STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
FACT SHEET #1
Canada’s Colonial History
In 1876 the Indian Act imposed the band council system of government on the indigenous people of Turtle Island (North America). Among other things, this law 1. Deposed already existing leadership to establish band councils and the areas over which they had jurisdiction. The Indian Act was passed without consultation with any indigenous leader, usurped the treaty process (nation to nation agreements) and made First Nations governments null and void, despite the fact that these governments had served our ancestors for millennia before Europeans arrived on Turtle Island. 2. Made First Nations Communities economically dependent on Ottawa. The federal government controls the only sources of revenue for social programs, economic development projects or job creation in FN communities. Ottawa determines through a variety of legal and financing mechanisms what band councils can and cannot do for their communities. Even the process of pursuing a land claim is legislated by Ottawa, funded (or not) by Ottawa and decided ultimately in Canadian courts. Land usage on FN territories is determined by Ottawa. There are many examples in history when the federal government leased or sold First Nations lands or resources and consequently reaped huge profits that did not accrue to the community. Ottawa controls band councils, band chiefs and the Assembly of First Nations through both legislation and funding. Whether this current control is perceived of as friendly or hostile is irrelevant and sidesteps the basic assumption that First Nations people are children who cannot manage their own affairs. To recognize that some band councils, their chiefs and police are sincerely interested in serving their communities while others are corrupt may be true but fails to recognize that the band council system is itself inherently corrupt, paternalistic and racist. 3. Blatantly discriminated against women by recognizing Native descent through the male line so that First Nations citizenship rights for women were recognized only through their father’s lineage and husband’s status, and by prohibiting them from voting or running for office in band elections. This was a complete contradiction to traditional First Nations practices, in which descent for many communities was reckoned along the female line, and where women had significant authorities in political, economic and social life. While there were many nations and many practices, it is safe to generalize and say that women held positions of leadership directly and/or appointed male leaders and held them accountable. This was completely overturned by the Indian Act. Although women now have the right to vote and run for band office, almost a century of being excluded from political, economic and social decision-making has left First Nations women on and off reserve in very vulnerable situations. Women are among the poorest in First Nations communities. They have been targeted through various amendments to the Indian Act and thousands were stripped of their status along with their homes, benefits and any treaty rights they may have had. The hundreds of women who are missing from our communities, dead and murdered, is a direct result of a deliberate and calculated attack on the rights and authorities of First Nations women by the Canadian government. 4. Determined who could call themselves an “Indian” and live in First Nations communities. With amendments to the Indian Act there has emerged a complex set of legal categories (status & non-status Indians, Treaty Indians, Bill C-31 Indians, etc.) that have to divided First Nations families and disempowered communities. Non-status Indians are those who are not recognized by Ottawa as First Nations. They cannot live in their communities, do not enjoy benefits or treaty rights and are not permitted to participate in band council elections.FACT SHEET #2
Six Nations & the Haldimand Tract
On Friday March 3, 2006 a group of Rotinoshon’non:we (Iroquois) people set up camp on a piece of land known as the Haldimand Tract. This territory was never surrendered or sold to Canada. Under Rotinoshon’non:we law the Clan Mothers hold title to this land. The Rotinoshon’non:we have never pledged their allegiance to another nation and consider themselves allies of Canada and not subjects. Nevertheless, the federal government of Canada does not recognize Rotinoshon’non:we claims. This tract is included in a land claim filed with the federal government by Six Nations of the Grand River in 1987. The claim is currently in abeyance, which means it has been temporarily set aside by the court. 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 Limited plans to build a residential complex on the site. Henco Industries Limited, the company given the right to develop this property, filed for an injunction against the “protesters” (the Rotinoshon’non:we people camped on the territory), seeking their removal. Provincial Court Judge David Marshall ordered the “protesters” to vacate the property by 2pm, Wednesday March 22, 2006 or be arrested. In delivering his judgment, 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 March 22 the Mohawk people from other territories (Akwesasne, Kanehsatake and Kanahwake) joined the camp. The OPP utilized mediation services aimed at convincing the campers to leave. At the time of this writing, provincial authorities and the OPP have taken no further actions, however they stand ready to execute warrants evicting the campers. The group of Rotinoshon’non:we people camped on the property are unarmed and committed under their own constitution and Kaienerekowah (the Great Law) to resolve this matter in a peaceful manner, one nation to another.FACT SHEET #3
MOHAWK TERRITORIES & THE TOBACCO TRADE
Since time immemorial First Nations people cultivated and cared for tobacco plants for use in ceremonies that were forbidden after the arrival of European settlers. Nevertheless, the cultivation and use of tobacco has continued on First Nations territories into the current times. The traditional form of Mohawk government, longhouse, prevails today, though Ottawa does not recognize it as legitimate. Under this system, male leadership was appointed by and held accountable to the Clan Mothers who had the right and responsibility to remove “chiefs” when they had breached the community’s trust. The tobacco trade in Mohawk communities sustains families and small businesses. It provides a living wage in territories that Ottawa seeks to control with federal legislation and funding to the local band councils. No tax revenue accrues to Ottawa as a result of the Mohawk tobacco trade. Since 1994 police have raided all territories as well as Six Nations to destroy tobacco inventories of Mohawk entrepreneurs. Leaked documents from 1994 reveal aborted plans for a joint raid on four Mohawk Territories. Throughout the 90’s there were periodic sightings of Canadian military personnel conducting exercises or behaving in ways the residents consider noteworthy on or near Mohawk territories. These are reported in a variety of Mohawk press. In 1996, the federally commissioned Report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Aboriginal Peoples is released. The report condemns deplorable health, sanitation, water, housing, education and employment conditions in First Nations communities. It furthermore holds the federal government directly accountable for these substandard conditions. In 1998, another large raid takes place on Mohawk territory targeting the tobacco trade. Throughout February 2006 the residents of all territories report unusual helicopter flight activity over their homes and businesses. In one incident in Tyendinaga a helicopter landed and the military personnel on board refused to explain why. When questioned about an unauthorized landing in Tyendinaga, military authorities claimed they had always assumed the right to come and go on the territory but now, since it bothered people, they would “get permission” first. Chief R. Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte which includes Tyendinaga wrote to the military Feb. 9 protesting the helicopter flights, saying, ‘further activities will be viewed as harassment and a serious breach of protocol’.” (Peter Edwards. “Mohawks fear action on trade in tobacco”, Toronto Star. March 6, 2006.) On March 14 Mohawk Nation News, based in Kanehwake, issued an information bulletin on a possible joint military/RCMP raid on April 1, 2006 and asked supporters for an email campaign aimed at asking authorities to respect the sovereignty of Mohawk territories. Read Bulletin Here On March 20, Mohawk Nation News reported more low flying helicopter activity over that territory.Yellow Alert for Warriors - Mohawks - Next
Last updated on April 1, 2006