Objectives
To establish a historical and current Library Resource Centre whereby educators from all over the world can come to research and learn first hand about the history and development of the Iroquoian people. To carry on educational programs in order to promote the knowledge of Iroquoian culture and language through research, education and publication and distribution of books, papers, reports, periodicals and pamphlets, and to provide funds to charitable organizations which carry on such educational programs. To design, develop and maintain a Language Development Program whereby all aspects of the Iroquoian Language can be preserved and taught to all age groups. Current Project: What does the Jake Thomas archival project consist of? We are in the process of digitizing the Jake Thomas Collection. The Collection consists of over 90,000 hand written documents in languages such as Onondaga, Cayuga, and Mohawk. The documents include Great Law recitals, condolence ceremonies, Code of Handsome Lake, Thanksgiving Address, and many other important speeches and ceremonies. Accomplishments
So far our team has scanned and edited approximately 2,500 documents of the 90,000 document Collection. Other accomplishments we have achieved are; restocking our inventory with 50 packages of Mohawk for Beginners, 50 packages of the Great Feather Dance, 50 packages of Mohawk Verb Roots. The package includes a CD and a book to read along with. We also have 3 copies of the 1994 Great Law Recital which is a 12 DVD collection that has the whole 7 day recital in sound as well as picture. This was the last Great Law Recital by the late Jake Thomas. Where we are heading? Our main goal of this project is to digitize the Jake Thomas Collection. We would like to make all of the material from the Jake Thomas Collection accessible on the internet. This is a very big project which is going to take awhile to finish but after it is done it will not only benefit the Jake Thomas Learning Centre but also our whole community. The Jake Thomas Collection is one of the largest archive of native traditions in the world.
