Ernest Benedict

Ernest M. Kaientaronkwen Benedict (July 14, 1918 – January 8, 2011) was an educator, activist, and chief of the Mohawk Council.

Early life

Benedict was born on 14 July 1918 to Charles and Julia Jandreau Benedict, members of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. He attended school on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, at Bombay, New York, and the Massena Central High School. He married Florence Hopps on 20 September 1952. Benedict received an honorary degree from Trent University in 1994.[1]

Teaching and activism

Benedict worked with mentor Ray Fadden-Tehanetorens to organize the Akwesasne Mohawk Counsellor Organization, which visited historical sites while meeting with other Native nations and learning about their heritage while traveling in the eastern part of North America.

Their travels would influence the formation of the White Roots of Peace in the mid-1930s.[2][3]

Benedict started the North American Indian College Traveling College with Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, as a continuation of the Counsellor Organization.[4]

Benedict founded Manitou College as an attempt to create a college composed of mostly Native Americans. The concept of a degree based on traditional Native knowledge was picked up on by Syracuse University.[3][5]

He inspired Operation Kanyengehaga, a tutoring program conceived by professor Bob Wells at St. Lawrence University.[6]

Benedict was a lecturer and professor at Trent University, where he later served on the PhD committee for Native Studies.[1]

Journalism

In 1939 until 1941, Benedict was the editor of what was thought to be Akwesasne's first newspaper; the War Whoop. He later worked with the paper Kawehras! ("It Thunders!").[7][1][8]

The Akwesasne Notes was started by Benedict in 1968.[7][1]

References
  1. "Obituary for Ernest M. Benedict". Donaldson Funeral Home. January 10, 2011. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016.
  2. Johansen, Bruce (2013). Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement. Greenwood. p. 286. ISBN 978-1440803178.
  3. George, Doug (February 3, 2011). "Ernest Kaientaronkwen Benedict: (1918-2011) "Akwesasne's Conscience"". Indian Country. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  4. "OUR JOURNEY". The Native North American Travelling College. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  5. "Native American and Indigenous Studies". Syracuse University College of Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  6. Burdick, Neal (Winter 2016). "Where the Partridge Drums". St. Lawrence University Magazine: 22–25.
  7. Bonaparte, Darren. "The History of Akwesasne from Pre-Contact to Modern Times". Wampum Chronicles. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  8. Johansen, Bruce (2010). Native Americans Today: A Biographical Dictionary. Greenwood. p. 25. ISBN 978-0313355547.
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