Eastern Door Volume 4 Number 23

Volume 4 Number 23

July 7, 1995

Landmark Policing Agreement Proposed
By: E.J. Diabo

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has worked out a proposed agreement with the Federal and Provincial governments to recognize the status quo regarding police services within the Territory of Kahnawake, and is now looking to the community for input.

The proposed tripartite police agreement would be an interim arrangement for a period of one year and includes previsions for termination or amendment of the agreement at the end of such time. It contains provisions for peace, order and public security within the Territory and intends to establish functional relations between governments.

Since the establishment of the Peacekeepers in 1979, the MCK has continuously met with much difficulty in attempting to reach such an agreement with their Federal and Provincial counterparts. However, they are now confident that the current draft proposal contains "sufficient substance" to be brought forward for community consideration.

"This agreement was not created in the last three months because the PQ got in and they are trying to buy us out", said MCK Chief negotiator, Arnold Goodleaf.

Goodleaf is very excited that an agreement can finally be reached, but says, it is in no way a "fait accompli". He points out that there is no time table or date set for a signing, and stresses that the community must first be consulted.

In a special edition of the MCK's monthly newsletter, called Onkwarihwa'shon:'a (Our Affairs), many key elements of the proposed agreement are outlined and a chronological history of policing in Kahnawake as well as related negotiations with the governments are provided, dating back to 1966.

The newsletter points out that perhaps the biggest coup in the agreement is the fact that the Peacekeepers will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Quebec Police Act (QPA).

"What is existing in Kahnawake, the institution of the Peacekeepers, the community's right to establish a peacekeeping unit is what's on the table", said Grand Chief, Joe Norton.

The proposal also includes the recognition of the Peacekeepers as being distinct from other police forces in that they will not be interpreted as being a municipal or Provincial force. Further, the agreement provides that the Peacekeepers will be accountable only to the Mohawks of Kahnawake, and to no other authority.

"With the signing of the agreement, it does not mean that the Federal and Provincial Governments are legitimizing what we are doing", said Norton, "All we are saying is, we need a relationship between each other."

In the newsletter, it also states that the proposed agreement would be entered into without jeopardizing any Aboriginal, Treaty or other rights, but instead, is intended to establish a framework for effective cooperation between governments with regards to the maintenance of a police force. The agreement is also intended to bring to an end the joint SQ/RCMP patrols on the Territory of Kahnawake.

The MCK plans to make the community aware of the draft proposal and its content through a three-day open house to be held at the Kahnawake Fire Hall, July 13-15, 1995. Council Members, Peacekeepers and MCK technical staffers will be on hand, with copies of the official proposed agreement, to give explanations and respond to questions and concerns. The MCK will also introduce the proposed agreement on today's (July 7) Partyline Talk show at noon on K103 radio.

Policing Proposal - Main Elements

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has worked out a proposal agreement with the Federal and Provincial governments regarding police services in the Kahnawake Territory. The proposal contains many elements relating the provision of peace, order, and public security within the Kahnawake Territory and to establish constructive functional relations between the parties. The main elements of the proposal are as follows:

The parties agree that:

The Mohawks of Kahnawake will maintain their police force (Peacekeepers) duly constituted under the authority of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake responsible for maintaining peace, order and public security within Kahnawake Territory; for preventing crime and offenses pursuant to the laws applicable within the Kahnawake Territory; and to seeking out offenders;
the Kahnawake Peacekeepers police force is of a distinctive nature, and the agreement shall not be interpreted as meaning the Kahnawake Peacekeepers police force is either a provincial or municipal police force;
in order to ensure the continued independence of the Peacekeepers, the MCK will set up a special body accountable to the Council and the people of Kahnawake for the activities of the police force and responsible for establishing its goals, objectives, priorities and management policies, and for overseeing their administration;
hiring standards will continue to be applied;
in future, the Chief Peacekeeper will be sworn in a public ceremony, and other members of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers will be sworn in by the Chief Peacekeeper;
the Kahnawake Peacekeepers will be governed by the existing code of professional conduct (ethics code);
a new process will be established to handle a complaint against a member of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers in respect to a derogatory act committed by an officer in the course of performing his or her duties;
a four member liaison committee will be established as an advisory body responsible to oversee the administration of the agreement. ( 2 members-Kahnawake, 1 member-Canada, 1 member-Quebec);
the parties will take the necessary steps to ensure mutual assistance and cooperation amongst police forces & officers with respect to the effective application of their respective jurisdictional responsibilities;
Canada and Quebec will contribute to the financing of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers on a scale of Canada - 52% and Quebec - 48%;
the joint SQ/RCMP patrols will cease;
the agreement is interim for one year;
the agreement is without prejudice to the Aboriginal, treaty or other rights of the Mohawks of Kahnawake;
The agreement provides for amendments, termination, and general administrative provisions.

The Council will be consulting with the Community about this proposal over the next few weeks and we would appreciate your input into these discussions.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake - 1995/06/22

RETURN

5th Annual Echoes of a Proud Nation POW Wow
By: E.J. Diabo

When we spoke to Coordinator Steven McComber for this fifth and final pre-POW Wow '95 article, his mind seemed more focused on the bustling activities of the site's set up as we talked on Kateri Tekakwitha Island.

The installation of grand stands, drummer's arbor, lights and the all important generator, were being securely put into place during this past week.

"We have enough power in our generator for Eddy Van Halen, just in case he decides to make a sudden guest appearance", joked Steven.

But in all seriousness, the months of work and preparation by the entire POW Wow Committee and their dedicated volunteers, will come to fruition as the gates open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 1995, featuring a few welcomed changes to the POW Wow format.

With over 500 dancers expected to enter the competitions, for the first time in the POW Wow's history, the committee is pleased to present traditional Mohawk songs and dances as part of the regular program. One competition to look for is the all-new "Iroquois Smoke Dance", which makes it debut at the '95 event.

As described in the official '95 POW Wow program, the history of the Smoke Dance dates back quite some time. It is said to have gotten its start when, "In the old days, when we lived in bark longhouses, the smoke didn't always rise from the fire pits. Young dancers would gather around, close to the fire, and their vibrant, fast movements made the smoke rise."

Look for the smoke to rise this weekend as this new category will be open to dancers from "Tiny Tots" through to Elders who will vie for cash prizes.

Of course, before any competitions get underway, each day will start with the Grand Entry, a procession to mark the beginning of the day's events. The Honor Staff leads the procession and the dancers follow according to their dance competition category.

The Honor Staff are selected by Echoes of a Proud Nation POW Wow Committee to serve in the headlining positions of Head Judge, Joe Plain (Ojibway), Head Dancers, Wayne Clelend (Ojibway) and Dawn Madahbee(Ojibway), Head Veteran, Sherman Butler (Ojibway), Host Drum, White Eye. They are chosen for their particular skill, knowledge and reputation of performance. This year's Master of Ceremonies will be Bill Crouse, a Seneca from Salamanca, New York.

The Grand Entry sees the dancers enter the ring in a clockwise direction, signifying the pattern of the sun. After all the dancers have completed the circle, a prayer is offered by an honorable community elder, after which the POW wow dancing and festivities begin.

McComber would like to acknowledge all the help that the committee has received in preparation for this event, artwork of their official logo to be used on the entire back page of the program.

"Renewing our spirits through the power of the drum" is the theme of this year's POW Wow, which takes McComber, "In maintaining our tradition of communication and good relations with the Native and non-Native communities, we extend our hand of friendship to all."

RETURN

Editorial

Negative Attitude Result of Government and Media
By: Kenneth Deer - The Eastern Door

Warning tourists not to enter Kahnawake is just a symptom of the relations between Mohawks and the general public.

Perceptions abound about what Native People are like, from school text that described missionaries being burned at the stake, to new reports of masked and armed warriors entrenched in a pine forest. In some areas of North America, Native communities are places to visit to see 'Indians' dressed in traditional costumes and beating drums or to see third world living conditions in the middle of the richest countries in the world. None of these descriptions are the norm, but everyone of them has some truth in it.

Before the crisis of 1990, very little was generally known about the Mohawk People in Quebec. Most Montrealers didn't even know a Mohawk community existed anywhere near Montreal.

Montrealers, and most Canadians, learned about us through the press during and after the crisis of 1990.

Where did people get this idea that it was dangerous to enter Kahnawake? Probably on television, in the pages of daily newspapers, radio news and talk shows. The press has to take a large responsibility for the image people have about Mohawks. The press has not been above sensationalism in reporting Native issues such as armed and masked warriors, cigarettes, gasoline, Hydro bills and Natives separation from an independent Quebec. Misleading media reports have influenced the public so much that a poll by LaPresse in February of last year indicated that 54% of those polled believed that Native People had a better standard of living than the average Quebecer. An outrageous conclusion considering that Natives are on the bottom rung of the economic ladder, have the highest unemployment and some of the worst social conditions.

Still, after this poll, radio talk show hosts such as Gilles Proulx of CKAC continue to unleash tirades against Mohawks. As recently as this week, Mr. Proulx attacked the Peace Exchange between Kahnawake and Chateauguay, an attempt to mend fences between the two communities. Perpetuating rifts between Natives and non-Natives makes for good ratings and more advertising dollars.

The whole issue of Native bashing is not limited to the press. The two levels of governments have used Mohawks as their favourite whipping boy. Witness former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney speaking about Mohawk involved in the land issue in Kanesatake as criminals in a national television broadcast. A court later acquitted forty of these people but the Prime Minister's portrayal still rings in Canada's ears. The Parti Quebecois and the Bloc Quebecois rode a wave on anti-Native sentiment in their campaign trail. Now that the Parti Quebecois is in power, any attempt by the Quebec Government to be conciliatory to Native is met with resistance from some of their electorate who expect a 'get tough' policy towards Natives. An example is the hunting and fishing rights package offered to the Montagnais, an offer which is being heavily protested by neighboring nonnative communities.

Are there solutions to this problem? There is no quick solution. The current public perception took years to develop and it may take years to repair. Montreal's source of information, the media, must make a concerted effort to give fair and balanced reporting on Native issues. There is a need for more positive articles on Native People to counter the negative, sensationalist stories. In depth, analytical features to help explain our world view and our vision of our relationship with Canada and Quebec are needed. How about some Native journalists and columnists? These are far too rare in the mainstream media.

The Quebec Government itself must tone down its rhetoric toward Native People. The Minister for Public Security, Mr. Menard, stated a few weeks ago that a separate Quebec would hold back funding to certain Native communities over taxation issues. Such statements may gain favour with the 'redneck' population, but they continue the impression that Natives need to be 'punished.' The Government also could quickly recognize our police force, the Peacekeepers, which has been operating since 1979.

Kahnawake is a special place. Standing next to Montreal for over 350 years, we have kept our language and traditions and resisted assimilation all these centuries. Our differences make us special, not dangerous. We have lived with our neighbors in relative peace and harmony all these years and if our land and people are not threatened, we will continue to live peacefully. The choice is yours.

RETURN