Performers
Location
About
Join us for a celebration of and fundraiser for the Akwesasne Freedom School (Kanienʼkehá, Mohawk Nation) at Opus 40, featuring artists and culture bearers:
- Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas)
- Akwesasne Youth Dancers
- Hataalii
- Sophie Strand
- Theresa “Bear” Fox
- Kontiwennenhá (Akwesasne Women Singers)
Indigenous artists from Akwesasne will also have work available for purchase. This is a unique opportunity to gather in celebration of Kanienʼkéha culture while supporting one of the most inspiring Indigenous language revitalization schools in North America.
Founded in 1979, the Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) has become a leading model of Indigenous self-determination and Mohawk language revitalization. Through full Mohawk immersion education, students begin each day with the Thanksgiving Address, grounding learning in language, relationship, and cultural responsibility. All proceeds from this event will support the school’s continued growth and help strengthen Native language, culture, and community for generations to come through music, storytelling, dance, and shared celebration.
Bring a picnic and enjoy incredible food by Cafe Joust.
Gates open at 4:00pm. Performance begins at 5:00pm.
Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Her poems and essays have appeared in Emergence Magazine, Lit Hub, Spirituality & Health, Atmos, Braided Way, and Art PAPERS. She is the author of The Flowering Wand, The Madonna Secret, The Body Is a Doorway as well as a Substack Bestseller(sophiestrand.substack.com). Her first book of poetry Make Me Good Soil is forthcoming from Running Press in March 2027 and available for pre-order. You can follow her work on Instagram @cosmogyny.
Hataałii is a Diné (Navajo) singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. Raised in Window Rock, Arizona—the capital of the Navajo Nation—he has since relocated to New York City to immerse himself in the city’s creative energy and push his artistic boundaries. He performs under his mononym Hataałii, a play on his first name which translates to “to sing” or “singer” in Navajo. Hataałii’s music is a distinct blend of “Southwestern saudade.” Driven by a deep, baritone croon, his songwriting has won praise from indie legends like Mac DeMarco and outlets like SPIN and FLOOD Magazine.
Bear Fox is a highly respected Mohawk musician, storyteller, and cultural educator from Akwesasne whose work weaves together song, language, humor, and traditional teachings. Through performances rooted in Haudenosaunee values, she creates spaces of connection, resilience, and cultural continuity, sharing stories and music that honor Indigenous knowledge while speaking to contemporary life. Her work has been deeply impactful in Mohawk cultural restoration and across Turtle Island. She has won multiple Native American Music Awards.
Kontiwennenhawi (pronounced: goon-dee-wa-na-ha-wee) is a traditional Mohawk women’s singing group from the Akwesasne territory, spanning the Ontario, Quebec, and New York borders. Formed in 1997, the name translates to “women who carry words”. The group is dedicated to preserving the Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) language and traditional Haudenosaunee culture. The group began at the Akwesasne Freedom School when mothers and aunties needed songs and teachings to help their children learn Mohawk traditions.