#Esganye2k16 social media challenge unites Six Nations Confederacy

TONAWANDA, N.Y. – The year’s first major Facebook challenge doesn’t involve diving undressed into a pile of snow or having a bucket of ice water poured over our heads — it involves a love of Rotinonhsyón:ni culture expressed by our young leaders ready to share our beautiful women’s dance social songs with the world.

#Esganye2k16 began with a Facebook post by Brett Logan of Tonawanda, N.Y. on Jan. 28, wanting to see a different trending topic take hold, aside from the typical “five pictures that make me feel beautiful” posts that tend to circulate.

From there, Logan had tagged a few friends from Onondaga and Akwesasne to get it started. Soon enough, Facebook users all across the Six Nations Confederacy busted out their rattles and water drums to post videos of themselves singing traditional and original women’s dance songs, nominating their friends and family across all of our communities to participate in the challenge.