Support the Six Nations' Land Reclamation Stop Canada's Genocide!

Cross Canada Solidarity With Six Nations

Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Saskatoon, Victoria

Montreal Rally & Info Picket
Wednesday April 12th, 2:30pm
@ the Revenue Canada Building
305 Rene Levesques West
corner Rue De Bleury, Metro Place des Arts
Email for Information

Under the direction of the Clan Mothers at the Six Nations Territory, a series of actions are being organized in solidarity with the with the Six Nations clan mothers and in support of their demands for an immediate cessation of all construction by Henco Industries on Six Nations territory and for resolution to the current standoff to be conducted on a nation-to-nation basis. Jamie Jamieson from the Six Nations community states "I hope for a resolution. It would involve having the whole issue of title and jurisdiction resolved, and it would mean for the federal government to take accountability and responsibility for their actions in regard to this land."

The racist colonial legacy of Canada continues to devastate the lands and lives of indigenous peoples and standing in support of the Six Nations community is a tangible way to stop the settler government's interventions in the continued illegal expropriation and exploitation of indigenous lands and territories.

To increase the pressure on April 11-12, the Six Nations Clan mothers are also asking that people contact Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Michael Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario to express their support of the demands of the clan mothers and call for resolution to the standoff through political means, rather than policing.

* Michaelle Jean, Governor General:
Phone: (613) 993-8200, Toll Free: 1-800-465-6890
Fax: (613) 998-1664
Email

* Michael Bryant, Ontario Attorney General
Phone: (416) 326-2220 or (416) 326-2210
Toll Free: 1-800-518-790
Fax: (416) 326-4007
Send Email to Attorney General

Background

On March 3rd, 2006, members of Rotinoshon'non:we (Iroquois) people set up camp on the Haldimand Tract, located at the entrance to Douglas Creek Estates, a 71-lot subdivision under construction by Henco Industries Ltd. on Six Nations territory.

This land has at no point been surrendered to Canada, and was formally recognized by the Crown as Six Nations territory as part of the 1784 Haldimand Deed. The Plank Road Tract was subsequently registered as a land claim with the federal government in 1987. The Six Nations band council, in its submissions to Ottawa, claimed the reserve was never properly compensated for land sold to non-natives and land that was taken to build the Hamilton to Port Dover Plank Road. The Six Nations reserve now covers less than 5 per cent of the original tract of six miles each side of the Grand River from the mouth to the source.

Meanwhile, the province of Ontario passed legislation allowing this tract of land to be developed as part of a scheme to draw 4 million settlers into the Golden Horseshoe area.

Henco Industries successfully obtained a court injunction last month to have members of Six Nations who are camped out on the territory forcibly removed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). A revised injunction issued by an Ontario Supreme Court Judge on March 28th states that those who refuse to vacate the property are guilty of criminal and civil contempt, and will be fingerprinted and photographed as part of a probation order.

In delivering his judgment, Provincial Court Judge David Marshall said this to the Clan Mothers: "What's the matter with you people? Why don't you forget all about the past and listen to me?"

On the evacuation deadline date issued by Justice Marshall, there were roughly 300-500 people lined up at the road in support of the Six Nations. The Clan Mothers held an action that had 50 women blocking the construction crews from building. In the face of mounting police presence at Six Nations - including two dozen marked and unmarked police vehicles parked outside a nearby elementary school currently being used as a command post, a number of police cruisers scattered throughout the neighbouring town of Caledonia, and scores of undercover officers around the periphery of the Six Nations reserve - and a mobilization of the state reminiscent of the lead-up to the murder of Dudley George by the OPP at Ipperwash in 1995, the Clan Mothers and Six Nations community have requested solidarity in their struggle to affirm their inherent right to self-determination and sovereignty on the land. "Canada must stop using guns to resolve its legal disputes with the indigenous people," states Jacqueline House.

The clan mothers have put forward the following statement:

The Women, being Title Holders to all lands of Turtle Island, assert our constitutional jurisdiction over the Haldimand Tract. We have never and cannot ever give up our land or our sovereignty.

1. The Six Nations are distinct original nations. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis by the Crown and all other nations.

2. The Crown must respect our original relationship as set out in the Two Row Wampum, our jurisdiction as provided in our constitution, the Kaiannereh'ko:wa, and as respected by Sections 109 and 132 of the BNA Act, 1867 and according to international covenants that Canada has signed.

3. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis, as was the custom before Canada separated from the British Empire. Respect for the independent international status of the Six Nations by Canada was established before Canada achieved recognition as a state or gained the ability to sign treaties on its own. The independent international identity of the Six Nations identity has never been legally extinguished.

4. The band councils were established with procedures that violated international law. They continue to function as colonizing institutions. We have never consented to their establishment nor their representing us.

5. Canada and all its politicians, bureaucrats, agents, assignees and appointees should cease and desist immediately their attempt to criminalize and apprehend our people for defending what is rightfully ours, the land to which we hold title.

Any further action by Canada, Ontario and their agents shall be viewed as being a direct violation of the Two Row Wampum, the constitutional accord between the Ratino'shon:ni and Canada and international law.

6. The claims of Canada and the province of Ontario to have a right to legislate for the Rotino'shon:ni Six Nations and to grant private title to our land has no foundation in law.

April 11, 2006 Protest

Please check monthly news reports for more news on the Mohawk Solidarity Movement. Monthly news reports can be accessed from the Contents Page.

Contents

April 2006 Reports

Last updated on April 11, 2006