01/03/2024
PRESS RELEASE- Onkwehonwe Gather at Syracuse Courthouse to Oppose Mohawk Land Claim Settlement
Enníska (February) 29, 2024
Syracuse, NY — On February 26th 2024, approximately 150 Kanien’kehá:ka and other Rotinonhsión:ni supporters converged at the James M. Hanley Federal Building and Courthouse in Syracuse to voice their discontent over the closed negotiations surrounding a land settlement process linked to a longstanding 1982 lawsuit and their contest to the use of the 1796 Treaty with The Seven Nations as a foundation for the suit, expressing doubts about the legitimacy of the signatories' authority.
The protesters, wielded signs reading “New York State land stealers” and “Howard Thompson does not decide for us” and donned in t-shirts proclaiming "Relevant Decision Maker" with an illustration of the Two Row Wampum belt, passionately emphasized their demand for fair representation and the fundamental importance of authority derived from the people, as dictated by the Kaienarekowa.
Inside the court were representatives and lawyers from each entity who is party to the case; the public was not permitted to enter the court. The purpose of the proceedings was to allow each party to report any progress and reconcile any lingering concerns impeding the settlement. Among the court recognized “relevant decision-makers” approved as attendees to the proceeding were representatives of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and one member of the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs (MNCC), who was present with the MNCC lawyers to advance the proposed settlement agreement. The lawyer for the MNCC intentionally omitted certain members of the MNCC council and from participating in the proceedings, barring them from raising concerns such as the internal agreement's use and occupancy deed provisions, the good faith clause, and the resolution of land title issues within the New York State and New York Power Authority Memorandum of Understanding.
At 10:00 am, a declaration was submitted to the court clerk, by the MNCC, stating “Legal counsel was asked several times to include all condoled leadership as attendees to this hearing, but Alexandra Page (Esq.) outright denied their request to be present.” Promptly following the submission of the MNCC declaration, there was a recitation of the Two Row wampum and multiple speeches given by Kanien’kehá:ka individuals. The federal mediator, John Bickerman, also spoke to the demonstrators resulting in escalating tensions as he was accused of talking down to the demonstrators. The Onkwehonwe asserted that the process lacked significant and true relevant decision-makers, The People.
Ojistoh Horn, a speaker and Mohawk physician, decried the exclusion of many Mohawk people from discussions, rendering any decisions or deals made by the Tri-Council invalid. Horn emphasized, “Despite trying to make it known through traditional and legal processes that the Tri-council does not have the authority to sign away our land, we’ve been ignored.”
Later, during the Standing Quiver Dance, the mediator returned, extending an invitation to a selective delegation to enter the courtroom as silent observers. This delegation included four Condoled Titleholders of the Mohawk Nation Longhouse (Tehana’karí:ne Bear Clan Chief Curtis Nelson, Tehana’karí:ne Bear Clanmother Louise Herne; Sharenhó:wane Wolf Clan Chief Ernest David, and Sharenhó:wane Wolf Clanmother Angela Elijah), along with Lenny Oakes (Turtle Clan).
Post-courthouse, the delegation provided a brief report of what occurred and the Onondaga women invited the present Onkwehonwe to the Onondaga Cookhouse. The five observers reported on what they witnessed during the negotiation process. They reported that the conversations occurring in court avoided the present issue of mal-representation and rather delved into other “outstanding settlement issues” such as boat launch accessibility and potential hunting and fishing license requirements. Based on what they witnessed, the delegation decided a meeting with Federal Magistrate Dancks would be more productive. At the request of the delegation, a private hour and a half meeting was held between the five delegates, the Magistrate and one US Marshal. The delegation had the opportunity to vocalize their formal objection to the proposed settlement agreement and declare their desire to remove the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs from the land claim process. Additionally, it was shared that the lawyer representing MNCC has violated her legal obligation to consult and receive direction from the entirety of the full Mohawk Nation Council.
Wampum was later delivered to Sid Hill (current Tadodaho), calling for a Grand Council of the Confederacy to address the conflict amongst the Mohawk Nation Council and the alleged misrepresentation by attorney Alex Page. Tadodaho, the Onondaga Chiefs and present MNCC Chiefs deliberated amongst themselves. It was then announced, to the approximately 50 people present in the Onondaga Longhouse, that a Death Feast is to be called in Akwesasne, to “call to the past Chiefs” and to “unite Titleholders from across the Confederacy.” The wampum regarding the Grand Council was left shelved until after the Chief's Death Feast.
