The following is a speech delivered by Janie Jamieson on August 21st at a rally in front of the Law Society of Upper Canada in Toronto:

Throughout the past year and a half the rule of law has been the topic of discussion for many political and personal circles. Many questions are asked, “Why isn’t the rule of law being equally applied to everyone? Are Natives above the law? Why are certain people allowed to break the law? Are agents of the Canadian government subject to their own rule of law…” The list goes on.
Today I have some questions about the rule of law my self. Valid questions based on actual events.
Law according to the oxford dictionary means: a rule established by authority.
It’s true as societies we need a set of principles to maintain a peaceful and respectful existence. The Kaianerehkowa or the Great Peace of the Haudenosaunee - Six Nations is just that. Our Constitutional Law or the Great Peace is based on a protocol of peace. Our Great Law legislates, our ability to sit together as reasonable people and council, nation to nation and clan to clan to ensure our existence.
Here we stand today in front of the Law Society of Upper Canada. A building built with money stolen by UPPER CANADA from the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Trust Fund, or more specifically, the Grand River Navigation Company. A few months ago CANADA offered Six Nations $125 million for a few parcels of land and the Grand River Navigation Company.

Continue reading »

Share This

The Haudenosaunee Documentation Committee is designing a “certificate of citizenship” - an ID card - that Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people can use to cross the U.S./Canada border in place of an American or Canadian passport. 

Continue reading »

Share This

The American Department of Homeland Security may accept Haudenosaunee ID cards in place of a Canadian or American passport, once the new rules for entry into the U.S. take place in January, 2008.  Continue reading »

Share This

Here is some resources that focus on news, updates, and background information:
Autonomy and Solidarity
Currently the most up to date resource on the net. The People at Autonomy and Solidarity have diligently provided updates since April 2006. They also have a comprehensive resource page here

In the News Today
This is a thread from our very own forum. Members have been posting regular updates since March 2007.

The Turtle Island News
Local Newspaper with updates on whats going on here on the Grand River Territory. see here in particular

Six Nations Solidarity
Daily reports from newspapers, broadcasters and government on what’s going on at the reclamation site (Covers news from May 1st to July 20, 2006)

Six Nations Information List
Now maintained by people from CISIS, this is a mailing list that provides updates on Six Nations Issues. Continue reading »

Share This

Excerpted from Indian Country Today (June 23):

Leaders of an older generation always counseled their people to become perfectly calm before sitting down for an important meeting. Big decisions required a clear mind and emotional self-control. This advice is just as important today, when Indian country faces serious if more subtle and sophisticated threats.

Continue reading »

Share This

The Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, Grand River Territory, wish to affirm and clarify our land rights in the tract confirmed by Governor Frederick Haldimand on October 25, 1784. In making this statement, the Council of Chiefs wants to make it clear that we hold certain land ethics and principles that must be respected in any agreements on land use or occupation. The Haudenosaunee, and its governing authority, have inherited the rights to land from time immemorial. Land is a birthright, essential to the expression of our culture.

With these land rights come specific responsibilities that have been defined by our law, from our Creation Story, the Original Instructions, the Kaianeren:kowa (Great Law of Peace) and Kariwiio (Good Message). Land is envisioned as Sewatokwa’tshera’t, (the Dish with One Spoon); this means that we can all take from the land what we need to feed, house and care for our families, but we also must assure that the land remains healthy enough to provide for the coming generations. Land is meant to be shared among and by the people and with the other parts of the web of life. It is not for personal empire building. Continue reading »

Share This

GRAND RIVER TERRITORY OF THE SIX NATIONS- Six Nations Haudenosaunee are pleased to announce that they will celebrate 2007 by moving back into the old Confederacy Council house in Ohsweken at Six Nations.

The Council House, built in 1864 is 140 years old and predates Confederation. The building served as the council house for the Six Nations Confederacy Council until 1924 when the council was ousted by the Canadian government and an elected band council imposed.

On the first day of the New Year Six Nations people will mark a turning point in their collective history by returning the building to the Haudenosaunee Chiefs in a ceremony at the building.

The move is being heralded as a peaceful movement to begin the healing process and restore Haudenosaunee identity to Six Nations. All Six Nations people and supporters are welcome to attend. Continue reading »

Share This

Statement by Six Nations Confederacy Council - April 26, 2006

We are saddened and disappointed at the police action that has taken place in Caledonia. We believed we were within reach of a peaceful resolution of the situation.

The protests are the result of the people’s frustration over the lack of attention and respect being given to Six Nations land rights. The frustration is legitimate. The protests are symptoms, not causes.

Both the federal and provincial governments have told us that the protests are not the source of their willingness to negotiate with us about the causes of the problems: issues of rights and claims, government and access to resources. We will be meeting with their representatives on Friday. We hope the commitments we have received were the result of a genuine desire to resolve the underlying issues, and not only a reaction to the protest. We sincerely hope the commitments were real, and that we can move forward to resolve the underlying issues.

We do not control the protesters. We have influence over them, but that influence depends on our ability to convince them that serious attention is being paid to the causes of the protests.

We knew that the police would act on their own timetable and as they judged fit. We had no illusions about that. We had hoped that we could have achieved a negotiated solution before any police action took place. Now restoring peace is even more urgent in its aftermath.

Share This