"Chief of the Eagles brings warnings to education board's destination"

by Teresa Amy SIX NATIONS - The Six Nations Board of Education received a warning from the chief of the eagles at their Wednesday April 13 meeting.

"The feeling in the community has caused me to act in an unprecedented manner," said Mohawk wolf clan chief Ted Hill as he addressed the board.

Chief Hill said he was not present at the meeting to interfere with the board but he did want to speak on behalf of some of the Mohawk people.

"When I think of the word negotiation, I think of two sides sitting at a table with something to bargain with and compromise," he said. "What have you to bargain with... nothing."

In the past Chief Hill said he was not concerned with the actions of the board, but the fact that they are negotiating with the government of Canada concerned him very much.

"Whether you realize it or not you are negotiating the rights for future generations to enjoy the same education that was passed on to you," he said. "What you're doing is asking, begging, the government to look kindly upon you so future generations won't have to suffer."

Chief Hill asked that if the board is negotiating a five year agreement, what will the board do after the five years is up.

"In five years you'll be asking for money to continue education and the government will be in the position to screw the knob tighter," said Chief Hill who added that the government will give money then only if Six Nations contributes half of their own money to education in the form of taxes.

"I've been in politics for several years and I know this is the way the government does things - they give you everything you want, then they pull it away."

Chief Hill said it was his responsibility to be concerned with those decisions that will affect the rights and freedoms of future generations, something he said has not been done by politicians until now.

Chief Hill said that it sounds good to be involved in education but what he saw going on was "a struggle of whose going to be controlling the money."

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"I find I have to ask myself what is motivating these people," Chief Hill said referring to the board. "If you are only getting funding for five years is that what you refer to as the future?"

Chief Hill told the board that they were negotiating something they had an inherited right to and were "letting the government off easy in its responsibilities."

Several members of the Six Nations board of Education reacted strongly to Chief Hill's comments.

"I think you've really underestimated us in our negotiations," Chairperson Michelle Hill said. "We all realize what's at stake here. We want our kids a 100 years from now to maintain our education system."

Board member Amos Key said the board had gone to the Confederacy to start a treaty based negotiation and "the process fell through" when one chief disagreed.

"There is a weakness when one man doesn't listen to his clan or clan mother and says 'I' don't like it, I can stop it," said Key.

Key then asked Chief Hill if he wanted to worlc with the board to solve the situation.

"I'm not here to work with you," Chief Hill said. "You people have to do these things."

"Then, whoever writes this history and it will be our history...in our eyes the Confederacy let us down," said Key.

Chief Hill said that he could not work with the Six Nations Board of Education as long as the board is affiliated with the elected council.

"We are not tied to elected council," said board member Minnie Henhawk. "We are not a political pawn. We are all here for the future of our children."

Henhawk told Chief Hill that the board has to have the federal government money for education so the board "has to deal with them on their terms."

"The government sits on the table with all the cards," said Chief Hill.

"No they don't," Henhawk responded.

Chief Hill said the board should not negotiate with Canada and that the Confederacy has no treaties with Canada, only Great Britain."

Chief Hill was then asked by some board members about his clan mother, Sylvia Sandy, when he was condoled and his clanship.

"I have been in this position for 20 years and I have reacted when I felt it necessary. What I said is in your lap, some of the Mohawk people have spoken and I hope have made an impact," said Chief Hill.

In an interview after the April 13 meeting, Mohawk wolf clan mother Sylvia Sandy said Chief Hill was condoled in 1961 and he has been ratified and registered in that position.

"All my chiefs are proper," she said.

Brian Doolittle asked if the board had to stay within the Indian Act "is that the only way our people can survive?" he asked.

"I don't believe in holding hands with our oppressor, I believe in progressing along so we can get out from under our oppressor," said Chief Hill.

Chief Hill told the board to look to where the monies came from and to ask for what the Six Nations people were rightly entitled too.

Marion Martin said the board tried to work together with various groups of people and then people began to start fighting.

Martin added that the "government isn't providing a sufficient education for our people now."

Chief Hill said the important thing the board should consider is that something is wrong in the community for there to be this disharmony.

When he was young, Chief Hill said the government spent $6 million to operate the reserve.

"It takes $28 million to run the reserve now. Your generation has gotten used to having something dropped in your hands," said Chief Hill. "Now the government doesn't have the money and has to cut back and you are reacting."

Chief Hill warned the board that the government wants to control or to force Six Nations people to give up their inherent rights.

"This situation is serious enough, are you sure you arc thinking in the proper direction?" asked Chief Hill.