Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell facts for kids

Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell, often called Mike Mitchell, is an important leader from the Mohawk community in Canada. He is known for many things: being a politician, a filmmaker, and a big supporter of lacrosse. He has spent a lot of his life working to help his community.

He was first chosen to be part of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in 1982. In 1984, he became the Grand Chief. He worked on the Mohawk Council for over 30 years, even being re-elected as Grand Chief in 2012.

Before he became a politician, Mike Mitchell studied and made films. He worked with the National Film Board, which is a famous Canadian film company. He was part of their "Indian Film Crew." He helped with a program called "Challenge for Change." This program used films to help solve community problems.

His films include a documentary called You Are on Indian Land (1969). This film was about a disagreement over border crossing in Akwesasne in 1969. Mike Mitchell was a student then. He worked with a staff member from the National Film Board. He later received credit for directing the film almost 50 years after it was made.

Mike Mitchell said that making You Are on Indian Land showed him how filmmaking and politics can be connected. He explained:

I was filming the meetings, but I was also asking questions and giving my own views, and I soon became identified as one of the spokesmen [for the community]; they asked that I be part of the delegation that was going to Ottawa. So I was really playing both sides at the time.

This means he was both making the film and helping his community speak up.

Mitchell directed more films about First Nations issues at the National Film Board. After that, he worked with a group called the North American Indian Traveling College. This group is now known as the Ronathahonni Cultural Centre. He helped them build a copy of a traditional Mohawk village on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island). He also created learning materials and videos. These helped teach people about Native culture.

In 2017, Mike Mitchell was honored at a special film event. It was held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. He said he has now retired from politics. He wants to go back to making films.

In 2016, Mike Mitchell won an Indspire Award. This award recognized his long career in politics.

Mike Mitchell's Love for Lacrosse

Mike Mitchell grew up in a family that loved lacrosse. He played lacrosse in different teams in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. These included teams in St. Regis, Cornwall Island, and Cornwall.

Mitchell helped bring back the Akwesasne Minor Lacrosse Association. This allowed local Mohawk teams to play in the Ontario Minor Lacrosse Association again. He also started the Iroquois Lacrosse Association. In 1993, Mitchell joined the board of directors for the Canadian Lacrosse Association.

In 2003, he was added to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He was honored as a "Special Contributor" for his work. In 2014, he received the Lester B. Pearson Award. The Canadian Lacrosse Association gave him this award. It was for his work as "a leader, a contributor, an advocate and relentless promoter of the game."