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Ernest M. Kaientaronkwen Benedict (July 14, 1918 – January 8, 2011) was an Akwesasronon educator, activist, and chief of the Mohawk Council.
Travelling College (1968) NFB film
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedict, Ernest 1918 births 2011 deaths Academic staff of Trent University Activists from New York (state) Akwesasne American Mohawk people Educators from New York (state) First Nations academics Native American people from New York (state) People from Franklin County, New York Place of birth missing Place of death missing
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 his Bachelors of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University in Sociology. Benedict received anhonorary degree
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...
from Trent University
Trent University is a public liberal arts university in Peterborough, Ontario, with a satellite campus in Oshawa, which serves the Regional Municipality of Durham. Founded in 1964, the university is known for its Oxbridge college system, sma ...
in 1994.
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. Benedict started the North American Indian Traveling College with Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, as a continuation of the Counsellor Organization. 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. He inspired Operation Kanyengehaga, a tutoring program conceived by professor Bob Wells atSt. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college in the village of Canton in St. Lawrence County, New York. It has roughly 2,100 undergraduate and 100 graduate students.
Though St. Lawrence today is nonsectarian, it was founded in 1 ...
.
Benedict was a lecturer and professor at Trent University
Trent University is a public liberal arts university in Peterborough, Ontario, with a satellite campus in Oshawa, which serves the Regional Municipality of Durham. Founded in 1964, the university is known for its Oxbridge college system, sma ...
, where he later served on the PhD committee for Native Studies candidates.
Journalism
From 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!"). The ''Akwesasne Notes'' was started by Benedict in 1968.References
External links
Travelling College (1968) NFB film
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedict, Ernest 1918 births 2011 deaths Academic staff of Trent University Activists from New York (state) Akwesasne American Mohawk people Educators from New York (state) First Nations academics Native American people from New York (state) People from Franklin County, New York Place of birth missing Place of death missing