Amazing seed keepers

Stephen Angus Mccomber, also known as Silverbear (Silverbeararts), is one of the traditional Mohawk ceremonial managers of the Mohawk Trail Longhouse in Kahnawake. Silverbear is an award winning sculptor and recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts award (1985). His works are part of numerous corporate and private collections, as well as in the permanent exhibit at the Pointe-à-Callière museum. The founder of the Haudenosaunee Seedkeeper’s group, Silverbear is known internationally as a traditional seedsaver, and keeper of traditional Iroquois seeds. Learning all his knowledge from his grandmother. He teaches on planting by the moon phases. He has spoken about corn in conferences in Oaxaca (2012) and Yucatan (2016), Mexico. As a respected seed elder, Silverbear has been an invited presenter at multiple conferences and events. ​The proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, Silverbear has worked as a native elder for Corrections Canada for the past 15 years. His hobbies include model airplanes and among his heroes is the immortal Jimi Hendrix.

Janice Brant is Kanyanke’ha’ka (Mohawk) from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario, Canada. She sits with the Bear Clan and carries on her family heritage as a dedicated farmer. She was given her Mohawk name … Kahèhtoktha … which means, “she goes the length of the garden”. As a language and culture teacher, Janice perpetuates the knowledge of the Mohawk language and traditions. She loves storytelling, art, history, and cooking. Kahèhtoktha is devoted to living in the awareness of the connection of all beings of mother earth. She is an actionist for sacred ecology and seed conservation and helped to found Ratinenhayen:thos “they are farmers of the seed” and the Kenhte:ke Seed Sanctuary & Learning Centre (KSSLC), host to a living seed collection of 300 indigenous and heirloom vegetables, herbs and flowers. As Janice Brant continues to study and practice Kanyenke’ha (Mohawk language) and culture. She shares her gifts and knowledge of the Haudenosaunee ­– The People of the Longhouse, the Iroquois Confederacy – telling of the spirituality, legends, and way of life of the longhouse through her paintings and daily life. Janice was on the board of the Ratinenhayen:thos project for 7 years as chair and a shared co-chair position to take some of the responsibilities of her 7 year mandate. Janice has been a volunteer for the International Indigenous recognition of prior learning collective (RPL) - a critical pedagogy collective that addresses the oppression of indigenous ways of learning and creating a rubric to recognizing the skill sets that are traditionally attributed to their cultures. She has now moved to a board position for the last 2 years. These skills and knowledge are then recognized in formal education setting in the settler educational institutions. This Creations of portfolios for members to share with universities to receive credit and recognize skillsets acquired.