Six Nations Public library - Digital Archive

"See PM Uninterested in Indian 'Summit'"

Description
Full Text
See PM Uninterested In Indian "Summit"

OTTAWA (CP) - An Indian delegation professed Monday to be only partly satisfied with personal assurances from Prime Minister Diefenbaker that none of their treaty or traditional rights will be infringed by giving Indians the right to vote in the federal elections.

The five-man delegation met briefly with Mr. Diefenbaker in his office and invited him to a "summit" conference with chiefs of the Six Nations Indians.

"He didn't appear interested at present in a conference," said Donald (Falling Wind) Richmond, a Mohawk from the St. Regis reservation which straddles the Canada-United States border near Cornwall.

PM Reports

Mr. Diefenbaker said following the meeting that he pointed out to the delegation that under present law Indian treaty rights do not constitute recognition of sovereignty of the Indian nation.

The Indians' treaty and traditional rights would be upheld but that did not permit the Indian confederacy to act as a law unto itself.

Mr. Richmond said the delegation was partly satisfied by Mr. Diefenbaker's assurances that the measure to give Indians the vote, now before Parliament, will not infringe present rights.

But the Indian religion still followed by some of the Six Nations confederacy meant that the Indians cannot exist as a nation if they abide by Canadian laws.

Religious Freedom

"We want complete freedom of religion on the reservation," he said.

"Our government was the first on this continent and we feel we have the right to maintain our government."

Mr. Richmond has been described as the official spokesman for the longhouse faction among Indians of the Six Nations confederacy which opposes integration with white men.

He has been quoted as saying that "in the event an Indian takes part in a foreign government he alienates his rights as an Indian."


Media Type
Newspaper
Publication
Item Types
Articles
Clippings
Description
"An Indian delegation professed Monday to be only partly satisfied with personal assurances from Prime Minister Diefenbaker that none of their treaty or traditional rights will be infringed by giving Indians the right to vote in federal elections."
Date of Publication
1960
Subject(s)
Personal Name(s)
Diefenbaker, John G. ; Richmond, Donald (Falling Wind).
Corporate Name(s)
Government of Canada ; Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council.
Local identifier
SNPL001082v00d
Language of Item
English
Geographic Coverage
  • Ontario, Canada
    Latitude: 45.42094 Longitude: -75.69029
Creative Commons licence
Attribution-NonCommercial [more details]
Copyright Statement
Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian law. No restrictions on use.
Copyright Date
1960
Contact
Six Nations Public Library
Email:info@snpl.ca
Website:
Agency street/mail address:
1679 Chiefswood Rd
PO Box 149
Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0
519-445-2954
Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy