FRANCIS BOOTS, WAR CHIEF OF THE MOHAWKS, DIES
Mohawk Nation News
https://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2023/07/08/francis-boots-war-chief-of-the-mohawks-dies/
July 8, 2023. Ayonwaehs – War Chief of the Mohawks, Ateronhiatakon – Francis Boots, Snipe Clan, 73, peacefully passed away on July 5th, 2023. He will be presented at the Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonsesne [longhouse] located at 570 Route 37 in Akweswasne, starting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 2pm, until the funeral service on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at the Jocks Cemetery on 136B Jock Road in Akwesasne [NYS]. Funeral arrangements are with Donaldson’s Funeral Home. Donations can be made to the Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonsesne.
He was born October 27, 1948 at the home of his maternal grandparents Katie and Paul Caldwell. He grew up on Cornwall Island of Akwesasne. He married Lisa Thomas, and was later in a relationship with Margie Marquis. He is survived by his children, Kawenniiosta (Joe), Teioronhiate (Crystal), Mandaque, Sohahiio, Karatohon (Cheryl), Konwanietawi (Zane), his grandchildren, Kai, Nora, Reese, Lita Jane, Odessa, Mskwaa-desiinh, Cala and Kanerahtine. He is survived by his siblings, John, Diane, Harvey, Anna, Yvonne, Jake, Emily and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings, Peter, James (Julia), Joseph (Barbara), Catherine-Lena (Ray), Margaret (Peter), Elizabeth-Betty (Carl), Fredrick, Richard, Angus (Harriet) and Stephen (Beverly) and in-laws, Harriet, Patricia and Beverly.
Ateronhiatakon, attended Cornwall Island Day School, East Front Public School, St. Lawrence High School and Mater Dei College. In the 1960’s he traveled with the “White Roots of Peace”. He was always prepared at a moment’s notice to help the people. He shared his vast knowledge and experience, teaching our language, and officiating ceremonies. He was a true gift to the people. His kindness and his way of communicating made everyone comfortable, even in uneasy situations.
Francis honored all his teachers, people of the Confederacy, elders and community members with whom he shared his deep knowledge of our traditional ways.
Aterionhiatakon was always optimistic, “I’m confident that we will survive. In the future I believe that we will not allow our way of life to be tampered with by the colonial powers. The settler peoples have got to understand they too have these instructions to be kind to Mother Earth, to be kind to the rivers, to be kind to the trees and all life. They seem to have forgotten that, and that’s where the conflict is. They too have to come home now." From The Mohawk Warrior Society – A Handbook on Sovereignty and Survival, Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall.
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF CEREMONIAL BURIAL OF A WAR CHIEF:
Aterionhiatakon was a great aserakowa whose role at all times is to maintain the peace. Another great Mohawk, Robbie Robertson has something to say about Francis:
The general rode for sixteen days
The horses were thirsty and tired
On the trail of a renegade chief
One he’d come to admire
The soldiers hid behind the hills
That surrounded the village
And he rode down to warn the chief
They’d come to conquer and pillage
Lay down your arms
Lay down your spear
The chief’s eyes were sad
But showed no sign of fear
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children dry your eyes
It is a good day to die
And he spoke of the days before the white man came
With his guns and whisky
He told of a time long ago
Before what you call history
The general couldn’t believe his words
Nor the look on his face
But he knew these people would rather die
Then have to live in this disgrace
What law have I broken
What wrong have I done
That makes you want to bury me
Upon this trail of blood
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die
We cared for the land and the land cared for us
And that’s the way it’s always been
Never asked for more never asked too much
And now you tell me this is the end
I laid down my weapon
I laid down my bow
Now you want to drive me out
With no place left to go
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
And he turned to his people and said dry your eyes
We’ve been blessed and we are thankful
Raise your voices to the sky
It is a good day to die
Oh my children don’t you cry (don’t you cry)
Dry your eyes
Raise your voice up to the sky
It is a good day to die
https://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2023/07/08/francis-boots-war-chief-of-the-mohawks-dies/
July 8, 2023. Ayonwaehs – War Chief of the Mohawks, Ateronhiatakon – Francis Boots, Snipe Clan, 73, peacefully passed away on July 5th, 2023. He will be presented at the Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonsesne [longhouse] located at 570 Route 37 in Akweswasne, starting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 2pm, until the funeral service on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at the Jocks Cemetery on 136B Jock Road in Akwesasne [NYS]. Funeral arrangements are with Donaldson’s Funeral Home. Donations can be made to the Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonsesne.
He was born October 27, 1948 at the home of his maternal grandparents Katie and Paul Caldwell. He grew up on Cornwall Island of Akwesasne. He married Lisa Thomas, and was later in a relationship with Margie Marquis. He is survived by his children, Kawenniiosta (Joe), Teioronhiate (Crystal), Mandaque, Sohahiio, Karatohon (Cheryl), Konwanietawi (Zane), his grandchildren, Kai, Nora, Reese, Lita Jane, Odessa, Mskwaa-desiinh, Cala and Kanerahtine. He is survived by his siblings, John, Diane, Harvey, Anna, Yvonne, Jake, Emily and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his siblings, Peter, James (Julia), Joseph (Barbara), Catherine-Lena (Ray), Margaret (Peter), Elizabeth-Betty (Carl), Fredrick, Richard, Angus (Harriet) and Stephen (Beverly) and in-laws, Harriet, Patricia and Beverly.
Ateronhiatakon, attended Cornwall Island Day School, East Front Public School, St. Lawrence High School and Mater Dei College. In the 1960’s he traveled with the “White Roots of Peace”. He was always prepared at a moment’s notice to help the people. He shared his vast knowledge and experience, teaching our language, and officiating ceremonies. He was a true gift to the people. His kindness and his way of communicating made everyone comfortable, even in uneasy situations.
Francis honored all his teachers, people of the Confederacy, elders and community members with whom he shared his deep knowledge of our traditional ways.
Aterionhiatakon was always optimistic, “I’m confident that we will survive. In the future I believe that we will not allow our way of life to be tampered with by the colonial powers. The settler peoples have got to understand they too have these instructions to be kind to Mother Earth, to be kind to the rivers, to be kind to the trees and all life. They seem to have forgotten that, and that’s where the conflict is. They too have to come home now." From The Mohawk Warrior Society – A Handbook on Sovereignty and Survival, Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall.
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF CEREMONIAL BURIAL OF A WAR CHIEF:
Aterionhiatakon was a great aserakowa whose role at all times is to maintain the peace. Another great Mohawk, Robbie Robertson has something to say about Francis:
The general rode for sixteen days
The horses were thirsty and tired
On the trail of a renegade chief
One he’d come to admire
The soldiers hid behind the hills
That surrounded the village
And he rode down to warn the chief
They’d come to conquer and pillage
Lay down your arms
Lay down your spear
The chief’s eyes were sad
But showed no sign of fear
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children dry your eyes
It is a good day to die
And he spoke of the days before the white man came
With his guns and whisky
He told of a time long ago
Before what you call history
The general couldn’t believe his words
Nor the look on his face
But he knew these people would rather die
Then have to live in this disgrace
What law have I broken
What wrong have I done
That makes you want to bury me
Upon this trail of blood
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die
We cared for the land and the land cared for us
And that’s the way it’s always been
Never asked for more never asked too much
And now you tell me this is the end
I laid down my weapon
I laid down my bow
Now you want to drive me out
With no place left to go
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
Oh my children don’t you cry
It is a good day to die (It is a good day to die)
And he turned to his people and said dry your eyes
We’ve been blessed and we are thankful
Raise your voices to the sky
It is a good day to die
Oh my children don’t you cry (don’t you cry)
Dry your eyes
Raise your voice up to the sky
It is a good day to die
Watch on YouTube "It is a Good Day to Die" Robbie Robertson
Mohawk Nation News. This entry was posted in AFN / Tribal & Band Council / Indian Affairs, Akwesasne, Colonialism, Ganienkeh, Great Peace/Law / kaianereh'kowa / Democracy / Two-row /, INDIAN AFFAIRS, kahnawake, Kanehsatake, Land / Turtle Island, SIX NATION, TYENDINAGA / khenteke and tagged Allan Memorial Hospital/McGill experiments on children, Film "The Gene Hunters", Iroquois confederacy, PLANNED EXTINCTION PART 2 - FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT How Canada Plans to Continue to Live Off the Avails of Crime – It’s Obvious the Colonial Settlers Don’t Belong on turtle island, two row justice v. united states world court by Kan1enkehaka, US Embassies worldwide by admin. Bookmark the permalink.
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