Tonia Loran-Galban (Mohawk, Bear Clan) resides in Farmington, New York and is a Haudenosaunee Culture Bearer. She is a native traditional basket maker who has worked at Ganondagan State Historic Site (site of a 17thcentury Seneca Town) in Victor, NY as a Senior Interpretive Guide from 1991-2022; it is here that Tonia shares her skills as a 17thc Haudenosaunee material culture creator and was responsible for care of the 17thc recreated bark Longhouse and its collection. She is also a storyteller, bead worker, and an herbalist, She also managed Ganondagan’s three gardens and trail plants. Tonia served on the Geva Theatre artistic council; script reading for diversity equity and inclusion. She provides the Rochester Museum & Science Center relevant information pertaining to The Haudenosaunee as a female cultural knowledge keeper, she holds classes and workshops for Seneca Nation of Indians cultural revitalization initiative, she has provided the Akwesasne Museum and cultural center and the st. Regis Mohawk tribe’s Environmental devision with researched alternative plants for traditional weaving. She entertains and educates visitors to the Genesee country village museum through her Haudenosaunee programos. Retired from Ganondagan in June 2022; Tonia began employment with Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) 6/22-7/24. She continues to professionally partner with Ganondagan State Historic Site and Genesee Country Village Museum as a special presenter.
She continues her role as a Haudenosaunee Culture Bearer. She travels presenting on Storytelling by herself or with a storytelling circle of 2-4 other native storytellers, Traditional Mohawk Basket making, indigenous garden designing, Cooking traditional meals demo & hands on classrooms, Natural Fiber & weaving, traditional games outreaches, native plant identification walks, Haudenosaunee Material Culture Consultation to museums
Tonia’s contact information
Tonia Loran she/her
1488 state Route 444
Victor Ny 14564
Email: Tloran@icloud.com