CP injunction – Mohawk Council of Kahnawake reacts

02/25/2020

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has taken out a province-wide interlocutory injunction to keep their tracks open. This includes the rails that run through Kahnawà:ke. Until today, CP had so far avoided this confrontational tactic.

The MCK is considering options in response, including challenging the injunction.

“First and foremost, we must make it clear to our own people that this injunction will not be executed on this Territory,” said Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “It is truly unfortunate that CP is taking this rash course of action, which will only add to the problems at hand.”

Furthermore, the MCK wishes to reconfirm that the Kahnawà:ke Peacekeepers are the only policing agency with jurisdiction in the Territory. The Peacekeepers have “no interest in criminalizing people for standing up for our rights,” Peacekeeper Chief Dwayne Zacharie stated at last night’s Special Community Meeting.

“No one here will do Trudeau’s dirty work,” added Grand Chief Norton. “Our people have been peacefully protesting on our own Territory. The prime Minister, and all politicians, need to understand that this is not only an Indigenous issue, but also a matter of the millions of people everywhere who are concerned about climate change and the never-ending corporate greed that continues to expand the use of fossil fuels and, of course, getting those fuels to market using pipelines.”

“I commend our people for remaining calm during this time,” Grand Chief Norton concluded. “We will continue to do our best to keep everyone informed on all developments in this situation. Meanwhile, history reminds us that the proper approach to addressing issues is through dialogue and discussion – not by sending in police.”