Kahnawà:ke means place of the rapids. Kahnawà:ke is named after the historical Mohawk village of Caughnawaga, near the rapids of the Mohawk River in what is today central New York. The present village of Kahnawà:ke is situated near the Lachine Rapids on the Saint Lawrence River. These rapids have been an important crossroads for trade for thousands of years. Unsafe to traverse for most ships and canoes, those travelling along the Saint Lawrence would have to exit the river andportage past the rapids, often stopping at one of the nearby villages or trading posts.

Part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the people of Kahnawà:ke are considered Keepers of the Eastern Door. Historically, they controlled territory on both sides of the Mohawk River and west of the Hudson River in present day New York, protecting the Confederacy against invasion from the east.

Dwayne has offered to give the team a tour of tour of Kahnawà:ke. Highlights along the tour include a stop at the Kanien’keha:ka Onkwawen:na Raotitiohkwa Language and Cultural Center, as well as the St. Francis Xavier Mission, Kahnawà:ke’s historical church, which holds the tomb of canonized Mohawk Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Rudy, Jen and Jacob learn about the history of Kahnawà:ke and the Kanien’keha:ka, or “people of the flint”.

These places are all connected through the rapids. Upon reaching the rapids, people would exit the river on either side and portage to continue along their way, often stopping at nearby villages or trading posts.

Historically, going down these rapids was a job done by the men of Kahnawà:ke, who would use their knowledge and skill to guide steamer ships through the Lachine rapids. Additionally, the men of Kahnawà:ke quarried stone and transported it via rafts down the turbulent rapids to Montreal. As the men delivered the stone to the Victoria Bridge – then in the process of being constructed – they climbed up to look around. These fearless climbers were offered jobs, and the tradition of Kahnawà:ke ironworking began.

Rudy joins Adrian at the lab to take a look at all the artifacts found this season. A lot of work needs to be done post excavation: cleaning, cataloguing, and in some cases, reassembling the artifacts. Adrian shows Rudy the remains of a large pot unearthed this season and explains how he is able to date the occupation by analysing how the pot was made. Long ago, the maker of this pot used a cord wrapped around a stick to create indentations along the soft edge of the clay. They also used a dentate, or comb-like tool to create striations on the body of the pot. Based on this combination of techniques, Adrian is confident that the site was occupied 1,500 years ago.

As Jen and Rudy explore the vendors and sample the delicious food, Rudy searches for unique items to bring home with him for teaching archaeology at SFU. Jacob dons his regalia and prepares to dance the Men’s Traditional.