22/08/2019
ROTINONHSESHÁKA Ne KANEHSATÀ:KE
Seské:ha - August 21, 2019
Re: Prime Minister Trudeau to STOP all Acts of Land Fraud and illegal development on Kanehsatà:ke Homelands
We the Rotinonhseshá:ka - People of the Longhouse, Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawks) of Kanehsatà:ke, Keepers of the Eastern Door of the Iroquois Confederacy, are once again obliged to demand that Canada act for the cessation of further fraudulent sales of our Kanien’kehá:ka Homelands. Our obligation is founded in Iroquois Confederacy laws and Constitution, Kaianera’kówa - the Great law of Peace.
The Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke, as according to our Constitution of Kaianera’kó:wa assert our rights to our Homelands and call upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intervene in the land dispute in Kanehsatà:ke (OKA), and demand the following :
No development will occur on Kanehsatà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka ancestral lands without the Free Prior and Informed Consent of the Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke as per Kaianera’kó:wa (the Great Law of Peace), international human rights norms, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Cease and desist all illegal sales and development on the ancestral Homelands of the Kanien’kehá:ka Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke.
The immediate cessation of all archeological digs in Parc national d'Oka and the return of all our cultural heritage/artefacts in their possession.
The immediate repeal of Bill S-24 the Kanesatake Interim Land Management Act as it is incompatible with Kaianera’kó:wa – the Great Law of Peace, as it is contrary to numerous Supreme Court rulings; the Constitution Act, 1982, and international human rights norms, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; as S-24 requires “release” or “extinguishment” of the Kanien’kehá:ka Peoples’ rights to our Homelands
In regards to the so-called “ecological gift’ by speculator/developer Grégoire Gollin of “Les Collines d’Oka”, we respect his intent but since this too requires a release or extinguishment of our land rights and is subject to the federal laws under the Minister of the Environment: we cannot accept the colonial terms and conditions of Mr. Gollin’s intent, especially since his condition for his “gift” to the community of Kanehsatà:ke is to allow him to continue fraudulently selling more of our Lands.
Strongly urge Canada and Quebec to denounce the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius and to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to be included as part of the framework to settle this long standing historical land dispute in Kanehsatà:ke
We demand restitution and reparations from Canada, the Seminary of St. Sulpice and Québec, for loss of our lands and demand protection of our Homelands from further development by third parties such as “Les Collines d’Oka”, “Domaines des Ostreyers, Oka-sur-le-Montagne, the Municipality of Oka, Parc national d’Oka, TransCanada, Gazoduc, Enbridge and others, since these are un-ceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka, under Kaianera’kó:wa and the Iroquois Confederacy (the status of “disputed Lands” is such that these lands can neither be bought nor sold)
A moratorium on all development be put in place by the Government of Canada since it is responsible for the perpetuation of land fraud and resulting conflict. Canada’s silence, lack of action and negligence have caused undo stress, fear and worry to the community of Kanehsatà:ke, as our Traditional Homelands remain under constant threat of dispossession.
The Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke invite the Government of Canada to a meeting to be determined, to develop solutions to the centuries old land dispute on our Homelands. We call for an end to the discriminatory practices of Canada who persistently deny the Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke, the opportunity to meet and discuss solutions to our long standing historical dispute, in an atmosphere of equality, and peace, and without any coercion that perpetuates this dispute.
Our Goal is to preserve, promote and protect Iethinisténha Ohóntsa – our Mother Earth, for the enjoyment of present and future generations. As Rotinonhseshà:ka peoples, a sovereign nation under Kaianera’kó:wa, we are obliged to ensure that we uphold this sacred right and obligation we have been entrusted with by our ancestors for present generations, and those yet to come.
Skén:nen
Rotinonhseshá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke under Kaianera’kó:wa
Kanien’kehá:ka of the Iroquois Confederacy
