Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum - Part 2

I was touring the Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum (see Part 1, posted yesterday) and stopped at these two stuffed partridge to read the sign. It explained that "Akwesasne" means "Land where the partridge drums:"

Everyday items for grinding corn, etc:

This soapstone carving represents the three sisters - corn, beans and squash. The face represents Mother Earth and the turtle shell represents Turtle Island, a term for this continent which originates with the creation story. The artist was Steve Kateroton McComber, a Mohawk:

A Bear Clan pendant, maker unknown, and a Snipe Clan Pendant, by Helen Laughing. Clans are one of the oldest aspects of Mohawk culture and are still important in Akwesasne as part of a person's identity:

This beaded hanging urn, maker unknown, was one of a wide variety of items made for sale in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The use of glass beads began in the 1600s and continues today:

A turtle shell rattle:

Three canoes, from top to bottom: Birchbark (collected in Akwesasne in 1925), Dugout (found on the banks of Earl Creek in 1972), and another, more sophisticated Dugout (purchased in Akwesasne in the late 1800s):

I've always loved dioramas, though they are devilishly hard to photograph. This was part of an extensive diorama which illustrated the layout of a typical village:

More exquisite baskets:

More beadwork and other objects of art:

I didn't notice the detail on this large basket until I got home and was editing photos. Then I noticed the tiny baskets all over its surface, but especially hanging from around the rim:

A horn rattle with bear carving (the bear is on the end of the handle):

Beadwork and Quillwork earrings:

Cloth and beadwork needle case:

Birchbark and porcupine quill box. And yet there was still more to see. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

Little Clear Pond And Little Green Pond

After I left the Adirondack Fish Hatchery (see yesterday's post), I continued on the fish hatchery road until I saw what I thought was a short hiking trail, saying that Little Clear Pond was only .2 miles and Little Green Pond was .4 miles. I asked someone and was told that I could drive in, that there were campsites in there. So in I went:

Indeed, it was a well kept road and driving was both easy and scenic:

I arrived at Little Clear Pond just in time to watch a couple launch their canoe. They said I could take pictures and that they were going to paddle from this lake to St. Regis Lake:

It was a fine day for canoeing and I kind of wished I was doing so. There were no designated campsites around Little Clear Pond that I saw, so I got back in my car and headed off to Little Green Pond:

My next stop was Little Green Pond and it was indeed a beauty:

I was fascinated with this sign, saying that there was no trespassing allowed from March 15 to June 15 because this was a "smelt spawning channel:"

And this was the channel they meant. There were steps on the other side of it, leading to campsites:

Little Green Pond was quiet, serene and lovely:

But I'd seen what I'd come to see, so I headed back to my car and headed back out to the main road:

The dirt road crossed railroad tracks back in the forest, and I stopped and looked left before crossing, as much to see the beauty of it as for safety:

And I looked to the right. It had all been beautiful, but it was time for me to begin the journey home:

Black And Long Ponds, Keese Mills - Part 1

I decided to take a clear, beautiful day off from farm work and drove down near Paul Smith's College with the dogs to hike the trail along Black Pond and Long Pond. We began at Black Pond, where there was a sunken rowboat, a remnant of earlier times:

The outlet of Black Pond was somewhat swampy and filled with Green Frogs whose banjo-like twangs echoed through the trees:

A loon floated quietly and peacefully on Black Pond:

The trail was level and mostly easy to navigate, though my braces gave me trouble at the rocky places:

We arrived at the Black Pond lean-to and the dogs ran ahead to the water's edge:

They were overjoyed and went in far enough to get their feet wet:

Bunchberries were in bloom in great numbers:

We continued northward along the western shore of Black Pond:

I saw one canoe, quietly paddling across the lake:

Clover and Daphne explored the water's edge:

And Clover was a very good girl, not running ahead like she used to do:

Common Wood Sorrel in bloom. We'd just gotten started and there was still a lot to see. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

The Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum - Part 2

I continued my tour of the Akwesasne Mohawk Museum. These were a Snipe Clan pendant and a Bear Clan pendant. Clans are an important part of Akwesasne culture and identity:

Ironworker corn husk dolls. Mohawk people have a long tradition of ironwork and even today there are more than 300 Akwesasne Mohawks who are members of Ironworkers Local 440. Below that is a soapstone carving:

A beaded, hanging urn. Beaded items were made for sale in great numbers during the 1800s and early 1900s, though the use of glass beads began as far back as the 1600s and continues today:

Dugout canoe, with emblems representing Mohawk Clans:

Lacrosse was more than a sport and was held sacred. A lacrosse player assisted the Sky Woman as she fell to earth in creation. She landed on the turtle's back and the sacred games helped connect the Mohawk to the sky world:

There were many lacrosse sticks on display:

More lacrosse sticks and baskets, including a strawberry basket:

Diorama of an early Akwesasne village:

The diorama from another angle:

Mohawk men wore traditional headdresses, feathered caps with a different insignia for each tribe. In times of war, the men shaved their heads except for the familiar crest down the center. Mohawk women sometimes wore special beaded tiaras. But there was still more to see at the museum, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Slush Pond - Part 2

I was exploring a remote lane into the forest off of scenic Route 30 and had stopped at Slush Pond. I let the younger dogs out to explore the floating peat along the edges of Slush Pond with me:

The peat bounced as we walked, but it didn't seem to slow the dogs down at all:

The young Papillons raced through the grass:

When the grass became too tall for simple running, they hopped like kangaroos:

Fergus was rather timid about walking out onto that floating peat, but I kept calling him and eventually he came out to be with us:

We walked back toward the forest just to see what was there:

And then turned back toward the lovely waters of Slush Pond:

I looked back and saw our car parked quietly with Wally and Winky snoozing inside:

But we'd dallied long enough, and I gave the dogs a call to start moving back toward the car:

We all hopped up into the car and I began driving back toward the highway:

But I stopped and got out when I saw a father and son, just bringing in their canoe. I asked if I could take their picture:

And then I questioned them about Slush Pond and any surrounding trails. It seemed like a place to which I'd like to return. But we were close to the farm by this time, so I thanked the canoeists and continued on my way: