The tour begins with a welcome to Akwesasne Mohawk territory and an introduction to your cultural hosts. Guests are greeted with the Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen, “the words before all else.”

Next, guests will hear the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) “Creation Story,” which describes the creation of the world and how people came to live in it. Guests will then be provided an overview of pre-contact ways of life, including longhouse living, our traditional clan system and the origins of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee. Guests will also learn about traditions around food sourcing and preparation,

Guests will then be introduced to living records of our history, wampum belts. Agreements, monumental events and treaties are all woven into the meanings of these belts. Guest will be able to see and feel replica belts and view the Wolf Belt, repatriated back to Akwesasne in 2010. Akwesasne Cultural Center houses the historic belt in a special climate controlled space.

Next, the hosts will share some of our traditional arts and crafts that continue to be practiced today. See the influence of the past mixed with modern techniques that crate beautiful pieces of art. Guests can come away from this tour with a deeper understanding that the Haudenosaunee have always been here and continue to thrive.

Guests may visit the gift shop to purchase a memento of their visit.

Your hosts will provide you with a period of Q&A at the end of the tour, while allowing you time for self-exploration. The Akwesasne Cultural Center has many informational displays and a virtual reality exhibit that allows our guests to experience a virtual longhouse setting.

The tour ends with a visit to the gift shop, where guests can purchase locally made crafts and books about Mohawk culture and history.