July 24, 2011

9th annual Ironworkers Festival

Iron workers part of the fabric of modern Mohawk culture

By Danielle VandenbrinkIron workers from across Canada and the United States met in Akwesasne Saturday to celebrate the trade within the Mohawk community.

The 9th annual Ironworkers Festival, hosted by the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, gave iron workers and their families a venue to re-connect and showcase their trade.

Iron work has long been a part of Mohawk livelihood, and the event paid homage to the work that has sustained many Mohawk families for decades, said organizer Starr Thomas.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Documentary About Brooklyn's Mohawks and Mohawk Ironworkers Compete.

1 comment:

Rob said...

A look at the 2012 festival:

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/08/25/bolt-tossing-beam-walking-and-column-climbing-the-ironworkers-festival-in-akwesasne-draws-international-crowd-130779

Bolt Tossing, Beam Walking and Column Climbing: The Ironworkers Festival in Akwesasne Draws International Crowd

As the last beam of iron was put into place at the site of the up and coming Akwesasne Mohawk Casino hotel and local 440 Akwesasne Mohawk Ironworkers celebrated the official “topping off ceremony,” the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino held its tenth Annual Ironworkers festival.

At the festival, ironworkers from ages 18 to 82 from all over the United States and Canada competed against each other in events such as rod tying, spud throwing, bolt tossing, the beam walk and the column climb.