"McMaster Students get a lesson in Nature"

By Erin Tully, OHSWEKEN

Mona Staats of Six Nations entertained 11 guests at her home just before noon Saturday. The visitors were students from McMaster Unviersity, some of them international students and were from as far away as China and Denmark. Staats spoke to the students about preservation of water, nature, culture, and food sources.

Half of the visitors were engineering students, but there were also political science, arts and science, health physics, and commerce students. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Staats and asked to stand holding hands in a circle while she said an opening prayer.

The informational seminar got immediately underway and the students were taken to what Staats referred to as her "new project". It was a natural pond that she recently had the brush removed from, renewing it's ability to sustain life.

From there she spoke to the visitors about the importance of water and the ecosystems that arc sustained by it.

"I have ducks, salamanders, spiders and others in the pond family," said Staats. "We are all in this together, they help us and we help them. They cat the insects that are harmful to our gardens."

Before moving the group inside the small cabin in her back yard, Staats offered stories from when she was younger, and how clean and drinkable all wafer use to be.

We know world wide water is not as good as it use to be," stated Staats. "I remember going to school and could stop and drink right out of the pond. You can't do that today, so many changes have taken place in my life time."

After the gathering at the pond the group moved inside the cabin heated by a wood stove and ate. Staats provided some home made soup and the visitors all brought food to share.

While everyone ate lunch Staats continued to tell many stories about her family and how things use to be when she was growing up.

She emphasized the importance of women in society, both past and present. Also mentioning the important roles of mothers, grandmothers and aunties.

Even though the day was focused on nature and traditions, a political science student questioned a topic closer to her area of studies. A topic that Staats did not want to get into but did respond.

"Is the reserve considered a sovereign nation,?" asked the student.

"Well, I'll tell you tomorrow," joke Staats. "I really don't get political, it's too much for me to try to explain. What ever culture or even what ever faction we on Six Nations are, we are to work together."

After the cabin teachings the group moved outside and did a walk through Staats' teaching trail before heading back to their University.

Mona Staats and the group of 11 sat around the natural pond in her backyard. She explained to the students the importance of the ecosystem in and around the pond, including the ducks, spiders and other animals/insects. "We are all in this together," said Staats. (Photo by Erin Tully)