Volume 1 No. 7
April 24, 1992
KAHNAWAKE MOHAWK TERRITORY
Volume 1 No. 7
April 24, 1992
KAHNAWAKE MOHAWK TERRITORY
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The Nation office is making public a proposal entitled "Mohawks of Kahnawake Interim Government": a proposed model of government in Kahnawake, designed for the transitional period between the present day and such time as when a traditional system of government can be restored here. The March 20 draft version of this proposal states two objectives: "The promotion and implementation of traditional government according to Kaienerekowa" and "the maintenance of community administrative and operational requirements during the interim".
The proposal addresses the second objective through a balanced legislative structure which, in theory, features equal representation of both voting and non-voting Kanonsonni:onwe populations in Kahnawake. The two are, in effect, brought together under a single legislative process, which allows for a large degree of community consultation on both ends.
A section of the proposal entitles "initiating interim legislation" has the following primary directive: The Kahnawake Kanonsonni:onwe Community Advisory Council, and the Executive Director are to act on behalf of the Mohawks of Kahawake to promote and establish traditional government within the territory of the Mohawks of Kahnawake, according to the Kaienerekowa."
The actual structure of this proposed interim government consists of two representative odies, a "Civil Authority" which is elected by the voters, and the Kahnawake Kanonsonni:onwe community advisory council" (KKCAC) which is appointed by the traditional members of the community. There would be six seats on the KKCAC, which would serve for an unspecified term of office. These positions are not chiefs' positions although traditional chiefs may fill them. Thhose who do fill these seats would require knowledge of the Mohawk Language and Kaienerekowa.
The Civil Authority would have anywhere from six to nine seats, which would serve a two year term of office. In either case, both bodies are selected in accordance with the respective procedures each system (traditional/non-traditional) would ordinarily follow.
Each of these two legislative bodies would appoint an advisor/operational assistant (one each) whose functions would include seeing to the administrative and operational needs of his/her respective appointors. In addition, these people would also be responsible for providing information from the Executive Director's office to their legislative body, as well as the community members each body, in turn, represents.
Finally, there is the Executive Director. This person is appointed by the Civil Authority and approved by the KKCAC. As each legislative body, for the purpose of initiating interim legislation is responsible for bringing their part of the community's concerns into the central legislative assembly, the Executive Director is, likewise, responsible for the operational and administrative concerns of administrative personnel and all community services, including concerns for the well being of Kahnawake's civil work force.
At the legislative level, however, the Executive Director has no actual decision making authority, as he/she is only a facilitator there. Executive level responsibilities include the provision of budget reports, management services and communications with external jurisdictions just to name a few.
Once a piece of interim legislation has been initiated (as described in the previous paragraph), either legislative body may adjourn the legislative assembly to consult the community components they represent. (Moreover, the Executive Director may request an adjournment of the legislative assembly to consult those administrative entities he/she represents). A reasonable period of time for such adjournments must be agreed upon by both legislative bodies and the Executive Director. When this period lapses, the Executive Director recalls the assembly for the resumption of the proceedings.
In the final legislative process, the Civil Authority must first be satisfied with the law, regulation of declaration at hand or whatever the case may be. It is then ratified by the KKCAC. When the entire legislative assembly is in agreement it becomes the responsibility of the Executive Director to announce the passing of the decision to the public and to implement it.
Apart from the consultational adjournments in the legislative process itself, both the Civil Authority and the KKCAC are responsible for regular meetings with their respective constituents and the Executive Director, and each other. In the legislative process, each of the bodies must not only regard the concerns of the people they represent, but also, the concerns of each other's constituents, as respectively presented by the other body in the legislative assembly. Above all, any decision by this proposed interim government on behalf of the Mohawks of Kahnawake, is subject to the approval of both the Civil Authority and the KKCAC>
Purposes for consideration: Some pros: 1) This proposal seems to be quite well balanced in terms of overall representational equity, resource in its design to suit both voters and traditionalists alike. 2) There is a sizable emphasis on consultation, both as standard procedure and as may be required in the actual legislative process. 3)This proposal intends to have the entire community working together in the pursuit of traditional government. Achieving unity in this primary goal can only be positive. Some cons: 1)In its present state this proposal makes no mention of the juducial branch of government. 2) The entire executive branch function of this interim government, appears to rest on the shoulders of one person (Executive Director). 3) As is the case with any proposal for interim government, its success is ultimately dependent on community acceptance and participation.
Some sample commentary on this proposal was fielded from the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. While some council members remarked that it was "OK as an idea" and that it "deserves consideration", others said it was one-sided and people may not accept it and expressed concerns about the proposal's feasibility in 1992. Meanwhile, Andrew Delisle Jr. of the Mohawk Nation Office, described the proposal as "workable" with "participation by the people," he also said that, "This whole transition would be an education" for everyone and as such, things would happen "gradually". This is not a 'marriage' of the two systems. The traditional council will still exist and continue to meet.
For more information, contact Andrew Tioteroken Delisle or Jeffrey at the Nation Office at 638-4750.
After the 29th day of jury selection, the available pool of 2500 has been whittled down to approximately 70 candidates. So far 4 jurors have been selected and 37 have been stood aside by the Crown, while approximately 155 pre-emptory challenges remain available to the defense. The process will continue to April 29th when the last of the candidates will be interviewed and the stand-asides will be processed. This will be the longest jury selection in Canada's history for the largest number of defendants under one indictment in Canada's judicial history.
On April 15th after the candidates of the day were processed, several motions were heard before Judge Tannenbaum. Richard Corriveau, who represents most of the defendants, had petitioned the court to subpeona Owen Young as a wirness for the defense during the up-coming trial. Young was active in the Nation Office during the Crisis of 1990 and could potentially be valuable to the defense to bear witness to the efforts made towards a peaceful resolution to the Crisis. Julio Peris who was representing Georgina Mitchell along with Young, filed a motion to quash any such subpeona since such action would preclude Young from representing anyone in this trial. Young was placed on the stand and in his testimony minimized the role that he took during the Crisis. Tannenbaum reserved his decision until after jury selection.
Under the heading of taking things to the extreme, the status of Young's standing with the Quebec Bar Association was also brought into question by the Crown. This matter also would require further clarification after jury selection is concluded. Tannenbaum reminded the Crown that when Owen came back on the case on March 15, he was permitted to go back on record.
In another motion, Corriveau withdrew from representing Larry Thompson, Loran Thompson, Sandra Deer and Richard Two-Ax per their prior request so that they could be represented by Peris. Kahentinetha Horn continues to represent herself while Corriveau represents the 33 remaining defendants.
British Columbia resident Kecia Larkin told a packed room of 350 Native Canadians about how limited her sex education was. "Mother gave me a book on chickens when I was young and I guess she thought that would help me learn about how people do it," the 21-year-old Kwakiutl woman recounted during the first Quebec Native AIDS Conference held April 6-8 at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel du Parc in Montreal.
Larkin caught the HIV virus after leaving home for a fast-paced urban lifestyle at age 15. She said she hopes other Native youths learn more about the dangers of HIV transmissions than she did, a likely prospect thanks to the efforts of she and the other AIDS educators present at the conference. "You don't need to have a bachelor's degree to educate people about AIDS," said Larkin, the subject of a federally-funded videotape ("Kecia - Words To Live By"). "You just need a heart."
Delivering an impassioned plea without reading from notes. Larkin, who most likely caught the fivus from a boyfriend, said facing death has given her life more focus. "I never thought when I was growing up that my success in life would be this," she said. "But it is mine and I own it>"
A contingent of Kahnawake health-care and social service workers attended the conference, which drew a larger turnout than anticipated.
Only 43 Native Canadians have been diagnosed with AIDS, according to mid-February statistics released by Health and Welfare Canada. Approximately half, 22, have died thus far. Conference organizers note that the figures only reflect "full blown" AIDS victims, not those with pre-AIDS conditions or persons carrying the virus. An AIDS - related suicide, such as that of a Kahnawake resident who jumped off a bridge after finding out he tested positive for the virus, is not included, for example.
Much higher incidence rates in the U.S. and elsewhere combine with already commonplace STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and alcohol abuse on reserves paint an alarming future, according to McGill epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Hankins. "What we know is we're at the very beginning," said Hankins.
Conference attenders also heard from a gay Cree man whose illness caused a stir in his hometown and an AIDS educator knows affectionately as the "Condom Granny." After a tribal official announced on a local radio station that Nolan Mamagesick, 26, was suffering from AIDS, others in his hometown of Sandy Lake, Ontario, ostracized him and his family. Mamagesick said his family was "terrorized" in the community of 1,200.
"It's really sad to see how my people have responded to this," said Mamagesick, now a worker with the Minitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force.
Community health representative Jackie McPherson, 59, has not encountered many problems with religious opposition in her travels to the "bush". After taking small planes, boats and even "ski-doos" to remote reserves, McPherson demonstrates effective condom use by placing them on wooden models of the male sex organ. By speaking plainly about delicate matters, McPherson said her task is a rewarding one.
"When I go into the reserves, I'm not there to promote sex," the Blackfoot woman said. McPherson also noted that denial of sexual problems and teenage pregnancies are commonplace on the Prairie reserves she visits.
Those in attendance also heard about an Edmonton needle-exchange program and saw a play by Native writer Evan Adams about the difficulties of growing up gay on a reserve. They were urged to move forward by a James Bay Cree facilitator. "Don't wait until there are cases of AIDS in your community," said Clara Velarde. "Don't wait until you get the funding either."
Michael Higgins, a Mohawk, grandson of Margaret Phillips of Kahnawake, was covering the conference for the Lakota Times, Rapid City, South Dakota.
After the very long summer of 1990, there was some concern that the summer of 1991 would be long and hot as well. There were suggestions that another crisis would develop; that the police or armed forces would try to enter the village by force or that the police would provoke an incident causing a confrontation. Tensions were high because of the heavy police presence on our highways and there was the occasional incident at the checkpoints.
However our people held together quite well. The highlight of the summer had to be the outstanding Pow-wow held at Kahnawake on the anniversary of the beginning of the Crisis of 1990. There were approximately 28,000 people who attended the Powwow over the weekend. Considering that the at-home population of Kahnawake is 6,500, and not everyone from Kahnawake attended, that translates into huge number of non-Indian visitors over the weekend. There did not seem to be a will to have another summer-long confrontation and none developed.
The summer of 1992 is coming and one wonders if this one will be long and hot. There is a restless feeling in the air. Young people are milling about in large groups, there are fights between rivals, there is vandalism. Infantile adults are beginning to race up and down our streets and there is an increase in the harrassment by outside police. Driving down the Old Malong Highway is like a scene out of the movie American Graffiti.
All of this could just be part of the rites of spring. People walking and driving around on the first warm weekend of the year after being cooped up by a winter that was much too long. One hopes so.
With the crisis of 1990 further and further behind us, the pressures that were on us seem much less. 1992 might be our first "normal" summer in some time and this bears watching. What is considered normal these days?
1989 was our last incident free summer, 1988 had the June 1 raid by the R.C.M.P. What is different about 1992 from 1989? We have more Peacekeepers and S>Q> and R.C.M.P., but do we have less crime? Drug use may be higher. Alcohol abuse is still very high. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake reaffirms its commitment to Traditional Government and some say this may be the last election year. Cigarettes are still un regulated and the bingo issue is replaced by a different group suggesting casinos. The "Warrior Society" is now the "Men's Society". We have more people in court for political charges than ever before. The inheent right to self-government would never be considered before this year. And 'KRK Radio changed from country and western to top 40.
Everyone probably has their own ideas about that is different. Some are political, some are social. How long and how hot the summer ahead will be depends on our ability to deal with issues in a rational, lobical manner. Emotions must be kept in check or channeled into productive energy. This applies to the young as well as the old.
And maybe we will remember the summer of 1992 as long and hot because of the temperature not the tempers.
The Kahnawake Minor Hockey Association's First Annual Friendship Tournament ran a little over schedule, but was a definite success. The power may not have been in the aren's wiring, but it was in our people.
Parents, coaches, players and fans were all fantastic. All games were easily re-scheduled with a note of cheeer and goodwill.
The weeks or organizing before, throughout and after our tournament were all the work of many dedicated volunteers. People who gave their time and caring can never be thanked enough.
Many generous friends within and outside our community were eager to donate their services and financial aid. Gifts were given to all players along with MVP Awards for all games. All teams who made it to finals received trophies as a token of friendship.
Kahnawakeronon and our visiting communities pulled together to make our First Annual Friendship Trounament a success. When people work together, there is nothing they cannot achieve.
We would again like to extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone who supported Minor Hockey this year. These children are our future and they deserve our best! On a proud and hopeful note, we would like to bid farewell to the 1991-92 hockey season.
Nia:wen kowa
Kahnawake Minor Hockey Executive
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