[IPSM] MNN Haudenosaunee meet to map out strategy (fwd)

[Jaggi Singh]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:47:25 -0400
From: Orakwa International Indigenous Ent. <orakwa at paulcomm.ca>

THE MOVEMENT HAS BEGUN!  HAUDENOSAUNEE MEET TO MAP OUT STRATEGY



MNN.  April 19, 2005.  The political movement of consequence of our people 
has begun.  We are ready to go forward.  On short notice, we, the People, 
met on April 18th 2005 to discuss the path we are about to take.  Many 
came.  A wonderful array of food was set out for us.  In our way, food has 
always been kept at the ready.  It means that kinship continues between 
those who had shared food.  Our host knew that hungry clanfolk can discuss 
important matters after a good meal.

             Agenda.  Our host handed out the agenda.  It was a photocopy 
of a photo of famous Indigenous leader, Geromino, standing with his three 
men, at the ready.  The caption was, "Homeland Security - Fighting 
Terrorism Since 1492".  That said it all!

             Suggestions.  After hours of discussion, the first suggestion 
was to organize a gathering of the People of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois 
Confederacy).  Many have already started working on this.  From what we 
saw, many are new to this whole Iroquois Confederacy situation of 
ineffective leadership. We all know that the Grand Council has to change. 
As one speaker said, "This is not about you, me or any individual.  It is 
about our People".

             The second suggestion is setting up the Haudenosaunee Womens 
Council.  The colonial strategy was to destroy the traditional role of our 
women.  They knew that the women were the foundation of our society from 
whom our nations derived their strength.  The hearts of our women are not 
on the ground.

             We are regaining the balance between the duties of the women 
and the duties of the men.  Our complementary political activities will 
take us safely through these difficulties times we are facing.  We will 
achieve peace through consultation and consensus.

             Inclusive.  One speaker referred to combing the snakes out of 
the hair.  There will come a time when we will have to extend our 
hospitality to those who are suffering from moral and ethical derangements 
which have harmed us.  They can come back.

             Everyone had the same concerns.  We are facing attacks by New 
York State.  We are fighting back.  If we don't fight back, it is the 
death of our People.  Kaienrekowa (Great Law of Peace, our constitution) 
reflects the natural world, the perfect reality, which is ongoing, and 
changing constantly.  Because of the Kaienerekowa, we are open to the 
natural reality and are therefore able to adapt without compromising who 
we are.

             Major reorganization.  There is an important connection 
between our struggle for self-determination, the development of our people 
and the preservation of the environment.  There needs to be a major 
rethinking of how colonial government is organized.  Defending our rights 
is not just a matter of "giving" us a chunk of land here or there, a 
casino and carrying on according to the colonial mode.  It is reorganizing 
how everything is done.  It will take some time for us to complete.  It 
involves a major rethinking of how an economy is run.  If we don't embark 
on this work, there will be a major environmental collapse.

             We are of one people.  We are of one cause.

Kahentinetha Horn, MNN Mohawk Nation News, kahntineta at hotmail.com