My journey started when, as a member of the Akwesasne Task Force on The Environment, I had learned of an interest of community members, particularly the elders, to bring Black Ash back to Akwesasne. Our Mohawk basket makers have had to travel further and further away to get the logs they needed for their basket making. Currently most of the logs come from Maniwaki, Quebec, a three hour drive from Akwesasne. There is a good source there, but that now is becoming a premium and basket makers are having to look elsewhere.

I have a background in biology, B.S. from Clarkson University, and have always held a strong interest in culturally important plant species. I felt a strong sense of need when the challenge to work with Black Ash presented itself and haven't stopped since. In addition to personal drive I have been encouraged by some key people to work toward preserving Black Ash. My thoughts always go back to Dr. Leo Simone, Potsdam State University, who was my plant biology professor. His admonishments were to, "do something with the education that you receive". I hope that I have lived up to this creed.

Early on in the project, there were many with doubts, the only one who did not doubt was and still is Marita Skidders, dear friend from Cornwall Island. She always said, "we have to at least try", collecting seeds, planting seeds, transplanting trees. She is a great lady and was always one to encourage. At her home is the first Black Ash plantation established in Akwesasne. The plantation was established as a seed orchard and the trees there are not about 15 feet high and doing well. This plantation was established in the fall of 1992, against the advice of her then supervisors, saying that the trees would not grow.

My father always loved trees. He is a retired Mohawk Iron worker and spent his life on the road building America during the 60's and 70's, but his first love was always trees. He hated to see trees cut or destroyed unless they were being used. His place is planted with many types of trees, including a white pine plantation planted by me and my siblings in 1970. Our children now play in this forest. Before my father became ill he also planted the first Black Ash trees grew from seeds collected in the Brasher State Forest. This little plot was established in 1993 and is continues as field lab for my work.

My encouragement also comes from those who will remain nameless and face less to me because they are the future. The future of basket making, the future of my family and the future of those who Black Ash will be preserved for to enjoy.

I acknowledge and appreciate the time my family, my son Les and wife Marie, have had to endure in my absence, while I have been away collecting seeds, collecting data and otherwise putting up with my eccentricity and obsession with Black Ash. Without their patience this journey would not have gone as far as it has. What is it that I do? I study Black Ash, collect seeds, plant seedlings, educate others and foster cooperative efforts in studying and preserving Black Ash.

How far have we come? From knowing little more than what was published in a few obscure writings and no preservation efforts to a book written about Black Ash and the involvement of dozens of people in Native American communities, government and private individuals in advancing the knowledge of Black Ash. These efforts have caught the key supporters such as the USFS who are now a partner in this effort. Over 10,000 Black Ash tree seedlings have been distributed and planted in Akwesasne and other Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) communities. This has been accomplished in as little as 10 years.

Recently, at the Second Annual Black Ash Conference in Akwesasne, community members encouraged efforts to continue with seed collection, seedling planting and study. Community members also requested that educational elements of Black Ash preservation and basket making be taken to the schools for development into curriculum. These will likely be the focus over the next 10 years.

The experience has been phenomenal. I have met new people and made new friends from different reservations and territories, from the Ontario Forestry department, Environment Canada Forestry, Maine Indian Basket Alliance, Ganadagon Historical Site, US Forest Service, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and towns and villages across Canada and the US. In small and big ways alike they have contributed to the success that is being made in preserving Black Ash. Thank you!