MCK supports local participation in peaceful ShutDownCanada day of action

02/11/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform Kahnawa’kehró:non that it supports community participation in the #ShutDownCanada day of action planned across Canada for this Friday, February 13th.

“While Canada needs to be taken to task for its many shortfalls and, while we support the right of people to protest and make their voices heard, we want to remind participants that great care needs to be taken to ensure a peaceful, safe and respectful event,” said Chief Lloyd Phillips, who is one of the chiefs responsible for the Public Security file. “There is a significant portion of Kahnawa’kehró:non that are insisting that participants act in a responsible manner. We’re concerned that some people may use this event as an opportunity to act in a manner that the community does not, in fact, support.”

“Certain misinformation has been distributed via social media in an attempt to stir up emotions for this event,” added Chief Phillips. “Specifically, rumors have been created to imply or infer that there is a plan for a pipeline to be built through the community, which is absolutely untrue. Accusations that the MCK has pressured a local organizer to ‘stop all protests about the pipelines’ are completely false. Spreading misinformation like this may actually be detrimental to the cause. Basically, people are asked to be aware of the facts.”

The MCK is not involved in the planning or organization of the #ShutDownCanada events.