Ohero:kon Under the Husk

Documentary | Katsitsionni Melissa Fox

Ohero:kon – Under the Husk is a 26-min documentary following the journey of two Mohawk girls as they take part in their traditional passage rites to becoming Mohawk Women. Kaienkwinehtha and Kasennakohe are childhood friends from traditional families living in the Mohawk Community of Akwesasne that straddles the U.S./Canada border. They both take part in a four-year adolescent passage rites ceremony called Oheró:kon “Under the Husk” that has been revived in their community. This ceremony challenges them spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. It shapes the women they become.

27 minutes

Release: November 2018

Katsitsionni Melissa Fox

Director/Producer/Camera
Katsitsionni Fox (Mohawk) is the owner of Two Row Productions a film production company in Akwesasne, NY. She creates short films in her community and has taught film production to youth for over 15 years. Her credits include: “Sacredly Stoked,” a short drama related to the traditional uses of tobacco, this film was distributed across Ontario and partially funded by Cancer Care Ontario.Two films which she recently produced : “Akwesasne Transcending Borders” and “Akwesasne the Little Boy” were commissioned by community funding agencies.

Paul Rickard

Cinemetographer/Assistant Producer
Paul Rickard (Cree) runs Mushkeg Media Inc. in Montreal. He has worked as a producer, director and cameraman in collaboration with independent production companies and organizations such as Nutaaq Media Inc. Wildheart Productions, Wawatay, CBC North and the National Film Board of Canada. Now Paul is venturing into the area of independent production. Paul studied radio and television production at the University of Western Ontario School of Journalism before joining Wawatay Native Communications Society as a television producer.

Marie Dietlin

Cinemetographer
Marie Dietlin is a French filmmaker and visual artist currently living in Montreal. After receiving a Masters degree in History from ‘Université Lumière’ in France, she went on to study a ‘Media Studies’ degree in England. After graduating with distinctions she moved to Canada where she started working as a regular filmmaker for many independent productions: Eclipse productions, Fortimage, Alouki Films, Vcinema and many others.

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

lynn palmanteer-holder

Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs.  She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.