2008 Medal St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Code Talkers Bronze 38mm

Coin Details

Description

This 38mm bronze medal honors the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Code Talkers, members of the Akwesasne community's U.S.-side tribal government who used the Mohawk (Kanien'keha) language for military communications. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is the federally recognized entity representing the American portion of the Akwesasne Mohawk community, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border along the St. Lawrence River. The Mohawk language, an Iroquoian language, provided valuable communication security through its complex polysynthetic structure. The obverse features a design incorporating Mohawk and Haudenosaunee cultural elements, honoring the St. Regis Mohawk code talker veterans. The Mohawk people have been known historically as the "Keepers of the Eastern Door" of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a role that speaks to their position as guardians and defenders. Their code talker service extended this protective tradition into modern warfare, using the language that had united the Mohawk people for centuries as a tool for national defense. The distinction between this medal and the Akwesasne Mohawk medal reflects the complex political geography of the community. The reverse carries Code Talkers program inscriptions. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's separate recognition from the Akwesasne Mohawk reflects the dual tribal governance structure created by the international border passing through the Mohawk community, with separate tribal governments on the U.S. and Canadian sides of the boundary.

Rarity Notes

Bronze duplicate medal, 38mm. Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 series. Separate from Akwesasne Mohawk medal.

Cross References

PCGS #911960; Code Talkers 2008; St. Regis Mohawk Tribe; Kanien'keha; Haudenosaunee