Eastern Door Volume 8 Number 17

Volume 8 Number 17

May 21, 1999

Father Lajoie Laid To Rest
By: Greg Horn

The St. Francis Xavier Mission Church was filled to the brim with family, friends and parishioners, who were there to pay their last respects to a man whose heart, they say, was as big as the church itself.

The service was overseen by Bishop Jacques Berethelet, C.S.V. of the St. Jean-Longueuil Diocese who also consecrated the burial plot where Lajoie was interred. However, his associate, Fr. Gustave Désourdy, Episcopal Vicar to the English language parishes in the Diocese, did a eulogy to Lajoie whom he had known for 30 years.

Also in attendance were the Knights of Columbus in full regalia. They were present on the alter and escorted the coffin to the graveside.

During the service, other eulogies were given by Fr. Yves Lajoie, Leon’s younger brother; Grand Chief Joe Norton who bid farewell to the "Capitaine," and former Grand Chief Andrew Delisle Jr. who gave some historical details, some of them humorous, of how Fr. Lajoie help and served this community.

But the highlight of the service had to be the singing of Annie Lahache. She sang for the church choir for 70 years and has not sung for some time. So, at the age of 95, sitting in a wheelchair at the front of the church, she sang, solo, in Mohawk, the Sixth of the Seven Last Words of Christ. Her voice was clear and powerful and filled the church. There was not a dry eye in the building.

Fr. Louis Cyr and Deacon Ron Boyer led the service on an alter crowded with other priests who were present for the funeral.

The church choir was in excellent form and, at the end of the service, while everyone filed out of church, they sang "I Believe", a favorite of Fr. Lajoie.

Lajoie was interred on the church grounds just outside his office window. n

Mon Capitaine was "a jolly good fellow"

Father Leon Lajoie, who has been known to many in the community as "Mon Capitaine" has passed away. During the morning hours of Friday, May 14, Father Lajoie passed away peacefully at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Jerome.

Many community members have been baptized, and got their first communion and confirmation from Father Lajoie. He also presided at the marriages and funerals of many community members. He spent 39 years in Kahnawake as a priest at the St. Francis Xavier Mission and devoted his life to the people of Kahnawake.

Father Lajoie was born on September 1, 1921 in Trois-Rivieres. He then entered the Jesuit order in 1940. After entering the Jesuit order he taught at the Tafari Makonen High School in Addi-Abeba, Ethiopia from 1948-50.

On May, 28, 1954 Leon Lajoie became a priest, having been ordained by Cardinal Leger in Montreal. He spent three years as assistant chaplain of "Le Bon Dieu en Taxi" in Montreal.

Then in 1957 he first came to Kahnawake temporarily. In 1961 he came to Kahnawake permanently. He replaced Father Labranche as pastor in 1963.

Father Lajoie suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and retired in 1990. He lived in the Jesuit Father’s Infirmary since 1996.

He recently broke his hip and received surgery for it last week. Following the surgery he developed a high fever.

Father Lajoie’s brother Yves, who is also a priest, speaks lovingly about his brother and of the love for Kahnawake he had.

"He listened more than he talked," remembers Yves. "He was a peacemaker, always doing things peacefully. He was always there when people were asking for him; he was always there without judging people.

"He was a man of joy," continues Yves. "He was a jolly good fellow, he liked to joke with people.

"He made our mother a devoted believer in Kateri Tekakwitha," said Yves. "He loved it here [Kahnawake]; he was at peace here."

That is why the family wanted him buried here in Kahnawake.

Father Lajoie was buried on the grounds of the St. Francis Xavier Mission here in Kahnawake on Wednesday afternoon. n

Burial in Kahnawake

Jesuits are buried in Jesuit burial plots. His burial at the church was an exception to his order’s rules.

The request for Fr. Lajoie to be buried on the church grounds came from the family. Fr. Cyr relayed the request to the Jesuits who said that he has to be buried in a proper cemetery. The family complied and agreed to bury him in St. Jerome. However, a request from the family did go to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and, after some discussion, they agreed to allow the burial in the church yard.

Fr. Cyr gave the same request to the Catholic Church Committee which also agreed. The last step was to get the approval of the Bishop, since a priest had to buried on consecrated ground. On Tuesday the approval was given and on Wednesday, just before the coffin was lowered into the ground, Bishop Berethelet consecrated the gravesite.

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The KYC Spring Into Action 24-Hour Challenge
By: Greg Horn

The Kahnawake Youth Center sponsored a 24-hour challenge walk in conjunction with the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP), on Friday, May 14 into Saturday, May 15. The purpose of the walk was twofold; to raise money for the Youth Center and to reinforce the value of physical activity.

The original goal of 1,000 participants was set by the staff at the Youth Center. They also had a goal of the total kilometers walked by everyone be equivalent to the distance from here to Vancouver. This event also coincided with the Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services Health Exhibition ‘99.

The walk began at 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning and lasted until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. There were four community members that were attempting to walk 12 hours each for two teams to walk the entire 24 hours.

The team of Rhonda Kirby and Alex McComber pledged to walk the 24 hours for KSDPP. When all was said and done on Saturday morning they had completed the entire 24 hours. Kirby had walked for a total of 12 hours while McComber had walked 12 hours and biked for an additional hour.

The second team of Landon Montour and Kaniehtake:ron Gilbert was not as successful. They lasted until approximately 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, totalling 15 hours. They did not last because Montour got too tired and Gilbert was suffering from shin splints.

By the end of the 24 hours, 1,329 walkers participated in the event, walking a distance of 6,900 kilometers and raising $6,894.14. The distance is the equivalent to Kahnawake to San Diego via Vancouver. The distance to Vancouver was reached by 4:00 p.m. Friday afternoon. By 7:00 p.m. there were 1,000 participants who had already taken part.

Out of the 41 organizations that participated there were nine that were able to have someone on the road walking for the complete 24 hours. They were; the Kahnawake Youth Center, KSDPP, K103, Onake, Kahnawake Fire Brigade, Adult Care Services, KSCS, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and Technical Services.

"It was the overall effort that made it a success," commented Davy Diabo of the Kahnawake Youth Center. "It over-exceeded our expectations."

Due to the overwhelming success of the event and how much people enjoyed it the Kahnawake Youth Center will most likely repeat it next year, according to the Youth Center’s Sharon Rice .

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MCK Forms Committee To Battle Swollen Taxes on U.S. Pensions
By: Dan Rosenburg

Remember the story in the April 30 issue of The Eastern Door when retired Kahnawake construction worker Peter White blew the whistle on government practices of inflating taxes on U. S. pensions drawn by Canadian residents?

Well, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is on the case.

The MCK has formed an ad hoc committee consisting of Band Councillors Phillip Jacobs, Myrtle Bush and Peggy Mayo, IRT members Mike Bush and Alwyn Morris, and tax consultant John Latour to protest the overwhelming tax burden, particularly as it affects local residents.

"We’ve already had a preliminary meeting," Mayo reports, "and we will take steps to fight this injustice." What steps? "It’s too premature to say," she replied.

For the MCK, this is a case of deja vu.

"In 1995 when the U. S. passed a policy saying that people who were living out of the country and were drawing social security cheques would be required to pay 25.5% tax, we mounted a massive letter campaign," Mayo recalls.

"When the government agencies, such as the IRS and social security, received tons of letters from Indian residents, they reversed these policies. So our people enjoyed tax exemptions for three years.

"But in 1996 Canada and the U. S. passed a tax treaty that particularly hurt senior citizens," Mayo says. "Widows whose husbands had worked in the States and who were receiving social security cheques in a ‘foreign country’ were seeing those cheques converted into Canadian currency, boosting their revenue by half. This was now declared taxable income."

"We’ve been receiving a lot of phone calls lately about these problems," says Mayo’s MCK colleague Myrtle Bush. "In fact, we began getting calls the minute Canada started assessing these taxes.

"We want to see if we can get the governments to take another look at this. The problem is not directed exclusively at Native people, but affects anyone who receives income from the U. S. We’ll do whatever we can to turn it around."

At the source of the quandary, Bush cites a recent Canadian Supreme Court decision which stipulates that Natives are tax-exempt on the reserve but that income earned off the reserve is deemed taxable.

Bush insists the ad hoc committee "will be working on this issue as vigorously and vigilantly as we do on all things affecting our people. But it’s a tough battle because Canada is very zealous about collecting taxes.

Bush admits the MCK "could use a very knowledgeable tax lawyer who knows how to reduce the (tax) bite. Maybe we could work out a way whereby our people could pay part of the assessment now and let us find ways to reduce or eliminate the rest. But it’s a tough call if you work off the reserve."

A recent letter to the editor in The Montreal Gazette outlines the plight of an 88-year-old woman who, under the new rules, must pay five times the amount in taxes she paid in previous years.

Chartered accountant Robert Kerr replies that the new measure "is negatively affecting many Canadian residents this year and will for years to come." He doesn’t believe people who protest this treaty "will have much luck."

He says that "instead of returning to the former rule where only 50 percent of social security was taxable, the U. S. increased the taxable income to 85 percent," a 35 percent hike, as duly noted by Peter White in this newspaper last month.

Kerr recommends that people upset about the change should send their complaints to federal Finance Minister Paul Martin. "With enough letters, he might be encouraged to re-examine the question," Kerr offers.

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MCK Studying Akwesasne Banishment Laws
By: Susan Jacobs

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) is studying the Akwesasne Banishment laws to see if we can incorporate them into our own laws. Here is a brief description of how Akwesasne’s banishment laws work.

The Akwesasne Banishment law uses a well-known traditional method to punish persons who have inflicted harm to the community, or offended and breached community standards by drug trafficking or engaging in drug activities. In order for the Akwesasne Banishment law to work in Kahnawake, our laws must be the same as or similar to theirs. Otherwise, we will have to develop and enact our own banishment laws from scratch.

The banishment law recognizes the importance and priority of the collective rights of the community over the individual right of the drug trafficker. Akwesasne drug and banishment laws are targeted at the drug trafficker who is of legal age, within or outside the territory. Persons under 18 are dealt with in a separate law.

Akwesasne Drug Law

It states in the Akwesasne Drug Law that community knowledge of a person trafficking in drugs or illegal activities relating to drugs is valid if that person is the subject of a written complaint by a member and supported by evidence obtained by police. The police report is then sent to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor then prepares a report, detailing the basis for community knowledge and evidence. If satisfied, he will then advise the Akwesasne Justice Dept. who will in turn initiate the Individual Warning Process.

The Individual Warning Process consists of community members 18 years and older who proceed to the individual’s home or place of business to deliver verbally and in writing a warning to immediately cease all activities related to drugs. The individual is also informed that if the warning is not heeded, he/she is liable to banishment proceedings. The warning is also given to the individual’s family. The individual has 14 days to respond to the prosecutor.

Banishment proceedings:

If there is no response from the individual or an indication to change his or her ways, the Justice Dept., in consultation with the police and prosecutor will initiate banishment proceedings.

After the Application for Banishment is filed by the prosecutor, the "respondent’s" name is published in a local newspaper, along with date, time and place of hearing for individuals who want to make their presentations.

The court will then hear evidence from the prosecutor and witnesses, then from the respondent and respondent’s witnesses. After taking everything into consideration, the Mohawk Court’s decision will be published, and posted in a public place.

A respondent may appeal the decision and may stay in the community until after the Appeal Tribunal has made its decision, if the appeal is made immediately after conviction.

If convicted by the Appeal Tribunal, notification is sent to all other communities in the Iroquois Confederacy. Banishment orders are also enforced in all other tribunals in Akwesasne.

A visitor’s permit is allowed for compassionate reasons, not to exceed 72 hours during which the individual is supervised by a member of the community. Convicted persons may also make an Application to Rescind an order after they have rehabilitated themselves and are no longer a threat to the community. It is also a violation to harbour the subject of an order from any tribunal.

Chief Vaughn Phillips of the Akwesasne Band Council says the banishment laws were initiated by the community. Since then, all of Akwesasne’s councils have met and consulted with the community. After consulting with the Elders, youth groups and individuals by themselves, the Tri-council and three times with the Nation, they have revised the drug law 16 times, the banishment law 10 times and three drafts. It took a year and a half to get to where it is now.

Chief Phillips points out that this draft is more lenient than Traditional ways as it allows for a visitor’s pass. But he says it is for extreme emergency and the circumstance of each individual is taken into consideration. Chief Phillips said this draft is proposed law and will be voted on for law on May 29. If this draft becomes law the council will enact it immediately. If it is not voted on they will have to start over.

Myrtle Bush of the MCK said the MCK has a draft to start with but will also be presenting the three separate steps in the Akwesasne Banishment Laws to the community. They will also consult with Kahnawake groups, committees and the different Longhouse representatives. All recommendations will be taken into consideration.

How banishment laws affect Kahnawake as a community will depend on how severe the community wants the penalty and how the community in general respects the banishment laws.

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Chiefs Victorious In Vermont
By" Al 'Arbor' Diabo

The Kahnawake Chiefs Masters Lacrosse Club recorded its first tournament victory of the year this past weekend in Vermont.

With Valleyfield withdrawing due to money problems and Akwesasne not showing up, Vermont put together a split squad against the Chiefs.

On Saturday, the Chiefs won the first game 15-10 and the second game 9-7.

On Sunday in the finals, Eddie Delaronde drew the nod in nets due to an injury to Dickie White in game two. There was no rust showing as Ed closed the door, and the Chiefs cruised to a 15-7 win.

The big gun was Pete Delormier with four goals. Howard Rice had three goals and two assists, Darren ‘Orr’ Diabo had two goals and four assists (a total of 21 points in three games) and Ricky Diabo had two goals. Singles went to David Charles, Davey Diabo, Ron Sky and Perry Cross.

The Chiefs again showed true sportsmanship and a good time was had by all.

The next tournament is scheduled for June 12-13 in Cornwall. There will be an exhibition game or two before, so until the next tournament, keep those shooting strings tight.

See you at the arena.

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Editorial

Au Revior, Mon Capitaine
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

There are very few people that can win the respect of the high majority of Kahnawake. Fr. Leon Lajoie S.J. was one of those persons.

His passing was saddening to many people even though they knew he was ill for some time. The impact of the loss of Fr. Lajoie was much lessened by the fact that he had retired years ago and was convalescing in St. Jerome at the time of his passing. Had he died while still active, the shock would have been devastating for many people.

Lajoie was the kind of man who could not say no when asked for his help. He would help anyone no matter what their religion or social standing. As a matter of fact, he was there for the underdog more often than not because many times he was the only one who would stand up for them.

He has helped people in financial need, family crisis, legal entanglements and many other dilemmas that face people in any society. Lajoie believed that the he was here for the people and not the other way around. He was always humble and was reluctant to ever take credit for any of his work. he always credited God for his good work.

While a certain amount of respect is given to persons in the priesthood, Fr. Lajoie earned the respect of the people by his words and deeds and not just because he wore a white collar.

More than just a parish priest taking care of the spiritual needs of his constituents, Lajoie was thrust into a community in the midst of change. During his tenure here, he witnessed the ongoing struggle of Kahnawake to wrest control away from the Department of Indian Affairs and into our own hands.

Former Grand Chief Andrew Delisle Sr., in his eulogy to Fr. Lajoie, described how Lajoie helped in keeping the Surete du Quebec out of Kahnawake. When the RCMP were being phased out of Kahnawake and the Province of Quebec was preparing to insert the Provincial Police (QPP) in their place in Kahnawake, the Band Council wanted to have their own police force instead. Fr. Lajoie’s contacts were invaluable. His father was a judge and Lajoie arranged a meeting with him. His father gathered other people in the justice system of help Kahnawake. When the Band Council met with the Quebec Government, Kahnawake had all these legal personalities on their side and were able to convince the government to accept the notion of our own police, which became the Amerindian Police Force.

Lajoie had that kind of impact on our development. But he never told us what to do. He just gave his advice when it was asked of him.

There are hundreds of stories about Fr. Lajoie. Almost every family in Kahnawake has their own. And everyone thinks fondly of him.

His resting place in the courtyard of the church may be appropriate. An unprecedented burial for an unprecedented man.

Au revoir, mon capitaine.

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Comics

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