[IPSM] Samedi/Saturday:Kanehsatake Solidarity Assembly/Solidarite avec le peuple de Kanehsatake!

[Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movment - Montreal]

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Saturday June 19th
Solidarity with the Peoples of Kanehsatake!
A Public Assembly & Organizing Meeting

The Peoples of Kanehsatake have successfully resisted
a federally sponsored, politically motivated,
militarized invasion of their community. They put
their lives and freedom on the line in order to stop
the formation of a police state headed by Grand Chief
James Gabriel whose leadership itself was imposed by a
a federal court injunction. Twenty-four people now
face charges of participation in a riot and forcible
confinement of police officers. The threat of prison
has not deterred their resistance. The struggle for
self-determination in Kanehsatake and other Mohawk
communities is far from over, and these communities
are asking for your support. Come hear the truth about
Canada’s ongoing attempts to colonize the Mohawk
Nation, with guest speakers: Clifton Nicholas from
Kanehsatake; Shawn Brant from Tyendinega, and
Kahn-Tineta Horn from Kahnawake. We will be organizing
an action network capable of reponding to urgent
requests for assistance in the future.

================================
Saturday June 19th
Public Assembly & Organizing Meeting
6:30pm @ CEDA, 2515 Delisle
1 block east of Metro Lionel-Groulx
Donations of non-perishable foods needed
================================
(Backgrounder follows)

Samedi le 19 juin
Solidarite avec le peuple de Kanehsatake!
Une assemblee publique et une rencontre d'organisation

Le peuple de Kanehsatake a resiste avec succes a une
invasion militarisee subventionnee par le gouvernement
federal et motivee politiquement. Ils ont mis leurs
vies et leur liberte en jeu pour stopper la formation
d'un Etat policier a la tete duquel tronerait le Grand

Chef James Gabriel dont le leadership lui-meme a ete
impose par une injonction en cour federale.
Vingt-quatre personnes font maintenant face a des
accusations de participation a une emeute et
sequestration d'officiers de police. La menace de
peine de prison qui plane sur leurs tetes n'a pas fait
de breche dans leur resistance. La lutte pour
l'auto-determination a Kanehsatake et les autres
communautes mohawks est loin d'etre achevee, et ces
communautes vous demandent de les aider. Venez ecoutez
un point de vue mohawk sur les tentatives du Canada de
coloniser la nation mohawk, avec conferenciers
invites: Clifton Nicholas de Kanehsatake; Shawn Brant
de Tyendinega et Kahn-Tineta Horn de Kahnawake. Nous
mettrons sur pied un reseau d'action capable de
repondre rapidement a des situations d'urgence.

=============================
Samedi le 19 juin 2004
Une assemblee publique et une rencontre d'organisation
18h30 au CEDA, 2515 rue Delisle (metro Lionel-Groulx:
un pate de maison a l'est)
SVP emmenez des dons de nourriture non-perissable.

******************************************************

BACKGROUNDER

Grand Chief James Gabriel of the Kanesatake Band
Council is a politician dazzled by powers given by
Quebec & Canada no matter the cost to his community.
People in Kanehsatake are fed up with Canada &
Quebec’s attempts to use Gabriel to undermine Mohawk
sovereignty, culture, land rights and economies.
Learning about Gabriel’s deals with government only
through press releases, the community`s been excluded
from decision-making - a cornerstone of the
consensus-based Mohawk culture. With Gabriel’s help,
Canada has nearly accomplished its goal of
subordinating Kanehsatake’s sovereign national status
to that of a municipality through Bill S-24, the
“Kanesatake Land Based Governance Act”. Canada’s
January 12th attempt at imposing totalitarian rule
over Kanehsatake - by funding Gabriel’s
privately-controlled, 60-person police force - left
community members no place in the affairs of their own
community. Or so Gabriel hoped. Since January 12th,
Kanehsatake residents have demonstrated their opinions
through militant resistance, and successfully stopped
attempts at outside invasion and political
interference.

In 1994, leaked documents proved Canada was planning a
6,000-troop military invasion of Mohawk communities
producing and selling their own cigarettes. One report
stated the need to “target the Indian’s claim to the
inherent right of inter-tribal trade with sister
Mohawk communities and the native run tobacco
manufacturing industry as a whole”. With all other
funds tightly controlled by Department of Indian
Affairs & Band Council, the Mohawk tobacco trade is
the one autonomous source of income enabling Mohawk
families and social services to sustain themselves. It
enables Mohawks to organize and fight Canada’s
attempts to assimilate and control them. The growing
economic strength of Mohawk Nations threatens the
implementation of Canada’s colonial agenda, it’s not
just about lost tax revenues. Canada’s January 12th
“extraordinary” police operation, and April 1st
Tripartite Policing Agreement (which transfers control
of policing in Kanehsatake to Canada, Quebec &
Gabriel) both aim to crack down on this Mohawk economy
not, as they claim, “organized crime”.

Chief Gabriel stated he wants his police to “cut the
head off his opposition”. Gabriel’s opposition is
Quebec & Canada’s too. This is why our governments are
so invested in Gabriel’s leadership they`ve been
making deals excluding half the Chiefs on Council and
the whole of the community. This is why Quebec &
Canada maintain Gabriel is “the sole legitimate
authority for Kanehsatake”. In the context of 21st
century colonialism, Canada rewards native “leaders”
willing to place their communities under Canadian and
provincial jurisdiction. Last year’s First Nations
Governance Act was defeated by the unified efforts of
Indigenous communities across Canada. Now the strategy
is to implement the legislation quietly,
community-by-community, in order to avoid collective
resistance. Once again Kanehsatake is drawing national
attention to Canada’s colonial agenda by standing up
to all the government can throw at them. They are
determined to not allow Gabriel’s collusion with the
state to undermine their rights, nor set a precedent
for the assimilation of other Indigenous Nations.

The future of Canadian/Indigenous relations is being
played out, right now, in the Mohawk Nation of
Kanehsatake. Kanehsatake residents urgently request
your presence to help prevent bloodshed in their
community, and

bring an end to federal and provincial sponsored
aggression. The community is calling for a
Mohawk-to-Mohawk, peaceful resolution to the crisis -
one not  under the gun.Solidarity with Kanehsatake
means standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the community
and sharing in the burden of their struggle.If you
can`t make it to Kanehsatake, call all Canadian &
Quebec officials involved in this ploy. Demand they
respect the Mohawk peoples`right to determine an end
to this crisis, and their political, economic and
policing future.

BILL S-24 - THE REVOLUTION IS BASED ON LAND!

In late 1999 Gabriel entered negotiations with the
feds to obtain lands purchased for Kanehsatake after
1990 Oka Crisis. As stolen land it should be handed
over without stipulation, but Gabriel was willing to
make concessions. In March 2000, Indian Affairs
Minister Robert Nault introduced Bill S-24  to senate
hearings. By May 15th the House of Commons passed the
Bill on its third reading. The community of
Kanehsatake were not informed or consulted about the
legislation.

June 2000 - As community celebrates Aboriginal day in
the Pines, Gabriel hosts secret party to sign Act with
Walter Walling (Department of Indian Affairs) &
federal negotiator Eric Maldoff. A Kanehsatake Mohawk
Police officer is spotted driving Robert Nault through
territory in police vehicle. No one else knows
historic moment is taking place.

September 2000 - Gabriel calls community referendum to
ratify Act without disclosing details. Despite massive
boycott by Mohawks demanding information, referendum
goes forward & Act passed by vote of 239 to 237.

Bill S-24 transfers $14 million worth of land to
privately held “Kanesatake Orihwa’shon:a Development
Corporation”. Lands transformed from
collectively-owned Mohawk territory into “fee simple”
private property. Bill S-24 removes Mohawk tax
exemptions & requires harmonization of Band by-laws
with laws governing Oka. Act turns Kanehsatake into a
municipality.

September 2001 - Chief Crawford Gabriel meets Walling
& Maldoff to re-open S-24 negotiations. He says
previous process didn’t respect agreements in place
for negotiations between Canada & Kanehsatake.
Crawford says Kanehsatake needs legal opinion on Bill
S-24, there hadn’t been informed consent, and 50% plus
2 vote not enough to pass lands issue. Crawford told
Kanesatake already met minimum requirements by Canada
to put deal in motion and S-24 must be respected.
Walling & Maldoff threaten if Kanesatake implements
Act money will flow into community. If not, they will
get nothing.

December 2001 - Community fed up. Gabriel kicked out
of office in vote of non-confidence. Federal court
overturns decision & issues injunction reinstating
Gabriel as Grand Chief of Mohawk Council.

LAW & ORDER?   CANADA TURNS BACK ECONOMIC CRIME 


James Gabriel & Council allies drive Kanehsatake
finances into the ground. Mainstream media reports
Gabriel’s opponents upset by promised crack-down on
crime. Residents, especially traditionalists, talk
about job loss & failed development projects that
never received operational financing. All cultural
programming cut, fund misapplied to pay Gabriel’s
legal bills & deficit grows day by day.

Since 1998 - Allegations against Gabriel include: Band
paid trips to Caribbean with allies;home renovations
for supporters; man with 16 criminal convictions paid
$110,000 to conduct undercover investigations on
opponents; $600,000 of budgeted project money
misapplied;$400,000 in personal loans approved &
$700,000 in contracts awarded without bidding
processes. From $200 million awarded for negotiation
of land claims, only one acre added to territory.
Council paid $250,000 for cemetery obviously “owned”
by Kanehsatake.

October 2003 - Kanesatake Mohawk Police Commission
report $109,043.79 taken from policing budget by
Gabriel to pay unrelated legal fees. Deficit causes
police cars to be removed from service due to unpaid
insurance bills & cuts police  communications in July
& December 2002 when Hydro bills not paid.

November 2003 - Kanesatake posts $1.3 million deficit.
Department of Indian Affairs orders Kanesatake under
financial trusteeship. PriceWaterhouseCoopers awarded
contract by Department without bidding process. PWC
hired to ensure money spent in appropriate amounts,
applied to correct programs. Instead, PWC denies
allocated program payments & misapplies $$ as directed
by Gabriel.Corporation paid $208,000 of $450,000 Band
Office budget.

February 2004 - Invoice dated September 2003 -
$4,552.33 for Gabriel’s PR firm Communication &
Strategy. Paid February 6, 2004 by
PriceWaterhouseCoopers from Kanehsatake Land
Negotiations budget. Total bill from Aug - Dec 2003,
$17,746.

March 2004 - Since PWC becomes third-party manager,
Kanehsatake deficit balloons to $3.1 million.
Solicitor General ignores requests by Chiefs for
forensic audit.

January 2004 to present - Conservative estimate for
Gabriel’s police around $100,000/week. Total - $2.5 to
$3 million.

ATTEMPTED POLICE SIEGE & MOHAWK UPRISING!

“Mohawks look at cigarettes as a political issue, not
a criminal issue”, says Kenneth Deer, editor of
Eastern Door.“Êveryone who is against Gabriel is being
painted as organized criminals and thugs. It stinks!”

December 24, 2003 - Gabriel, 3 loyal Chiefs & Chantal
Bernier Assistant Deputy, Solicitor General’s office
negotiate $900,000 deal for “extraordinary policing”
in Kanehsatake - strange day to conduct government
business!

January 2, 2004 - Band Council Resolution (BCR) passed
at unduly convened meeting allows 60-person police
force led by Terry Isaac & Larry Ross (two
ex-Kanesatake Police fired for tactical deficiencies &
abuse of authority) to enter Kanesatake, and disbands
community’s Police Commission. Canada recognizes
Resolution despite fact Band Office closed Jan. 2nd
and 3 Chiefs not invited to meeting. Quebec Public
Security Minister Jacques Chagnon later agrees BCR
illegal.

January 12th Police State - Sixty-seven heavily armed
police secretly recruited outside Kanehsatake laid
siege to Kanehsatake Police Station. Police Chief
Tracey Cross fired - replaced by Isaac & Ross. Neither
KMPC - responsible for hiring/firing police and
calling extraordinary police measures - nor 3 Chiefs
informed or involved in deals allowing operation.
Gabriel’s reasons for siege vary from crack-down on
organized crime and/or tobacco vendors to replacing
“ineffective” police force. Some recruits feel
betrayed - told they’d be conducted drug raids and
presence wanted in community. Chantal Bernier says
she’s unable to say why funds granted, but “relatively
certain” granted for “good reason”.

January 12th Mohawk Uprising - Illegally disbanded
KMPC occupy police station where police, taken
off-guard hide out. Outside, 300 people gather in
protest of siege & Gabriel’s audacity to bring in
Isaac & Ross. Invading force eventually tear-gas
protesters. A handful respond by  burning down
Gabriel’s home. Media demonize all protesters as
criminal & present Gabriel as crime-fighting martyr.
While Gabriel & Isaac appeal to Quebec to bring in SQ
& escalate crisis, three Chiefs & KMPC seek support
from sister Mohawk communities to bring  mediated,
peaceful end to crisis.

January 13, 2004 - Crisis subsides with De-escalation
Agreement negotiated by Kahnawake Grand Chief Joe
Norton, three excluded Chiefs of Kanehsatake, members
of KMPC, and leadership from Akwesasne. Reps from
Solicitor General’s office and Quebec Security
Ministry agree to plan. Joint Kahnawake-Akwesasne
police force evacuate invading force from Kanesatake.
Fired Police Chief Tracey Cross reinstated & protocol
for Kahnawake, Kanehsatake & Akwesasne PeaceKeepers
instituted to allow them patrol of the community.
Chagnon criticized by PQ & Assembly of First Nations
for signing Agreement which they say allowed
“criminals” to win. PeaceKeepers patrol Kanehsatake
until March 31, 2004.

Prime Minister Paul Martin, Premier Jean Charest,
Quebec Native Affairs Minister Benoit Pelletier &
Quebec Security Minister Jacques Chagnon all take
pains to say they recognize Gabriel as “the sole
legitimate authority in Kanesatake”. Negotiation are
conducted with Gabriel and loyal Chiefs only.
Pelletier says: “We want to ensure [Gabriel’s] return
in the community and discuss how we can reaffirm his
authority and political legitimacy in the community”.
To date, Gabriel conducts business from a hotel in
Laval, and his police force have not been allowed
re-entry into Kanehsatake.

POLICE STATE KANEHSATAKE

Kanehsatake’s Tripartite Policing Agreement (TPA) with
Quebec terminates March 31, 2004. New Agreement needed
for April 1, 2004. Government officials negotiate
Agreement with Gabriel and loyalists only. People in
Kanehsatake know force will be used to exact Gabriel’s
revenge against political opponents.

February 20, 2004 - Council and Police Chiefs from all
Mohawk territories meet to discuss mutual-aid protocol
ensuring Mohawk sovereignty and jurisdiction over
policing maintained in situations of communities
facing crisis.Gabriel not welcome at meeting.

March 11, 2004 - Opposition Chiefs call for 6-month
extension of patrol by PeaceKeepers to allow
opportunity to work toward long-term TPA with full
support of community. Gabriel meets with Chiefs from
Kahnawake, Akwesasne & Six Nations and agrees not to
sign TPA until Mohawk-to-Mohawk mediation process
completed. Lies!

March 16, 2004 - At a meeting moved last minute to
Hilton Hotel in Laval, Gabriel signs new TPA with
Pelletier and Chagnon behind a line of 50 Laval and SQ
riot cops. There is no media and opposition Chiefs
again excluded from negotiations they say, “willfully
and in bad faith by the government of Quebec”.
Kanehsatake Elders, residents, KMPC and Chiefs begin
occupation of their community’s police station.

April 1st Tripartite Policing Agreement

Contrary to propaganda on the Department of Public
Safety website which says, “The new policing agreement
sets out all the conditions for an effective and
politically-independent police force”, the April 1st
TPA brings Kanehsatake under Quebec jurisdiction as
well as Gabriel’s complete control. The deal dissolves
Kanehsatake’s community Police Commission and replaces
it with the Kanesatake Public Security Commission. It
is headed by Gabriel & loyal Chief Clarence Simon who
hand-pick three other members.

The three members, Gabriel & Simon select the
Kanesatake Police Chief & officers, and  in case
control slips over Police Chief and Commission, Mohawk
Council can overturn any dismissal of an officer made
by them. The new Police Chief must report directly to
the Quebec Minister of Public Security, and any
assistance required by  KMP must come from SQ & RCMP
rather than other Mohawk police services.

NO PEACE BY THE BARREL OF A GUN!

James Gabriel irresponsibly, and repeatedly rejects
plans for peaceful resolution to crisis in community.
PeaceKeepers in charge of policing Kanehsatake from
January to March find little if any criminal activity,
and absolutely no evidence of organized crime, grow
operations or burgeoning drug trade. Jacques Chagnon
also observes no law and order problems after
unannounced visit to community.

April 1, 2004 - Gabriel’s new Police Chief, Ed
Thompson, arrives at Kanesatake Police Station around
midnight by himself, tells staff to go home. Community
members continue to occupy building and conduct
Community Watch patrols. Chief Thompson never spends a
day in Kanehsatake. He and his force operate out of
municipal building in Oka.

April 10, 2004 - Opposition Chiefs meet Assembly First
Nations Emergency Response Unit rep Roger Augustine to
request assistance. Augustine recommends Ralph Brant
from Tyendinaga to mediate dispute. Augustine meets
Gabriel’s rep, Mike Stalk who supports proposal.

April 13, 2004 - Fourteen arrest warrants & 10 summons
issued against 24 Kanehsatake residents for January
12th protests. All charged with “participation in
riot” and “forcible confinement” of police officers.
No charges laid for burning of Gabriel’s home. People
arrested forced to sign condition of banishment from
community to be released – condition not imposed by
Mohawk community, but Chagnon and Crown - political
move to help Gabriel get rid of opposition.

April 17/20, 2004 - Gabriel meets AFN national Chief
Phil Fontaine who reports meeting positive. Gabriel
agreed to give answer regarding mediation proposal
after consulting with Chiefs. Gabriel does not contact
Chiefs or get back to Phil Fontaine, but on April 20th
sends TPA police with SQ escorts into Kanehsatake. Ed
Thompson and Larry Ross lead 14 officers through
community recklessly ignoring speed limits.

April 27, 2004 - Ed Thompson issues press release
stating he’s increased number of police officers in
order to increase pressure on those “preventing law
and order”. Wants to execute warrants on remainder of
24 people who’ve not yet been arrested. Says will use
force if need be.

April 28, 2004 - Gabriel scheduled to meet mediator
Ralph Brant at 10am, doesn’t show. Instead, sends 60
riot cops lead by Isaac to entry points of
Kanehsatake. Larry Ross among them.

April 29, 2004 - Ralph Brant meets with opposition
Chiefs and disbanded Police Commission. All agree to a
neutral 3rd party policing body to patrol community on
interim basis during mediation between Band Council
factions. Gabriel responds to Brant - will not
participate in mediation until “law and order
established” - his law and order.

May 3, 2004 - First day of court for 24 arestees.
Banishment condition overturned for all but three
defendants, due to unconstitutionality. Presedent
remains. Kanehsatake residents fed up with Gabriel’s
unwillingness to join mediation and cops hanging
around outskirts of community. Community initiative
repels cops from area.

May 5, 2004 - Day after death of Mohawk Warrior Joe
David (shot & paralyzed in operation lead by Ross and
Isaac in 1999) Chagnon announces deal with Gabriel for
joint SQ, RCMP, KMP operation to “restore order”
effective immediately. Gabriel chides Chagnon for
speaking prematurely.

Following week, Quebec Public Security denies
Gabriel’s request for $1.8 million for policing
through August. Feds haven’t said what they’ll do.

May 17 - Three Kanehsatake women address U.N. in New
York about international sovereignty and human rights
being violated by Canada. Canada walks out of meeting.
May 22 reps from High Commissioner for Human Rights
collect info on Kanehsatake to report to U.N.

May 25 - Chagnon tell Legislature Kanehsatake “much
more violent than the rest of society”. Dehumanization
before invasion.

May 28 - Four Kanesatake Police vehicles burned.
Chagnon assures legislature law-and-order prevails -
SQ allowed to collect evidence.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

The media portrayal of Kanehsatake as lawless and
opposed to policing is a lie. The community and
Council have repeatedly called for peacekeeping with
the simple and reasonable request it be delivered in
professional & non-partisan manner. Gabriel’s police
have criminal records,are under criminal
investigations, ethical complaints, are undertrained
or have been rejected by other PeaceKeeping forces.
Kanehsatake would have had proper policing long ago if
not for the political interference by Gabriel and his
supporters in provincial and federal governments.

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED

Kanehsatake residents urgently request your presence
to prevent bloodshed and bring federally sponsored
aggression to a halt. They want a peaceful negotiation
process – not one under the gun. The community is
asking for a Mohawk-to-Mohawk resolution without
Canadian and Quebec interference. Help hold the
Canadian and Quebec officials responsible for crisis
of their illicit manufacture of the Kanehsatake
crisis.

DEMAND:

1) 	A forensic audit into the third-party
mismanagement of Kanehsatake funds by
PriceWaterhouseCoopers & Hartel Financial Management
Corporation, completed to the satisfaction of all
Kanehsatake community members.

2) 	A judicial inquiry into conduct of all officials
involved in negotiations with Chief Gabriel  for the
purpose of policing in Kanehsatake including, the
Department of Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness;
the Quebec Public Security Ministry; the Department of
Indian Affairs and Ministry of Quebec Native Affairs.

3) 	A repeal of the April 1, 2004 Kanesatake
Tripartite Policing Agreement that was not negotiated
or signed by all Chiefs on Kanesatake Band Council,
nor the community of Kanehsatake.

4) 	A repeal of the Kanesatake Interim Land Based
Governance Act, as requested by the community, until a
fully funded legal review can be conducted, informed
community consultation can take place and a
pre-determined level of support for the Agreement can
be set to the satisfaction of all Kanehsatake
community members.

5) 	A judicial inquiry into the conduct of Federal
Negotiator, Eric Maldoff and Department of Indian
Affairs representative, Walter Walling for breach of
fiduciary duty and threats to the community of
financial punishment should Kanehsatake not to go
forward with Bill S-24.

For more info, or to endorse demands, contact
Indigenous People’s Solidarity Movement, Montreal:
ipsm at resist.ca

Please donate to: “Kanehsatake Legal Defence Fund”,
Account # 80962, Caisse Poulaire Dejardin, Oka, 1498
St. Philomene, Kanehsatake, Mohawk Territory, J0N 1E0

==========================================
Saturday June 19th
Public Assembly & Organizing Meeting
6:30pm @ CEDA, 2515 Delisle
1 block east of Metro Lionel-Groulx
Donations of non-perishable foods needed
==========================================




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