Two years ago, Tióhrhano Diabo couldn’t pronounce the name his grandmother gave him. That changed when he embarked on his language-learning journey, enrolling in the Kanien’kéha Ratiwennahní:rats Adult Immersion Program run by the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center.

One of the challenges he found most intimidating in the program was delivering the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen – the words that come before all else – a revolving responsibility for the students.

“I was always scared of that when my time came around,” he said. But he kept working at it.

The 22-year-old recent graduate said he still has a ways to go in Kanien’kéha, but he’s already come a long way. Sometimes he even dreams in the language spoken by his ancestors.

“The number one thing we kept is

See Full Page