CANTON – As part of SUNY Canton’s recognition of Indigenous People's Day, SUNY Canton featuring a distinctive and topical #peoplelikeme entry on the college’s Facebook page.

"My name is Aayliah White. My Mohawk name is Kaiatanoron White. I am from Akwesasne.”

Aayliah plays women's lacrosse for the Kangaroos and is a junior in the college's Health and Fitness Promotion major.

"I grew up on a reservation playing hockey and boy's lacrosse," she said. "I never really knew what women's lacrosse was because it was frowned upon in my culture. Women were not allowed to touch lacrosse sticks. I was a little late into the actual sport - I started in ninth grade and continued to play and love the meaning of the game of medicine. It feels great to be invited to better my education and be able to play the sport I love."

Aayliah plays midfield for the Roos and has had many positive experiences with her team, including traveling out of state during spring training and playing in two of the team’s three championship contests. "Winning the North Atlantic Conference two times with this team and getting to experience the NCAA tournament twice is a huge motivation and mood booster," she said. "We're looking to snag another championship this coming year."

She said she chose SUNY Canton for her field of study and how welcoming everyone was when she visited. "I also decided to stay closer to home to help care for my family."

One of her notable experiences at the college includes meeting many people from different cultures. "I've gotten to meet a few people that live out of state over the years, and they are now some of my closest friends," she said.

Aayliah is one of more than 40 indigenous (Native American or Native Alaskan) students at SUNY Canton as of Fall 2023. College administrators recognize that the college is located on the ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee and thank the traditional caretakers of the land where students now work, study, play, and learn. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #cantonconnections