When traditional-minded people won two of the three seats on the Mohawk governing tribal council in 1982 there was a new emphasis on tribal sovereignty and self-sufficiency. In retaliation New York officials cancelled some of the services that had previously been available to the tribe. The first to go was their ambulance service.
Members of the Mohawk community contacted Plenty and requested our help in setting up a volunteer-staffed emergency medical service for the 6,000 residents of the reservation. There were many elderly people, pregnant and new mothers, and small children at Akwesasne. To be without an available ambulance service was dangerously unsafe.
In response, Plenty sent a paramedic from the Farm, Gary Rhine, to become certified as an EMT instructor in the State of New York. Gary, with the assistance of his EMT-certified wife Nancy, would teach a 95-hour course in Emergency Care and Transport, and administer the formal licensure exams. Plenty Ambulance Service in the South Bronx loaned the use of its CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) teaching aids and a national publishing company donated fifty copies of the EMT textbook.
For almost two months, Gary, Nancy, and their three children lived in a small camper at Akwesasne, parking outside the Community Center or at the home of Katsi Cook, José Barreiro, and their family. They became part of the community, teaching a team of dedicated Mohawk volunteers, fourteen of whom completed the intensive four-week EMT class. Several more people completed an additional 50-hour first aid and CPR course, which gave them certification in Canada. They named their new ambulance service “The Akwesasne Emergency Team.”
Only a few days after the team was set up they had their first emergencies: a car accident and a birthing. Although they were using a station wagon for an ambulance at that time, the new team handled both situations well and gained respect in their community. The Mid-Continent Conversion Company in Kansas City later donated a fully equipped ambulance to Plenty for the Akwesasne Emergency Team.
Today Akwesasne is serviced by the Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance Unit.
Nancy Rhine (Figallo): The theme for this Plenty project was to support the circle of life that is so palpably precious to the Mohawk community. It was not safe for the people without an ambulance available to serve them in emergencies. Living with the Mohawks, we learned first-hand about the tribe’s strong respect for the entire family — children, mothers, fathers, elders. Our new friends there noticed, I think, our dedication to taking good care of our hippie children, babysitting some of their kids, and having our kids integrate into their kid scene. It was all very natural but we were aware of being ambassadors for the Farm.
On our last evening at Akwesasne, the community prepared a big feast for us in the Community Center. We sat with the people — the chief, the elders, the clan mothers, the children — and celebrated the success of the new EMT graduates. Later, Chief Tom Porter began to speak so eloquently, giving thanks for the gathering, the project’s completion, and Akwesasne’s relationship with the Farm. He had beaded some intricate, lovely necklaces, which he presented to each of our three little daughters: Leah, Emmy, and Odessa. This ritual and gift was another indication to me of the loving value placed on each child in the tribal community.
Towards the end of Tom’s talk, he read to us a formal greeting from his people, which we were to deliver to our people. I remember sitting there with Gary, completely mesmerized, having goose bumps all over from the energy. It was a profound experience to feel the respect coming from this Mohawk chief and his tribe to the Farm tribe and our family. The graduates presented us Indian Herbology of North America, a beautiful book by Alma Hutchens. Inside they had inscribed, “This is to Nancy and Gary. Thanks for helping and spending your time with us. Love,” signed by thirteen of the graduates of the EMT class. How I treasure that book! Every time I see it, I remember that special night and those dear people. I hope the Farm members are proud of this heartfelt service project.
It was exciting for us to bring Chief Porter’s message back to our tribe on the Farm. We floated down from Akwesasne back to Summertown. The following Sunday, Gary stood up and read the message from Chief Tom Porter. I had goose bumps all over again! What a blessing — one I will never forget!
Message from the Mohawk Nation
Chief Tom Porter (Kanatsiohareke):
Tell the people that the
Chiefs of the Mohawk Nation
send regards and
greetings to the Chiefs of the Farm,
and that the Clan Mothers of the Mohawk Nation
send regards and greetings to the
Clan Mothers of the Farm,
and that the Spiritual Faithkeepers
of the Mohawk Nation
send regards and greetings to the
Spiritual Faithkeepers of the Farm.
All the people who are the backbone
of the Mohawk Nation
send regards and greetings to all the people
who are the backbone of the Farm.
All the Children of the Mohawk Nation
send regards and greetings to the
Children of the Farm.
Even the youngest, most newborn of the Mohawk Nation
sends regards and greetings to the youngest,
most newborn of the Farm.