About Me

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For me it is All About Being of Service & Living the Life of the Give-Away....

Being Mindful of those who are unable to speak for themselves; our Non-Two Legged Relations and the Future Generations.

It's about walking on the Canka Luta Waste Behind the Cannunpa and the ceremonies.

It's about Mindfulness and Respect. It's about Honesty and owning up to my foibles.

It's about: Mi Takuye Oyacin

Friday, June 19, 2009

Akwesanse Update



A Report from the International Bridge Closure at Akwesasne > > ©by Doug George-Kanentiio > > > It is quiet on the Mohawk Nation Territory at Akwesasne. On June 1 > agents of the Canadian Customs walked away from their posts at the > facility located on the Kawehnoke (Cornwall Island) section of > Akwesasne. The Americans responded by closing their facility across the > St. Lawrence River to any north bound traffic. The Mohawks reacted by > securing the building and its grounds. A camp was set up next to the > customs complex and a flotilla of boats set in motion to carry the > Mohawks across the river. Although there were tensions the first few > days the situation is stable, peaceful. > > The Canadian Customs officials ordered their workers off the job > because of a dispute over arming their officers. The Mohawk Council of > Akwesasne, supported by the Mohawk Nation Council, informed Canada the > Mohawk people were opposed to the arming of the agents and said a June > deadline for binging the Canadian weapons to Mohawk territory would not > be acknowledged. There were no threats, no acts of violence and no > plans by any legitimate Mohawk council to disrupt traffic or confront > the Customs personnel. > > But the Customs officials maintained there was a real danger to its > staff and pulled them out of Akwesasne. The response by the Mohawk > people, after the initial surprise at this radical action, was to > organize an encampment, protect > the facility and engage in negotiations > to resolve this problem. Canada Customs officials have shown a > reluctance to go to Akwesasne and meet with the people, electing to > believe discounted reports of threats to their security. The Mohawk > Nation Council has lent its diplomatic and spiritual skills, effecting > a remarkable unity among the often factionalized Akwesasne people. > Those at the camp are disciplined and determined; they will not > compromise on the arming issue since it means the likelihood the > weapons will be used against Natives. > > As of June 16 there have been no serious discussions from the Canadian > authorities. The Mohawks have sent delegations to Ottawa without > success. Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence-or more properly the > Kaniatarowanenneh (Big River)-is being crisscrossed by boats ferrying > people to their homes and businesses. Plans are now in the works to > find an alternative to driving across the bridges, the traffic of which > has become a real headache because of the increased US security > measures at the border. > > The Mohawks are aware that both Canada and the US are on high alert and > ready to use their massive police/military powers against the community > if given cause. Accurate, non-inflammatory information coming directly > from the Mohawk Nation is necessary before any individual or group > becomes involved. The Mohawk Nation may be called at 518-358-3381 or > via e-mail: Mohawkna@westelcom.com. This situation > may well last for much of the summer.

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