[IPSM] Update from Grand River, January 27, 2007

[fiona at resist.ca]

----- Original Message -----
From: Hazel E. Hill
To: Orakwa International Indigenous Ent.
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 10:17 PM
Subject: Update from Grand River, January 27, 2007


I've re-attached the last update I sent out last weekend because it didn't
get out
to my regular circluation.  It went from my laptop, and because my home
computer was
in for repairs, i am re-sending it to all those on the mailing list.  This
way, you
get two at once!

On Thursday we had the main table meeting as scheduled, and if you watch
CH TV 11,
you'll see that the position of the Crown hasn't changed, and they've once
again
utilized the media as a negotiating tool as if to proclaim something new
or great.
It's nothing great, and it certainly doesn't offer any new evidence of any
sale or
lease.  For that matter, it doesn't even refer to any factual cases of
canadian law.
 The document that they refer to is nothing more than an OPINION!  It is
not FACT,
nor is it the LAW to which we have agreed to for the negotiation process. 
And
furthermore, it is not surprising.  It is exactly what we expected.  Did
you really
think they were going to make some great announcement and admit that they
had in
fact stolen our lands, stolen the lease monies, and made up deeds for all the
fraudulent land sales and leases throughout the years for all those living
within
the tract.  Not likely!

They will continue with their tactics of using the threat of courts to try
and
discourage us.  What they failed to mention was that within that court
system there
are numerous cases in which the Department of Justice ('DOJ') has been
found WRONG;
including cases such as Guerin, Sparrow and Badger, and Dalgamuuk.....all
of those
cases dealing with indigenous rights.  In a press release earlier today,
Chief Allen
MacNaughton reminded the world that "Canada is trying to rely on a
Department of
Justice "legal" opinion, which in reality is a political position on Six
Nations
land rights," and further says "The Department of Justice has taken the
position,
wherever possible, to limit the assertion of rights and claims by
indigenous peoples
to protect the Canadian public purse."

Well, we too have our own opinion with respect to what the Crown has
tabled, and we
have our own "legal experts" that have helped us to provide points that we
tabled
with the Crown on the same day.  I have asked and have been given
permission to
share those points with you..........

1.  Relying upon the position of the Department of Justice  is
inconsistent with the
spirit and intent of the Two Row as Two Row sets out a Nation to Nation
relationship
and the DOJ is not a Nation.

2.  Relying upon the position of the DOJ requires an assumption that the
Canadian
legal system is to apply to the resolution of disputes further to the
Treaties and
the relationship between the Haudenosaunee and the Crown.  This is
inconsistent and
contrary to Two Row which does not allow one party to place itself in the
others
canoe and which does not allow one party to pull another into its ship.

3.  Even IF the position of the DOJ was relevant, it would not be of
assistance,  as
DOJ takes position that Haudenosaunee are 'Indians' or 'First Nations'
which they
are not.

4.  DOJ takes political positions not legal positions.  They have a
political agenda
to limit, wherever possible, the assertion of rights and claims by 'First
Nations'
in North America,  to protect the public purse.  In the course of trying
to push
this political agenda through the courts,  they have been consistently
found wrong.


So again a reminder,  the LAW which they are obligated to follow,
according to our
relationship and ancient covenants, IS the Two Row.  They have just as much
responsibility to it as we do, and they have many generations of neglect,
manipulation, corruption and genocide to answer to.  There is nothing on
that Two
Row that leaves room for their DOJ opinion, there is nothing on the Two
Row that
allows them to defend their actions of the past, and there is nothing that
they can
say to absolve themselves for violating the Laws of Creation.  They can
only begin
to right the wrongs, IF they are serious, and continue with the process of
re-polishing the chain as we work our way through this peaceful
negotiation process.

Does their position worry us?.............not one bit.  Does our position
worry
them?............what do you think!  Do you think the fact that they've had a
complete oral history, backed up and supported by written documentation and
historical evidence of facts presented to them;  against their pathetic
position of
"we believe the courts would find in our favour" without an ounce of
documentation
to back it up..... it certainly should worry them.  Their action and
attitude of
tabling this document is like being in a school yard fight when the bully
gets
busted for his actions, and he desperately tries to deflect away from his own
actions by pointing fingers at everyone else,  and making an issue of
everything
else but the issue at hand.  They try to deter from the TRUTH.  And that's
all this
is.  Another smoke screen.
They need to get honest with their citizens.  They know that they have
frauded the
Onkwehonweh, and they know they have frauded the people of Caledonia, as
well as the
rest the people living in the municipalities, towns and townships along
the grand.
And they know they can't continue to try and bully their way through this.
 This
isn't the playground or school yard, and they can no longer hide behind their
unilateral acts and presumptuous law.  If the Crown wants to continue to
challenge
the Creator by undermining the Law that we are standing in defense of, so
be it.  As
long as they understand the consequences of such actions.  As I've often
said........The Eye of the Eagle is Upon You, Govern Yourself Accordingly!

This morning, the Confederacy Chiefs and the Elected Band Council had another
meeting together.  It was a good start at looking at the issue of
governance in our
community, and by no means do they agree on all things, but in my opinion,
 it was a
good beginning.  By sitting down and looking at things that they do agree
on, brings
them another step closer to the Unity that we envision for all the
Onkwehonweh.  The
way I see it, it was like the first step in a process of healing.  For
generations
we have internalized the oppression that has been created by the Crown
through its
genocidal practices (including the implementation of the Indian Act),  and
we've
allowed the divisions that were created as a result of that oppression to
perpetuate
into the weakness and divisions within our community.  We've turned on
each other
and we've blamed each other for not being able to move forward;  rather than
directing that energy and dealing with the originators of that oppression.
Today, we
ARE dealing with our Oppressors, and we are doing so in Unity & Peace.  We
are doing
so in accordance with the Kaierenekowah, and unlike them,  we do so with
respect and
honour, even toward those who sit across the table from us at
negotiations, all the
while they continue to enforce genocide....... through the Indian Act,
through
forcing our people onto deck of their "ship" in their court house, and by
constant
interference in our canoe.

In spite of all of that,  if we truly believe in doing what is right, if
our heart
is sincere and our mind is clear and our intent is not about what it does for
ourselves, but what it does for our children and our grandchildren, and the
generations to come;  then we do have a commonality, and we can move
forward.  We
can be of one heart & one mind, and we can speak with one voice, for the
highest
good of all concerned.  And that really is,  all we can ask of each
other....................  It is that simple.


In Love, Light and Peace,



Hazel