INVITATION TO ALL ONKWEHONWEH –
TRUE PEOPLE OF THE LAND GATHERING
AT SIX NATIONS GRAND RIVER (ONTARIO, CANADA) ON
SUNDAY, 10:00 AM., APRIL 9TH, 2006
The People of Six Nation, Grand River Territory, extend the hand of friendship to all of our brothers and sisters in all Rotino’shon:ni territories, to ALL Longhouses, to join us for a gathring of the People. We wish to re-kindle the Fire of Peace, affirm the voice of the people and stand united against our oppressors. Attached is the original Objection to Her Majesty filed by the Women. We are adhering to our constitution, the Kaianereh’ko:wa, in asserting our title to our land at Grand River. This gathering will take place on the ‘Haldimand Tract’ at the corner of 6th Line and #6 Highway, Grand River, Ontario Canada. The Peoples’ Council will begin at 10:00 am., followed by a meal and a social.
The Women, being Title Holders to all lands of Turtle Island, assert our constitutional jurisdiction over the Haldimand Tract. We have never and cannot ever give up our land or our sovereignty.
1. The Six Nations are distinct original nations. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis by the Crown and all other nations.
2. The Crown must respect our original relationship as set out in the Two Row Wampum, our jurisdiction as provided in our constitution, the Kaiannereh’ko:wa, and as respected by Sections 109 and 132 of the BNA Act, 1867 and according to international covenants that Canada has signed.
3. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis as was the custom before Canada separated from the British Empire. Respect for the independent international status of the Six Nations by Canada was established before Canada achieved recognition as a state or gained the ability to sign treaties on its own. The independent international identity of the Six Nations identity has never been legally extinguished.
4. The band councils were established with procedures that violated international law. They continue to function as colonizing institutions. We have never consented to their establishment nor their representing us.
5. Canada and all its politicians, bureaucrats, agents, assignees and appointees should cease and desist immediately their attempt to criminalize and apprehend our people for defending what is rightfully ours, the land to which we hold title. Any further action by Canada, Ontario and their agents shall be viewed as being a direct violation of the Two Row Wampum, the constitutional accord between the Ratino’shon:ni and Canada and international law.
6. The claims of Canada and the province of Ontario to have a right to legislate for the Rotino’shon:ni Six Nations and to grant private title to our land has no foundation in law.
The presence and assistance of all Onkwehonweh is welcome.
For more information please contact: Dick hill at 519-865-7722; Hazel Hill at 519-717-4292; 519-445-1351; Janie Jamieson at 905-517-7006; the basketcase@on.aibn.com or Jacqueline_house@hotmail.com
Address: RR#6, Hagersville (Ontario, Canada) N0A 1H0
OBJECTION TO INVASION OF KAIANEREH’KO:WA TERRITORY BY THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND ONTARIO, THEIR CORPORATE ENTITIES TO ARREST ROTINOSHON’NON:WE FOR DEFENDING THE LAND KNOWN AS THE “HALDIMAND TRACT”
DATE: March 20, 2006
FROM: The Women Title Holders of the Rotinoshon’non:we
WHEREAS the Women are the “Title Holders” of the land of Rotinoshon’non:we as recalled by Wampum 44 of the Kaianereh’ko:wa.
WHEREAS the “Title” held by the Women represents a trust obligation to maintain the land for the future generations of our Nations as recalled by Wampum 44.
TO: Henco Construction, et al. (See list of recipients of Objection at end of document).
RE: Henco Industries is building a subdivision on the unsurrendered “Haldimand Tract”for sale to non-Indigenous people who may be unaware that this is illegal.
WHEREAS the Canadian Government knows this land is subject to litigation resulting from fraudulent and dubious practices. Canada has allowed permits to be given out to Indian land it does not have title to. Gen. Haldimand confirmed that Britain would affirm the right of the Six Nations to a tract of land six miles deep on either side of the Grand River running from its mouth to its source. None of this land was ever legally surrendered. Most of this land was lost through a variety of frauds perpetrated or condoned by the colonial governments. Canada knows it violated the law when it deposed the traditional government in 1924. Canada is presently in negotiations to rectify these past injustices. Offering non-native people title to this land is a deliberate attempt to mislead and act in bad faith. Henco Industries is part of “sharp” practice on the part of the Crown in Right of Ontario and/or Canada which knows that it cannot grant legal title to these lands.
WHEREAS the elected Six Nations Council of Grand River set up under the Indian Act does not represent the Rotinoshon’non:we according to standards established under international law, including The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
WHEREAS Canada has ascribed to the internationally recognized standards for respecting political rights of the People as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international legal instruments.
WHEREAS the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination found on March 6, 2006 that the United States was denying the Western Shoshone people “their rights to own, develop, control and use their land and resources”; they warned the U.S. to respect the Convention; and to “freeze”, “desist” and “stop” their actions immediately and to abide by the Committee’s “Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure”. Canada’s encroachment violates “international human rights norms, principles and standards”. The Western Shoshone decision indicates that encroaching as a way to take over land has been formally rejected.
WHEREAS there has been no valid consultation with or consent by the constitutional Indigenous People according to the standards set by Canadian, U.S. and international law.
WHEREAS relations between Canada and the Rotinoshon’non:we continue to be governed by the Two Row Wampum.
WHEREAS the actions being taken by Canada, Ontario and its agencies were established in the colonial era according to procedures that violated international law.
WHEREAS General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV) requires the informed consent of a people before they are included in another state.
WHEREAS the International Court of Justice affirmed Resolution 1541 in the Western Sahara case.
WHEREAS the courts of other colonial states like the Supreme Court of Australia in Mabo have formally repudiated past colonial reasoning and practices
WHEREAS the denial of a nation’s existence constitutes genocide according to the many international covenants that Canada has pledged to uphold.
WHEREAS Section 35 (1) of Canada’s Constitution Act 1982 has formally recognized and affirmed “existing Aboriginal and treaty rights”.
WHEREAS the Constitution of Canada has stated that Aboriginal and Treaty Rights must now be respected.
WHEREAS Canada is required to respect our right to our lands and resources under Section 109 of its Constitution Act 1867.
WHEREAS the traditional laws of the Rotinoshon’non:we are still in effect.
WHEREAS the Women Title Holders have never been consulted concerning this proposal to violate the title of ourselves and the future generations by building subdivisions on our land which involves the alienation of our people’s Indigenous rights and lands.
WE THE WOMEN TITLE HOLDERS ACCORDINGLY REMIND THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT THAT:
The proposed construction is illegal; that Canada and Ontario have no authority to make political decisions on behalf of our People;
Rotinshon’non:we land is inalienable. There can be no discussion of the possibility of a legitimate agreement alienating the land.
The procedures deny political power from the People.
The proper venue to discuss these matters is the traditional Rotinshon’non:we process as set out in the Kaianereh’ko:wa.
The Canadian and U.S. Constitutions respect that relations with us shall be conducted on a nation-to-nation basis. (We brought this constitutional jurisdiction issue before the Supreme Court of Canada – Kanion’ke:haka Kaianereh’ko:wa Kanon’ses:neh v. Attorney General of Cannada and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario, Court file: 05-CV-030785. In the U.S. Supreme Court. See No. 05-165: 2005. In the Supreme Court of the United States In re Kanion’ke:haka Kaianereh’ko:wa Kanon’ses:neh, Non-party, Petitioner/Movant/Appellant, The Canadian St. Regis Band of Moahwk Indians, Plaintiffs, Respondents v. The State of New YZork, Defendants, Respondents. Petition for Writs of Certiorari and Quo Warranto with Prohibition and mandamus in Aid to Prevent Genocide. Rules 17.1 and 20.1. Attached.)
The Women Title Holders insist on an immediate end to this initiative, and to initiate a dialogue to work toward a solution acceptable to the Rotinoshon’non:we.
Wanbli Watakpe
Tashunka Witko Brigade
The Tashunka Witko Brigade (TWB) focuses on indigenous liberation and gives voice to the indigenous people, the elders, grandmas and warriors on the ground in this our continent. TWB airs on Free Radio Olympia on Tuesdays 3-5 PM PST (with live webstream at www.frolympia.org) and on Berkeley Liberation Radio anytime without warning.
http://tashunkawitkobrigade.blogspot.com