Eastern Door Volume 7 Number 22

Volume 7 Number 22

June 26, 1998

Chevrette Open To Discussions
Meeting with MCK indicates that Quebec is considering options
By: Kenneth Deer

A meeting was held last Friday with Quebec Minister of Native Affairs, Guy Chevrette, to discuss the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake's declaration to initiate user fees on our highways, waterways, railways and on utilities. The informal meeting was held at the Airport Hilton with Grand Chief Joe Norton and some technical support staff. Nothing of substance was agreed upon except to keep the lines of communications open.

Chevrette indicated that it was better to have discussions on the tax issue than to revert to confrontation. Without committing himself to anything concrete, Chevrette stated that there were ways to compensate Kahnawake for the loss of land to highways and utility lines passing through Kahnawake territory. Details were not discussed but the message was clear that options were being considered by Quebec to avert any confrontation over user fees in Kahnawake.

The MCK did not think the meeting was worth any large announcement as nothing of substance was concluded. But were encouraged by the open door that Chevrette has offered.

Compensation instead of tolls

An anonymous source said some of the options that Quebec could be considering is a straight payment of a sum of money to Kahnawake equivalent to the amount that could be collected in tolls. Quebec then could avoid a confrontation over the erection of tolls on routes passing through Kahnawake.

Similar formulas could be considered to cover user fees for waterways and utilities that pass through Kahnawake.

While these options are just speculation, it mere fact that they are being considered promising. The MCK has no comment on this speculation at this time.

In the meantime, the MCK has begun the process of preparing legal and administrative processes that are needed to assert its jurisdiction in the application of user fees. These will only be draft laws and codes but will be prepared for the time that it may be needed to enact.

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After 20 years, KSS graduation is as unique as the school itself
By: Cory Phillips

The twentieth class of Kahnawake Survival School graduates had their graduation ceremony this past Saturday. This being somewhat of a milestone for the school, it was perhaps one of the most emotional graduations in the school's history.

Fortunately, the recent series of rain storms held off for one day and the graduation ceremonies were held outdoors on a sunny, hot and humid day. It was the first year that the ceremonies were held in their new location behind the administration building. The old site was rejected this year because of damage caused by the ice storm.

The graduation started as usual with the thirteen graduates making their traditional entrance led by Babe Hemlock followed by the Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen (traditional opening) by Onawario John Cree. Prayers and well wishes were also given to the graduating class by representatives of the Roman Catholic, United and Pentecostal churches.

The graduates were then addressed by several speakers from organizations in the community.

Peggy Mayo and Tiorahkwathe Gilbert spoke on behalf of the Band Council addressing the graduates in English and Kanienkeha respectively. The Combined Schools Committee was represented by Amelia McGregor and Alex McComber.

The awards and scholarships were then presented to the graduates. Following the perfect attendance awards, the Science "Nerd" Award for excellence in the sciences was presented by science teachers Joanie Lacroix and Amro Elzeki to Travis Kawisaienton Rice.

Brandyce Barnes was presented with two scholarship awards, the first of which was a bursary from the Jeanine Beauvais scholarship, awarded to her for excellence in the subject of Kanienkeha. She was also awarded the Tionores Muriel Deer Award, which is awarded to the student who best demonstrates commitment to building the Mohawk Nation. The award was presented by Laurie Deer.

The presentation of this award was the one very emotional moment of the afternoon. Deer had to stop her presentation several times to compose herself as she delivered her speech, which recalled memories of her mother and her dedication to the Survival School and its cause.

Another student who brought home two awards that day was Pamela Stacey who was awarded the Kateri Memorial Foundation Award as well as the Special Science award. The awards are for graduates who are going into the health and science field. Stacey has been accepted into the nursing program at John Abbott College.

This year some new awards were also introduced. Two students, Angela Karonhiakaste Stacey and Ryan Kanen'to:ton Cross were awarded for their effort in French.

This was the first year that the Carpentry Awards were given out. The award for excellence in the carpentry program was given to Kasti'stake:ron Canadian. The second award for the most improved student was presented to Tommy Stacey. Both Carpentry Awards were accompanied by special gifts donated by local contractors and craftsmen. A new power saw was given to Canadian and a tool belt was given to Stacey.

The students were then called up to receive their individual diplomas and gifts.

The keynote speaker for this year's graduation was Onawario John Cree. Following his speech was the valedictorian speech which was given first in Kanienkeha by Travis Kawisaienton Rice then in English by Amanda Wasontiio Rice.

On the occasion of the twentieth graduation at the Survival School, many of the speakers took the time to mention what a unique school it is and how it has become an important institution in the community. The speakers included graduate Pamela Stacey, who gave a special address to the class which related some of the same feelings from a students point of view.

Principal Russell Curotte also took advantage of the occasion to officially hand off his duties to Vice-Principal Tewehni'tatshon Delisle and welcome Harley Delaronde as new Vice-Principal.

Before the closing remarks and Entewatenho:ten (traditional closing) by Tiorakwathe, a new tradition for the graduation ceremonies was introduced. It was suggested by teacher David McComber that everyone in attendance greet the graduates in the same manner as a traditional greeting. Everyone was asked to line up to shake the graduates hands and congratulate them and wish them good luck in their future endeavors.

The graduates were then led out again with a song sung by Babe Hemlock. Teachers and parents of the graduates provided a buffet meal which closed this memorable graduation.

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Editorial

Some court decisions are open to question
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

Why is Watio Lazare and Brian Jacobs still in jail while other people, who some may consider are more dangerous to society, are out on bail?

While pleas for help for Lazare and Jacobs may not be getting wide community support, there is an argument that they are being made examples of and that that may be a travesty of justice. The Crown has argued that the two are a danger to society and should not be released on bail. The prosecution has presented hours of testimony, as yet untested in court and not necessarily admitted as evidence for the trial, to convince a judge that Lazare and Jacobs should remain in jail from last October until their trial this coming September.

Yet at the same time, there are individuals from this community who have been caught and are accused of trafficking in restricted and illegal guns such as fully automatic weapons but are free on bail. The Crown does not seem to think that these people are a threat to society. Nor does the Crown think that a convicted child molester is a threat to society an allows him to walk free until his sentencing next October.

There is definitely something wrong with this picture.

In a related issue, should the courts decide who could reside in Kahnawake and who can't? While there is much debate over the membership code and who has the right to live in Kahnawake, the courts have been making decisions for us.

Recently, certain individuals who are accused of crimes have bail conditions that forbid them from being in Kahnawake for certain lengths of time. While banishment is a traditional method of punishment, the right to live and reside in Kahnawake should be decided by Kahnawakero:non and not an outside judge.

It is true that the judge may only be trying to protect the community from undesirable elements but other bail conditions can protect the community just as well. And, if not, than the accused should not be let out on bail.

Banishment is more of a political decision and should be left in the realm of the community to decide.

Awards time again

The Eastern Door received first prize in Quebec for the Best Newspaper Promotion Award for our Adopt-A-Lot Spring Clean-Up Challenge for 1997.

The awards presenter, Karen MacDonald from the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, had high praise for the simplicity yet huge impact of such a promotion. To rally the community to clean up the environment on Earth Day was a noble cause and the results were very tangible. She highly recommended that each newspaper in Quebec should adopt the same kind of promotion in their own communities.

Thanks to Kahnwakero:non for taking part in the clean-up and helping The Eastern Door win this award.

On the national level, The Eastern Door won a Blue Ribbon for General Excellence in our category, under 3,000 circulation, for the second year in a row. Although we didn't place in the top three in Canada, winning a blue ribbon indicates that the judges feel that The Eastern Door deserves some merit.

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