Ka’nikonriyo Podcast 13 – Janie Jamieson speaks about the life of her daughter Jewel Monture

By Tom Keefer and Kelly MacNaughton

Jewel Monture or Gahwediyo was born on December 11th, 1997 to Janie Jamieson of the Mohawk Turtle Clan, in the SIx Nations of the Grand River Territory. Jewel became a very talented dancer at an early age and excelled at almost any activity she put her efforts into. By age 11, Jewel was an accomplished dancer in both western and traditional Onkwehon:we dancing. She was also a model, actor, sports player and accomplished smoke dancer. Tragically, Jewel became a target of abuse and online bullying by jealous peers and manipulative adults. After suffering months of harassment and abuse, and with police and school authorities failing to take action, Jewel took her own life at the tender age of 12 on November 12th, 2010. In this audio interview Janie Jamieson speaks about Jewel’s life and many accomplishments and talks about the many ways in which Onkwehon:we youth suffer from privation and the continuing effects of colonialism.