Tehahenteh is Turtle Clan Kanyen’kehaka (Mohawk) from Six Nations of the Grand River Rotinonhsyon:ni (Haudenosaunee)Territory. He is a fluent Kanyen’kehaka speaker raised by his grandparents, Harry and Beatrice, who were also fluent speakers. Tehahenteh is dedicated to restoring and revitalizing Indigenous language and culture through teaching, curriculum development, public lectures, and community programs and ceremonies. In 2000 Tehahenteh co-wrote the Native Languages curriculum document, grades 9 - 12, for Ontario’s Ministry of Education and Training and in 1994 was a key contributor to Literacy Ontario’s Kenyen’kehá:ka Ohiatonhkwa’shón:’a Katokénhston Tekawennatáhkwen (The Mohawk Language Standardisation Project).

Tehatenteh is the author of several language textbooks including, Karihonnyen:ni (The Teaching), Tsi Niyonkwawennò:ten (The Way We Speak), and Kanyen’kehaka (Mohawk Language) and is currently completing a comprehensive, thematic Kanyen’kehaka dictionary.

He has translated several books to Mohawk, and many stories including transcribing old texts on Creation and Kayaneren’kó:wa commonly known as ‘The Great Law’. Along with that he records and films events of cultural value, translating them and doing voice overs in Mohawk, for those who are studying the language. Many of these efforts may be viewed on youtube.

Before his foray into Kanyen’kehá:ka teachings, Tehahenteh spent 25 years as a commercial artist and business owner in Toronto, Ontario. He enjoys collecting and processing sap from his sugar bush to create ohses (maple syrup).