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Tree Of Peace Society |
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Learning Center 326 Cook Road Hogansburg, NY 13655 | Phone/Fax: 518-358-2641 treeofpeace@earthlink.net
Isn’t it amazing how far we have come with the learning center? It wouldn’t
have been possible without all of your support, dedication, and volunteer work. Whether you have given a monetary gift, your
time, or your expertise in any given area, we really appreciate it. Every nail, every piece of wood has shared memories; every
hour of time put in means so much. It is an exciting time for us, we have so many plans for future programming, for major
projects that we will periodically inform you about as they develop, as well as a core “volunteer staff” that
has been busy writing proposals for funding. All in all, the time is now for us to set forth the visions we
saw the first day we saw the land at Rossie; the cabins are up, and we can comfortably accommodate large groups. Of course
we will be relying on the contributions of our friends and supporters to enable us to continue with the plan of promoting
peace and respect for ourselves and our surroundings. It is always good see how far we've come, by looking back at
how we began...
The Original Vision Distressed at the
increase of environmental destruction, global conflicts, decline of family values and social alienation, Chief Swamp felt
that perhaps he could make a small contribution to countering these pervasive social and environmental ills through education.
Admiring a hand-made Iroquois basket that he received from his mother-in-law, Jake was reminded of Kaianerekowa, the Great
Law of Peace, and the Peacemaker, who brought Kaianerekowa to the Haudenosaunee. The
spiral decorations brought to mind the interconnection of all the world's peoples, the natural world and the future generations. The splints of Black Ash that made up the frame of the basket were all evenly cut;
This brought to mind the powerful notion that people from all cultures of the world could stand together as equals to discuss
the countless social and environmental challenges that exist today. A month later, Jake proposed to the Mohawk Nation Council
of Chiefs at Akwesasne that he deliver the basket together with a message of peace to the United Nations. By chance, the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs had already received an invitation to attend a gathering
of spiritual leaders at the United Nations. Chief Swamp was sent as a delegate
from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation to deliver that message in person. This meeting
inspired the United Nation to pass a resolution declaring 1985 the International Year of the Youth and setting the goal of
planting One Billion Trees around the world.
The
Tree of Peace Learning Center In 1997, Chief Swamp decided that the
best way to further the society's educational goals was to create a learning center; a place to utilize the great wealth of
knowledge within the Iroquois Confederacy and among many academic, environmental, and cultural teachers who share similar
interests and concerns. The Tree of Peace learning center rests on 50 acres of land with three cabins
which can accommodate 40 people. The learning center is in Rossie, a beautiful
town in rural up state New York with a retreat-like atmosphere. The learning
center is a place to gather youth and elders of the Iroquois communities to provide them with a distraction free environment
to express, preserve, and maintain Iroquois language and culture. The learning
center is not limited to Native people, but is open to any person who wishes to live in peace and harmony with nature and
mankind. Jake explains: "It has now been twenty years since
the Tree of Peace Society was formed to promote universal peace through the planting of trees throughout the world. I am greatly encouraged by how warmly people have responded to our efforts and how determined you have
all been to hold on to our founding principles. I have been most impressed by
your grasp of our responsibilities to the coming generations and your willingness to work together to further the goals of
the Tree of Peace Society. I have envisioned a day when all of our dreams become
a reality…Our multicultural programs, historical presentations, environmental forums, and youth and elders activities
have enjoyed great success, but every positive accomplishment comes with additional request for more Tree of Peace appearances." A Conference center is in
the planning stages for construction in 2005. Much fund raising activities are also being planned. The new conference
center facility will be developed as a model which is clearly environmentally sound, energy efficient, conservation and restoration
land-use based, and sensitive to local ecosystems. It would include sustainable foresting/reforestation and organic
gardening. Additionally, the Tree of Peace Society would continue to develop as an egalitarian, sustainable organization;
self consciously dedicated to acting on the principles it espouses. |
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