Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) language and
culture for future generations, the Centre has grown from a grassroots initiative into a cornerstone of
cultural revitalization.

“We simply wanted to establish an immersion school for our kids,” says Bonnie Jane Maracle, a Director
on the TTO Board since its establishment. “Because we didn’t have any (native language) speakers in our
community, we had to back up and set up some programming to create some. We started with adult
immersion; we got some adults speaking, then they were able to become the teachers of a kids’
program.”

That children’s program continues today as an immersion school serving students from Kindergarten to
Grade 5. The school is currently at full capacity with 25 students, and over the years, the Centre has
expanded its programming to further support Mohawk language and cultural learning.

Reflecting on the Centre’s evolution, Executive Director Callie Hill says their focus has expanded.
“Twenty-five years ago, in terms of Indigenous language revitalization, many communities and nations
were thinking that the way to do that was through children, and through children’s immersion
programs.”

“Coming into 2025, we have realized that, in order for our language to thrive as a living language, we
really do need to have adult speakers. So, a lot of research and programming now has started to focus
on developing adults as speakers of the language.”

Board Director Karen Lewis emphasizes the broader significance of the Centre’s work. “The Centre
functions as a beacon of hope that what was lost can be reclaimed,” she says. “Like any language, ours
contains knowledge of our ways, our traditions, ideals and cultural practices. In terms of identity, it
helps us remember ours and know it is worthwhile.”

One of the Centre’s most exciting developments in this anniversary year is the construction of its first
purpose-built facility, located on the former Shannonville World’s Fair site on Salmon River Road. The
new building will house three classrooms—expanding the Centre’s capacity to serve up to 60
students—as well as a large kitchen, a multipurpose room for additional programs, an art studio, and a
recording studio for language documentation.

“We will have a big kitchen and another classroom off the kitchen for additional programming, an art
studio, and a recording studio to do documentation of language,” says Callie. “We also have plans to
rehabilitate the lands around the building because we’ve disturbed it and we want to live very lightly on
the land with this building. We want to replace everything that we’ve displaced outside.” The new
building should be completed this fall, with an official opening toward year-end.

Bonnie Jane laughs when she says the TTO’s original five-year plan of building its own school has taken
five times longer, but she emphasizes that the Board’s focus over the years has been quality versus quantity. She adds that it has taken time for the community to become aware of, and embrace, the Centre. Many local residents have been involved through the years, each contributing something toward the growth and development of the Centre.

The new TTO building will showcase everything the Centre has to offer, and it symbolizes the community
coming together with pride.

Callie notes, “Our Centre will have our own home now, purpose-built for what we do, the type of
education we provide. Previously, we’ve lived in leased places throughout our community. This new
building is going to increase the prestige and importance of language and culture to everybody in the
community. They’re going to see we’re not going anywhere.”

tto-kenhteke.org

This article was previously published in the Summer 2025 Vol. 34 No. 2 issue of Umbrella.