Donald Garrow:
CLASS OF 1958
Pine Hill High SchoolClass of 1958
Cheektowaga, NY
Donald's Story
Life
I am living in Ottawa, Ontario with my wife Louise and 2 of 5 sons. My other 3 sons are also living and working in Ottawa. We have been here for approximately 6 years after living in Peterborough, northeast of Toronto, for nearly 22 years.
When I left Pine Hill in 1960 I joined the U.S. Air Force and served at 3 bases; Norton Air Force Base in California, Naha Air Base in Okinawa, and finally at Clinton-Sherman AFB in Oklahoma. I served as a medic with extensive medical training both in Texas and in Alabama. After returning home to Cheektowaga, I went through 4 years as a sheet metal apprentice and another 4 years as a journeyman. I went back to school in 1973 at Algonquin College and later went to work for Indian Affairs in Toronto as an engineering technician.
I met my wife Louise in Ottawa, through my brother Peter in 1969. Louise was a university student in Ottawa at the time. Peter is now working in Ottawa and has three sons, all of whom are working in Ottawa as well. Peter is the National Director of Education with the Assembly of First Nations based in Ottawa.
I am now semi-retired having previously worked as a consultant for 17 years working primarily with Native organizations including First Nations (reservations) throughout Ontario and other provinces. My works, contracts and projects included the development of health and social services studies, development of First Nation environmental training manuals on wastes and disposal sites, and also developed First Nation Governance documents for Chiefs and Councils. The name of my firm is called Ojib-Hawk and Associates, named after my 5 sons who are Mohawk and Ojibway.
I also worked with the Department of Indian Affairs for 14 years, mostly in Peterborough as the superindentent of Capital Management and Operation and Maintenance and Government Affairs.
I now provide services to federal departments and Aboriginal organizations in Ottawa on a limited basis acting as an Aboriginal Elder. In recent years I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge on Native history, traditions and cultural philosophies, particularly of the Haudenoshaune...Expand for more
e of the Mohawk Nation in Canada and the United States. I am currently working on my family ancestral chart which I have been told goes back to the late 1600's. I am also writing my family history. These two personal projects will be completed sometime next year.
My wife Louise is Ojibway and has her degree from Carlton University in English and Political Science studies. She is fluent in her Ojibway language. Now working for Health Canada as a senior policy analyst. My oldest son Matthew, single and working as a policy analyst for the federal government; Donnie works for the Assembly of First Nations, the largest Aboriginal organization in Canada; son Andy works with Northern Affairs and travels extensively to the Yukon and Northwest Territories. He is married (wife Sarah) and are expecting their first child in 7 days; Stephen is a student at Algonquin College, in Ottawa and in his final year; and David has one more year of high school. Donnie and Crystal are to be married next September, 2008.
I am extremely proud of my family and we all take pride in our Native heritage. We are very active with Native issues and Aboriginal policies and are fanatical Buffalo Bills and Sabre fans and don't get us mad!! We travel to my "hometown" on occasion and have taken in several Bills and Sabre games over the years. We sat in "Jacks" many times wondering why we can't win the Super Bowl or the Stanley Cup.
Niaweh/Miigwech
Don Garrow
P.S. I have written 160 pages of "My Story" beginning with my birth and early years at Akwesasne, a Mohawk Reserve in Northern New York, Ontario and Quebec. My story takes me through my years with my family on the west side of Buffalo and eventually moving to Cheektowaga in 1953. Currently I am writing about my 5 year military career which I cherish. My Story includes a lot about Pine Hill, my early career at School No. 1 on the west side and incredible stories about my Mother, Father and Brothers, relatives, friends, and the Mohawk people of Akwesasne, particularly their history. I started this story about a year ago and intend to finish this year.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Photos