Join us for both Backyard Maple Sugaring with Jake McDonough and Storytelling with Theresa Bear Fox on March 16th
We’re excited to invite you back to the farm to learn about the process and cultural history of maple sugaring. As a part of our 2024, Story Harvest: Stories of Food and Farming, we’re excited to host Akwesasne singer-songwriter, Theresa “Bear ”Fox, to share songs, dance, and other traditional stories of her native heritage! We’re also thrilled to have our Farm Operations Manager, Jake McDonough in the sugar shack to show you how we make our maple syrup here at WFF.
Day Schedule:
Maple Tree ID Walk
(self-guided, all day)
Sap Tapping Demos
(10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm)
Stories and Songs Around The Maple Tree
(11am and 1pm)
Maple Syrup Boiling Demos
(all day, rotating groups of 8)
Hot Pancakes
served all day!
TICKETS
$30 All Day Pass
-or-
$20 for Stories and Songs
$15 for Backyard Maple
FREE for children under 12 years of age
We are honored to welcome Mohawk (Kanienʼkehá:ka) storyteller Theresa Bear Fox. Theresa, whose Mohawk name is Kenkiohkoktha (‘I'm at the back of a crowd of people’), grew up in a family of fourteen, surrounded by music and dance. She began writing songs for her traditional women's group, Kontiwennenhawi (‘Carriers of the words’) who helped her integrate her ancestral language into the songs. Theresa says: ‘I feel our language is so important and I will continue to learn and write songs in our language. I began writing songs in English around the year 2000. I feel it is important to put good messages into the songs. They are very healing. They bring a calmness to the soul.’
Theresa is a multi Nammy (Native American Music Awards) winner and her songs are taught in the schools at Akwesasne and used in ceremonies, and she is consistently asked to perform all over the world. The effect of her music exemplifies the importance of song in cultural resilience and restoration.
As a part of our series Story Harvest: Stories of Food and Farming, Theresa will share stories, songs and dance about how her people received the maple syrup, and other traditional stories that shape the Mohawk language and culture.
See how we make our maple syrup here at White Feather Farm and learn how you can make your own batch using maple trees right at home. Chat in the sugar shack with our Farm Operations Manager, Jake McDonough, who has been managing our maple operation since 2020. See our evaporator in full swing, and check out our “Maple Mobile” used for sap collection. Jake will give you ideas on simple ways you can boil at home using minimal equipment as well as other interesting and practical knowledge on the process of maple sugaring.