Above Photo: Chief Skidders standing (on the left) with the recently condoled Atatarho

The Mohawk Nation mourns the passing of Chief Brian Skidders, Roiiane
of the Wolf Clan

Article and photo by Joyce Mitchell

It happened in the late hours of Sunday night.      The day marked the start Kariwiio recital, the Handsome Lake Code.  Speakers and delegates from across Haudenosaunee Territory reported
on Sunday at the Mohawk Nation Longhouse located in Akwesasne.  Each Nation answered the invitation wampum sent to the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to hear the recital of this Code which began with the prophet, Handsome Lake or Skennentariio in the early 1800's.  After the conclusion of the first day, a social of traditional dancing was hosted by the Mohawk Nation Longhouse. The Social was opened by Chief Brian Skidders. 

Tragedy struck him after the dance when Chief Skidders proceeded to Cornwall. He made it as far as the toll booth before the Three Nations Bridge and suffered a massive heart attack. An ambulance
arrived in a matter of minutes and rushed him to the hospital in Cornwall, Ontario.  However, the hospital workers could not stabilize him and he passed away shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday October 6, 2002.

Brian Skidders, age 42, was known by his spiritual name, Tekanatsiasere. He sat under the title:  Orenrehkowa as a Wolf Clan.  He became a condoled Chief on May 6, 2000 after an absence of a
condoled Mohawk Chief in over four years. A condoled chief is a term given when all six traditional governments under the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Tuscarora and Seneca) are present to perform a condolence ceremony. This ritual lasts between five and six hours to condole the passing of a deceased Chief while 'raising' the title for a new Chief under the practices and protocol of the Great Law of Peace.  The clan, through the Clan mother, selects their Chief. The Six Nations come together to convey the title on a person formally.

Because Tekanatsiasere was still a condoled Chief at his passing, a special ceremony will be conducted when he is brought home. The elder brothers (Mohawk, Onondaga and Seneca) will gather together and send a message to the younger brothers (Oneida, Cayuga and Tuscarora) of his death. When the younger brothers arrive, the Six Nations Chiefs will officially meet to remove his title and hand it back to the Clan mother. This is also done in accordance to the Great Law of Peace, an ancient law created before the coming of settlers to this side of the ocean.

During his brief term as Chief, Brian went to each Mohawk Territory to invite the Mohawks to join together. The Mohawk Nation was fractionalized by the imposition of elected councils in almost
every Mohawk community. He sought to unite the traditional Mohawk people and started a dialogue traveling throughout Mohawk country. As far north as Wahta near Bala, Ontario and west at Six Nations reserve near Brantford Ontario, he also traveled east to Kanesatake and Kahnawake near Montreal Quebec and south to Kanatsiohareke near Fonda NY. He found his way to every Mohawk Territory seeking traditional people. As a result, he created this network of traditional Mohawk
people who now meet despite the previous years of silence among each other.

Brian also was well versed in his language and culture. For about two years he was the principal of the Akwesasne Freedom School, a Mohawk immersion school which went form Grade Pre-K to Grade six. It also has English immersion in Grade 7 & 8 to prepare the students for public school. 

Chief Skidders worked at the Mohawk Nation Office. He represented the Confederacy in Geneva last year to support the United Nations Declaration for indigenous rights. Brian also tried to find common
ground with the elected council called the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Tribe in order to begin talks on the land claim at Akwesasne. As well, he met with other elected councils in the communities of Kahnawake, Kanesatake and the Canadian elected council at Akwesasne for the betterment of the Mohawk people and to lend guidance for the protection of Mohawk rights. 

Chief Charlie Patton of the Bear Clan also stated about Brian:  "He kept us together.  He went to all those [Mohawk] communities and met with all the Mohawks. 

It was just this Friday that Brian Skidders had a chance to view the picture album recorded for the condolence ceremony in 2000.  He remarked: "Looking at the pictures, I am amazed to see all the people who were there at the condolence.  It makes me feel good to see everyone who was there."

Condoled Chief Tekanatsiasere, Brian Skidders' heart was pure and his thoughts were only of a good mind. He is a man of respect and integrity and the hearts of the Mohawk Nation are broken by his
passing.

Tekanatsiasere is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie Barnes, two sons, Sawentanon and Teiohontsiakwente and two daughters, Nikaiataa and Niiohontaa, whom are all at home and loved dearly. 
 
The funeral will be on Thursday, October 10, 2002 for Service in the Mohawk Nation Long House, Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, Hogansburg, NY at 11 a.m.  Friends may call at his residence on Cornwall Island from 7 p.m. Tuesday until the time of the funeral.