Four Mohawk students have filed a lawsuit in federal court after their school district prohibited the reciting of an Iroquois passage.

The passage, known as the Thanksgiving Address, was read every day at the Salmon River High School and at the St. Regis Mohawk School. But the Salmon River Central School District board members said it violated the separation of church and state.

About 60 percent of the students in the district are Mohawk. They say they have a right to express their culture.

Right now, the students can hear the passage but only on Mondays and Fridays in the school auditorium. Mohawk students say the setup draws negative attention to them.

Get the Story:
Salmon River solution? (The Waterbury Press Republican 9/5)

Relevant Links:
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe - http://www.stregismohawktribe.com