YOUNG JOURNALIST AWARD WINNER DONATES PRIZE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AKWESASNE

On Saturday, September 19, family of the late Levi Oakes were joined by members of the Akwesasne Freedom School and American Legion Post 1479 to accept an award from a former Standard-Freeholder staffer.
 
Nick Dunne was employed at the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder during the summer of 2019. As a result of his 13-week contract with the newspaper, Dunne was selected as one of two recipients of the Hon. Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prize for Young Canadian Journalists.
 
Dunne’s portfolio that was submitted for consideration included: a two-part feature on Mohawk code talkers and the evolution of teaching/learning Kanien’keha; a shorter feature on the smoke dances that preceded every game between the Akwesasne Indians and the Six Nations Rebels during the 2019 Ontario Junior B Lacrosse Association final series; and a feature on the Cornwall Innovation Centre.
 
The young journalist ventured to the Native North American Travelling College (NNATC) on Kawehno:ke to present his award winnings to representatives of the American Legion Post 1479 and the Akwesasne Freedom School; both groups received $500.
 
“On behalf of our members and our community, I’d like to congratulate Nick and thank him for his contribution to these organizations,” said Dwight Bero of American Legion Post 1479. “It is important for our stories and culture to be shared with those around us.”
 
 
View the feature articles here:
• Kanien’kéha: Recognizing code talkers a part of resuscitating the language: https://www.standard-freeholder.com/news/local-news/kanienkeha-recognizing-code-talkers-a-part-of-resuscitating-the-language
 
 
Pictured (left to right): Dwight Bero, American Legion Post 1479 Adjutant; Mike Cook, American Legion Post 1479 Commander; Nick Dunne, journalist/award winner; Dora & Debbie Oakes, daughters of Levi Oakes; Tara Skidders, Akwesasne Freedom School Office Manager