Akwesasne: A profile of the Akwesasne Community
19th Century painting of Kana:takon, by Benton
Akwesasne is a very intriguing community, historically, geographically, politically and culturally. It currently encompasses more than 26,000 acres of land reserved for the Mohawks of Akwesasne and is situated between Canada and the United States within the St. Lawrence River valley, near Cornwall, Ontario and Massena, New York. The Canada - U. S. international boundary bi-sects Akwesasne at the 45th parallel and the Canadian portion is further divided by the boundary between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. These provincial boundaries meet the N. Y. state boundary at Akwesasne. Interestingly, this ancient community predates the existence of Canada and the United States. Akwesasne Mohawk people believe that their ancestors and predecessors have been part of this landscape since people first inhabited this region of North America.
Today, Akwesasne is the name of the contemporary community of Mohawk people who live on islands and mainland along the St. Lawrence River, much diminished from its original expanse and character.
