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Mohawks bring Deskahe's 01essage to Ottawa and the world By Jim Windle KANATA VILLAGE Details of Monday's Mo- hawk Workers meetings in Ottawa with Liberal Aborigi- nal Affairs Critic Dr. Caroline Bennett and Swiss Ambassa- dor Ulrich Lehner are to be shared Wednesday night at Kanata Village in Eagles Nest (Brantford) beginning at 7:30 P.M. All interested parties are welcome. Armed with pages of his- torical documents the del- egation representing the Mohawk Workers was in Ottawa on Monday for a one on one meeting with MP and Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic Dr. Caroline Bennett at Centre Block of the Par- liament Buildings to discuss the longstanding historical complaints of the Mohawk Nation against Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Brantford. There was a second meet- ing later in the day with Ul- rich Lehner, Ambassador for Switzerland, and his staff to discuss the same issues but at an international level. Switzerland enjoys close political and economic ties with a large number of coun- tries around the world and is a member of various interna- tional organizations. The goals of Swiss foreign policy are: Peaceful co-exis- tence of people of all nations; promotion of and respect for human rights; environ- mental sustainability; repre- senting the interests of Swiss businesses abroad; and com- bating need and poverty in the world. Upon arrival on Parliament Hill, Minister Bennett was presented with a sweetgrass rose crafted by a member of the Mohawk Workers organi- zation which was greatly ap- preciated, according to Bill Squire, delegated spokesper- son for the Mohawk Workers. The Mohawk delegation also consisted of Jason Bow- man, special assistant to Bill Squire and the Kanyenge- hhakah of the Grand River, Ellis Hill and Frank Smith. The delegation vyas in Ot- tawa on the authority of Prin- cipal Mohawk Chief Edwin (Ted) Squire-Hill of the Wolf Clan, who carries the horns and title of Ohrerek6:wa and who has been recog- nized as such by the Crown of England on several occa- sions over the past 35 years. "During the meeting, Dr. Bennett expressed genuine concern for the situation, and revealed her passion for these issues," according to a media release drafted upon the re- turn of the delegation to the Kanata Village. "She has asked the Mohawk Workers to continue to dialogue with her, and that Justin Trudeau (Federal Liberal Leader) wishes to engage on these issues personally as well." It was only the first of what promises to be several more in depth meetings with var- ious levels of the Canadi- an government, the British Crown, United Nations and the the Swiss Ambassador. "We agreed to continue to communicate and work to- gether on solutions which can bring people together while at the same time educating on the critical issues," says Squire. The complaint of the Mo- hawks covers many of the same issues attempted to be brought under consideration of the world community by Cayuga Chief Levi General in his capacity as Deskaheh in the early 1920's, and the Mohawk delegation of 1945 in San Francisco during the formation of the League of Nations following WW2. In both cases, political sabo- tage perpetrated by the Brit- ish Crown, Canada and the United States prevented the evidence and arguments from being presented. Through Minister Bennett and Ambassador Lehner they hope to finally have their and Deskahe's voices heard. In these initial meetings the Mohawk delegation covered in broad strokes issues of Hu- man Rights and Aboriginal Rights violations. The dele- gation also explained known and documented frauds and land and trust funds thefts throughout the past 200 years, right up to today's leg- islated policies being brought forward by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It is believed by most First Nations .that these policies are designed to cover over historical wrongs and make "legal" Canada's ongoing principals of forced assimilation, resource theft and cultural genocide. Of immediate concern to the Mohawks is Harp- er 's political assault on Onkwehon:we people across Canada in the form of a dozen Parliamentary Bills intended to derogate and dismantle historical treaties and agreements for the sake of corporate gain and natural resources exploitation. Ac- cording to Squire, there was genuine concern about that expressed by both Bennett and Ambassador Lehner. "He (Lehner) had already been made aware of Canada's human rights issues, particu- larly in respect of Indigenous Peoples - and pointed out that this past comprehensive re- view of the State of Canada in Geneva did not go well for Canada in his mind," Squire said. "He applauded and sup- ported our efforts with James Anaya the UN Special Rap- porteur who met with our delegation in New York on May 20th, which he had not known about. In fact, he sup- ported this avenue stating that it was precisely the right way to go in these circumstances." Bowman and Squire de- scribe the meeting as warm and friendly. According to their media release, "The Ambassador also appreciated the back ground material which was provided to him, took consid- erable interest, and agreed to review it as well as seeking instructions from his superi- ors in order to determine the level of involvement or assis- tance which may be offered. We were very thankful for the opportunity to meet with the Ambassador and look for- ward to remaining in con- tact." In June of this year, the Mohawks sent a formal re- quest for clarification on a Mohawk Workers delegation of Ellis Hill, Bill Squire and number of matters to the Of- Frank Smith outside the Governor General's office in Ot- tawa. (submitted photo) flee of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada, including questions regard- ing the Indian Act's defini- tions of "band," "council of the band," the term "special reserves," and the Haldimand Deed itself, which they are still awaiting response to. They also listed for both the Minister and the Ambas- sador, 10 direct violations of the United Nations Declara- tion on the Rights of Indig- enous Peoples, as presented to Anaya. To be discussed at high- er levels as well are mat- ters concerning the City of Brantford 's past and present dealings with the Five Na- tions League of Peace, Six Nations of the Grand Riv- er Confederacy, the Elected Band Council and the Mo- hawks in particular. They use the case of the Nathan Gage lands, upon which the Brantford Civic Centre and the Casino are built upon as an example of the pattern of fraud and theft.