Kahnawake facing new assimilation threat

11/13/2018

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that it has taken a stance against the �Collaborative Process,� which is the second phase of Consultations on the Bill S-3 amendments to the Indian Act � legislation that will have devastating consequences for Kahnaw�:ke and all First Nations across Turtle Island.

The MCK has been warning the community, the Mohawk Nation, the Iroquois Caucus leadership, and Chiefs from across the country about S-3. According to Canada�s own estimates, over a million new Status �Indians� will be created based on very open criteria. Of this, between 35,000 to 65,000 are expected to be added to the Mohawks of Kahnaw�:ke Federal list. Many of those persons would likely have no connection to our community by either ancestry or family ties and, over a very brief period, they will significantly outnumber the Kanien�keh�:ka of Kahnaw�:ke.

A Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke Executive Directive (MCED) rejecting the S-3 �Collaborative Process� was passed unanimously at yesterday�s duly-convened Council meeting. The MCED, along with accompanying open letter, will be sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Crown Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, reiterating the MCK�s disapproval with the poor to non-existent level of discussion with First Nations on the potential impacts these amendments will have on our communities.

These changes are contrary to Canada�s highly-touted promise of a Nation-to-Nation relationship and Reconciliation. In effect, Canada is dictating to First Nations who belongs within their respective Nations instead of letting us make that determination. Kahnaw�:ke has maintained the position that only the community can determine who is a Kanien�keh�:ka of Kahnaw�:ke. Additionally, more protective measures, such as a Residency law and a potential Land Holdings law, are being established to help to defend our community from this explicit attempt to assimilate us.

�The citizenship of the Haudenosaunee or other First Nations is within the jurisdiction of those Nations � not Canada,� said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. �The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke cannot support the Federal Government�s so-called �Collaborative Process,� which is an attempt to appropriate the Haudenosaunee�s inherent right over citizenship. We will engage our community on how our people wish to deal with S-3 and come to a unified community position.�

�Now, more than ever, we need to assert ourselves as Onkweh�n:we and as Kanien�keh�:ka and work together to combat this threat,� said Iets�nhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, who is the  Membership portfolio lead on behalf of the MCK.