Otsi’tsakèn:ra (Charles Patton) is a respected elder of the Kanien’keha:ka community of Kahnawa:ke, on the south shore of Otsira:ke (Hochelaga/Montreal) - the northern section of Kanien’keha:ka ancestral territory.
His name Otsi’tsakèn:ra means Spotted Flower, he is Rotiskarewake (Bear Clan), married to Niioie:ren for 50 years, with 3 sons and 7 grandchildren.
He has been involved in spiritual and civic affairs of the Ronatha:te Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk Trail) Longhouse in Kahnawá:ke and throughout the Haudenosaunee territory for over 45 years. He is committed to ensuring the continuance of Kanien’kehá:ka tradition, language, spirituality, ceremony and culture.
Otsi’tsakèn:ra , in his youth, was the winner of the Tom Longboat Award, 3rd in the 1965 Canada Midget Cross Country Games and travelled with the Quebec Team to France. He attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, majoring in Physical Education with a minor in English.
He is a fluent Kanien’kéha speaker, and was the first teacher in the Kahnawá:ke school system qualified to teach the Immersion Physical Education Program in the Kanien’kéha language, and one of the first volunteers to bring a Kanien’kéhá:ka Cultural Program into the elementary school system in the early 80’s.
He has also been a past director of the Kahnawá:ke Youth Center, a Recreation Animator for the community and Museum Director for the Kanien’kehá:ka Cultural Center.
He worked with the Haudenosaunee Council of Chiefs for over 20 years, minding a Kanien’keha:ka Bear Clan position, helping to maintain the original traditional government of the Five Nations/Iroquois people and in dealing with the governments of Canada and the United States.
In his retirement, Otsi’tsakèn:ra and his family now run Patton’s Glen Golf Club, a Par 3 Golf Course in Kahnawá:ke, that is open to people of all ages. His family started the club to give youth a chance to train in the sport at an early age and for families to play together because many golf courses do not allow children under 12 to learn or to play.
Otsi’tsakèn:ra, has been working with First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) students as an elder in a very unique program accessing Indigenous knowledge in the field of Social Work. Most recently he was involved with the COP 15 & 26 on biodiversity and concerns for the environmental future of our youth. Across the land, he has opened conferences, presented at workshops and teaching traditional studies courses in Vermont, McGill, Dawson, Concordia, University of Montreal, and opened the award to Canada/US/Mexico joint hosting for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. He has been instrumental in ceremonies over the years in Montreal, Ottawa and provinces in Canada and the United States and at the United Nations. He has travelled to Machu Pichu – working with medicine men and elders in ceremony at this sacred place. In 2018 March, he was acknowledged by McGill University IHPP /Indigenous Health Professions Program, for his contributions in the development of this concept and in helping to identify it: Eniathi’nikonraiéntho (plant a seed in their minds). This honor ceremony and an explanation of the importance of the Ohenton Karihwatehkwen (opening and closing intentions) can be viewed here.
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Friday, October 27, 2023
08:15 – 08:50 EST