RCMP Tense Amid Indians’ Uneasy Calm

Advertisements

By PAUL KIDD, Spectator Staff Writer

The 6,000 Indians who have their homes in the Grand River Country are sitting on a volcano.

And it is one which could explode without warning.

Behind what some outsiders regard as the incredible happenings of the last two days on the Six Nations Reserve, 25 miles from Hamilton, a dangerous situation is smouldering.

This is recognized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are waiting for “a tribal showdown” at any time between the elective and hereditary councils.

It could, said Inspector H.C. Forbes, result in mob violence.

https://vitacollections.ca/sixnationsarchive/3175885/image/2724087?n=32

“IT’S OUR JOB to see that this doesn’t happen,” declared the officer commanding the London subdivision, who has moved on to the reservation to take personal charge of the Ohsweken detachment.

If and when such a fracas did come, armed Mounties would probably have to act as “referees”.

So far it has been a bloodless revolution. Some 1,000 supporters of the Confederacy, ignoring RCMP warnings that they were breaking the law, tore down the doors of the council house and reinstalled the hereditary chiefs in power.

BUT the elected councillors, who slipped out of a back door 10 minutes before the building was broken into, have the support of hundreds of Indians who favor the democratic system of internal government introduced in 1924.

This faction has so far voiced no protest. To the Mounties, it is an ominous silence.

It is believed that the elective system’s supporters – of which there are at least 700 – may soon hold a mass meeting to indicate their rejection of the hereditary council.

If the two groups clashed, it is hard to predict what would happen, observers say.

IN THE MEANTIME, the RCMP will continue to recognize the elected council as the legal governing body on the reservation.

But the Confederacy has proclaimed itself the territory’s “only government.”

For the hereditary chiefs are seriously applying every word of their proclamation of independence, which outlawed the RCMP as the law enforcement agency at Ohsweken.

Supported by at least 1,000 men, women and children – and maybe more – the Confederacy is showing disregard for Canada and its laws.

“If one of our people should break the law, we will arrest and try him,” said 26-year-old Irvin Logan, who has been named “Chief of the Iroquois Police.”

IT WAS YOUNG MEN such as Irvine Logan who were responsible for the overthrow of the elective system.

Several hundred of these “warriors” suddenly gave active support to the 50 old hereditary chiefs, who had been plotting to regain power for 35 years – and the revolution was accomplished.

The 80 men and women in the Iroquois Police Force are identified by black-and-white IP armbands, and each has been issued with a “deputy’s warrant.”

Their first arrest was that of two visiting Indians from Buffalo who had been involved in an auto accident.

FOLLOWING a brief imprisonment in the cellar of the council house and trial by the chiefs, the Indians were freed on condition that they paid all damages.

So far as the Iroquois Police are concerned, the two Indians have been punished for their “crime”. They are considered outside the white man’s justice.

Nevertheless, the RCMP have investigated the accident.

Word reached the RCMP that the Confederacy was planning to open a safe, containing documents and several hundred dollars, in the council house.

MOUNTIES MOVED in on the building to warn the chiefs that such a move was illegal, but their way was barred by Iroquois Police.

“THE MOUNTIES wouldn’t dare touch any of our people,” declared Irvin Logan. “Just let them try…”

Before 1924, the Indians had their own police force. Now, they maintain, they have it again.

“Police Chief” Logan said that the law would be carried out in the traditional manner of his people. All offenders would by tried by the council of chiefs, who would impose fines of imprisonment.

BUT, in accordance with a time-honored agreement, any Indians committing the crimes of murder, rape, theft or forgery would be handed over to the RCMP for trial by a white man’s court.

“The sooner the Mounties leave this reservation the better,” declared Irvine Logan. “They are trespassers here, and they are not wanted.”

The RCMP officers are disregarding this talk.

The alarming thing is, the Indians mean it.

Coyotes Carcasses Dumped on Newport Road

Advertisements

Ohsweken- A resident was travelling back to the territory when they came upon a gruesome scene on Newport road. An individual had dumped several Coyote carcasses along the side of the road. 

Dumping area

Coyotes are not the most loveable canine species and are often called nuisance animals with costly bad habits. 

Evidence suggests that killing these animals is the least effective way to control behaviour as the population is widespread and growing. So instead, Hazing is recommended. 

Coyotes

But what was most disturbing was the simple disposal alongside the road. Other locals reported that this is not the first time animals have been killed elsewhere and relocated to this spot. 

The area has been subjected to dumping with fast food packaging and household waste; now, someone has taken to drop off their kills. 

The act of dumping is undoubtedly a cost-saving measure and to avoid responsibility under the rules and regulations set by the province for their citizens. 

Clans: From The Central Fire in Onondaga

Advertisements

A long time ago when the Creator placed us upon Mother Earth, each family was asked to go out of the village and tell about the animal they have witnessed. When they reported what they saw, that became the “clan” of your family.

The women who are our life-givers were given the important responsibility of carrying on the clans and the citizenship of the Haudenosaunee. At Onondaga, there are nine “clans” which are; wolf, turtle, beaver, snipe, heron, deer, eel, bear, and hawk. Only an Onondaga woman can provide Onondaga children. Only an Onondaga woman of the turtle clan can provide Onondaga turtle clan children, etc. Therefore, children are very proud of their clans as it automatically gives them a link to their female ancestors back to the beginning of our people.

Yakowennahskats

The clan system lives throughout the Haudenosaunee. People of your clan but of different nations are still considered to be part of your family. This is important when you travel through the different nations of the Haudenosaunee. You know that there are people willing to welcome you to their lands as being part of their family.

The role of clans also plays a part in marriage. When a young person looks to marry, they look to individuals from other clans. Even if you are not of “blood relations’ ‘, they are a part of your clan family. Since clan members no longer all live in one longhouse, mothers, grandmothers, and aunts watch to make sure that it’s a good match.

Yakowennahskats

Our clan system is also important in our way of life. When you are in need of help in tough times such as sickness or death, it is the duty of the members of the other clans to help. The Creator gave us this method of helping each other to make sure that we care for one another to make us strong which has helped us survive as a people for countless centuries. We look to our relations in the other clans for help.

This post can be found on the Onondaga Nation website.

Chief Asks No-Strings Indian Vote

Advertisements

(Originally printed in The Brantford Expositor in 1959)

OTTAWA (CP) – A federal vote for the Indian without any strings attached was urged Tuesday before the joint Commons-Senate committee studying Indian affairs.

Edward P. Garlow, elected chief councillor of the Six Nations Council near Brantford, said Christopher Columbus found the Indian in North America when he arrived. Yet the Indian today had to waive treaty rights if he wanted to vote federally while immigrants could obtain a vote after a short time.

Original Article

Chief Garlow said he refrained from voting provincially – as Indians are allowed to do in Ontario – because he was afraid he would jeopardize his standing as an Indian.

“I’d be tickled to death to vote federally,” he said amid committee applause. “We want to play our part.”

Raise Several Points

The voting question – Indians in the Yukon and Northwest Territories are allowed to vote without strings – was among a number raised by Chief Garlow and Councillor Fred Hill.

One concern voiced was that members of the Six Nations tribe who decide to leave the reservation become eligible for payment of a sum of money as their share of tribal monies held in trust.

But the fund would go broke if this kept up at the pace of $2,000 or $3,000 a year. One problem was that an Indian girl could leave the reservation, collect her money, marry a Six Nations Indian and become eligible for another slice of the fund.

They also complained that a CNR spur line is being built on their land without permission. Indian affairs officials said they will check this.

While Citizenship Minister Fairclough listened attentively, the two spokesmen also complained that the Indian Act fairly bristles with phrases indicating wide-scale powers are held by the minister.

“We know you wouldn’t do anything to us,” Councillor Hill said to Mrs. Fairclough with a big grin. “But we’re guarding against someone else who wouldn’t be as good as you are.”

Mrs. Fairclough said she thought it probably was a matter of legal terminology customary in statutes that is to blame.

The committee will hear different – perhaps opposite – aspects of Six Nations thinking today when delegates of the hereditary chiefs from here offer their opinions.

It will be the first open contact between the chiefs of the Six Nations Confederacy and federal authorities since the chiefs sparked open revolt and claimed the reservation as a separate country in March.

The revolt was put down by Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

While the confederacy modified its “separate country” argument in the dying moments of its uprising, it is not expected to claim much less.

Confederacy Secretary Arthur Anderson Sr. and Assistant Secretary William Smith are the delegates.

High Stakes and Big Money

Advertisements

A joint statement released by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and the Six Nations of the Grand River has a few members asking for more information while others are questioning if these decisions made by the Band Council are valid?

Houses Of Bills

Rewind to the release of The National Economic Benefits of the Canadian Gaming Industry: Key Findings Report on June 19/2019. Canadian politicians hadn’t yet seen the results of the legalization of cannabis and those profit margins when their attention turned to the gambling industry. 

It didn’t take long for a private member bill to make its way to parliament calling for an amendment of the criminal code for the National foot to get into the 17.1 billion dollar market.

Yakowennahskats

Make Laws to Make Money

The first reading of a private members bill C-218 was brought forth by conservative MP Kevin Waugh on February 25, 2020. Its goal was to change the criminal code to legalize sports betting and manage it closely by a provincial regulatory body. 

The bill explicitly addresses online betting for racing, MMA Type fights or other single sport or athletic events, except for horse racing. 

It received Royal Assent in April 2021, giving provinces the green light to develop their policies. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario or AGCO  is the same regulatory body that oversees cannabis, alcohol, and gambling will also handle the Igaming industry in Ontario. 

In January of this year, Ontario announced an IGaming portal to go live On April 4 of 2022.

Photo by Jonathan Petersson on Pexels.com

Betting on shutting them down.

Kahnawake elected administration attempted to work with federal ministers; however, Waugh’s legislative assistant stated that it’s not a national issue. 

Instead, the assistant advised the administration to deal directly with the province despite their extensive history and dealings with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. 

A press release from the elected official Mark Hill addresses his grievances over the new legislation and the failure to consult with First Nations with an established presence within that industry. 

At this time, the Six Nations administration is calling for a pause to Ontarios IGaming until all involved nations can amicably resolve things. 

Is there more to add to this story?

Did Canada Back Out On A Part Of The UN Genocide Treaty?

Advertisements

A communication was forwarded to the United Nations in July 1948 with a specific direction from Canada. 

The request was that any reference to Cultural Genocide be removed from the United Nations Convention on genocide in article three. Otherwise, the delegation must boycott the entire convention according to the memorandum.

The thought being If assimilation were successful, then the by-products of this policy wouldn’t be happening. 

It was easy to dismiss the oppressive Indian Act as one promoting the civilization of Onkwehonwe; in fact, it was the exact opposite. However, public access to data and resources for the general public was non-existent, so the narrative took hold.

Despite a Physician, several heads of state and the entire league of Nations/United Nations knowing, It was a time when the only people being listened to about what was happening in Canada were those committing the crimes or those intentionally asking others to ignore it.  

You should support or initiate any move fort the deletion of article three on “cultural” genocide.If this move is not succeddful, you should vote against Article three and if necessary, against the convention. The conventions as a whole less article three is acceptable, although naturally legislation will naturally be required to implement the convention. 

You will find support in the United States point of view expressed on part 10 of document E/794. You should refer also to resolution 96(1) of the assembly on Decembwer 11, 1946 defining genocide which it should be argued, excludes “cultural” genocide from the terms of reference given by the general assembly to ECOSOC. The matters dealth with by Article three are more properly relevant to the protection of minorities

Secretary of state for External Affairs

The Prevention and Punishment of the crime of genocide

The United Nations began to prepare its draft Convention on “The prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide” in 1946, the following year after World War II had ended. All United Nations members voted to implement the elements of articles under the convention without ever questioning why Canada wanted to remove cultural genocide

The political persona of Canada was relatively untarnished. 

1948 Postage Stamp

It was time for what some would call the beginning of Canada’s Golden era! So naturally, Canadian Politicians placed great importance on establishing strictly Canadian values and morals in the public forum. However, behind the scenes was a much different picture. 

A newly elected Prime Minister, Louis St Laurant, launched a vigorous campaign against communism and fought for Canada to have greater independence within the British Commonwealth

Ironic, isn’t it. 

Exit mobile version
%%footer%%