BEARS ARE MOUNTING THE SILVER EAGLE TO MEET THE CONDOR
MOHAWKS TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN VENEZUELA
MNN. Aug. 5, 2007. The
Indigenous people and President Hugo Chavez are bringing together 40
Indigenous nations of Venezuela from August 7 to 9, 2007.
The Mohawk delegation is made up of two women, Kahentinetha, an elder and Karenhahes, Bear Clan Mother.
This congress is setting up a broad international movement of
indigenous people to reject colonial oppression. During the 20th
century, the European states that generated the colonial movement began
to understand that they would destroy each other if they kept up the
land and resources grab and the ensuing killing of Indigenous peoples.
Colonialism was declared illegal. Canada continued to define a “person”
as any individual other than an Indian until 1951. Canada still does not
respect our sovereignty and presumes that their colonial law is the
only law north of the 49th parallel. The U.S. usurps the Indigenous
lands, resources and jurisdiction south of the 49th parallel.
Canada refuses to sign the Declaration of Indigenous rights at the
United Nations, even though that declaration is a profoundly colonial
instrument. International law recognizes that no state can absorb
another without the free and fully informed consent of the people
concerned in a free vote. The Indigenous peoples and nations never
agreed to become part of Canada. Canada is addicted to old destructive
models of social and economic relations and medieval ruling class
credos. It thinks that social order is based on command and obedience,
not agreement between equals, and that there can’t be wealth without
poverty. Such nonsense.
The meeting in Venezuela will take place in Mapiricure, an indigenous
community in the south. On August 9th President Hugo Chavez will be
presented with the Indigenous Feather known as the “Penacho” and a
headdress. This will be followed by a ceremony invoking the powers of
the natural world. On that day 11 land titles will be turned over to the
Indigenous Communal Councils by President Chavez.
The shamen carrying out the ceremony will be joined by shamen from
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Nicaraugua, Mexico, Panama and the U.S.
Here is a draft of the words that the Mohawk delegation will
be delivering to the International Congress of Indigenous People “in
Defence of the Planet”, outlining a new paradigm for human existence.
“Nia:wen for your invitation to witness this historic event. From our women, we bring greetings to the women of your country.
From the “Rotiyaner” who are the men of our nation, we bring greetings from our men to your men.
From our elders, those who are the grandmothers and grandfathers, we
bring our greetings to you who are the grandmothers and grandfathers of
this nation.
From the fathers and mothers of our nation we bring greetings to you who are the mothers and fathers to your nation.
From our young people we bring greetings to your young people of this nation.
From the children of our nation we bring greetings to the children of your nation.
From those who still crawl upon the earth and those who are still on
the cradle board, we bring greetings to your children who crawl on the
earth and those who are on the cradle board.
From those faces of our future who are still beneath the earth, we
bring the greetings to those of your people whose faces are yet beneath
the earth.
Now that we have said this, we may begin.
We would like to have had a larger delegation here to day. Due to our
struggle to preserve our sovereignty we are oppressed and ignored on
our own homeland we call Onowarekeh, also known also as “Turtle Island”.
The foreign colonial governments of Canada and the United States limit
our movements on our own land. They fail to teach their people about our
existence, our philosophy, our laws.
Mr. Chavez, thank you for giving our people an opportunity to
establish relations between our governments under our philosophy known
as the “Kaianereh’ko:wa”, the Great Law of Peace. We are not under the
colonial laws. We continue to adhere to our laws and traditions. We
continue to ensure a future for our people as the Kanion’ke:haka/Mohawk.
We are the eyes and ears that will witness this event. This is the
beginning of a message to other nations to work towards bringing people
back together to form an alliance. We wish to develop a sane and healthy
way of life that assures that all people are decently cared for.
We need to renew the solemn blood covenants that have bound all
Indigenous Peoples of South America and Onowarekeh, our name for Turtle
Island, for thousands of years. We are one blood. When one family member
is oppressed the other must aid their covenant partners. Everyone is
there to uplift each other. No one goes without.
Our perception is that the material world is to be shared and
distributed equally. Our ancestors knew that when a hunter went into the
woods and brought back a deer, the entire community shared in that
bounty. This is common to all Indigenous peoples of the world. Those who
have fallen away from these simple concepts and now practice
colonialism must be brought back into the human family and saved from
themselves.
We present you with a copy of the Great Law, our constitution, in
both Mohawk and English, our Confederacy flag, the Unity flag and
several books about us that will be of interest to you.
We, the Onkwehonweh [the original people], are the guardians of
Onowarekeh. Recently South America was visited by the President of the
United States and the Prime Minister of Canada. They both avoided
Venezuela because they can’t understand what’s happening here and it
frightens them. These are emotionally disturbed people. They don’t know
how to exist on a level of equality with their fellow human beings.
They do not represent us or even the people of their countries. They
follow habits of thought that have been proven to be ineffective and
destructive to the continuation of human life on earth. They represent
foreigners who have usurped our resources and deny us any rights to our
ancestral heritage.
Our words as the true representatives are binding on Turtle Island.
We have always been here. We belong to the land on which we were formed.
Mr. Chavez is here with the true owners of the lands of Onowarekeh and
South America. What we say between us is binding.
Under natural law and international law everyone has a right to our own government, nationality and land.
As elders of our nation, we are dedicated to work in the best
interests of our people. Each of us has power in our lives. We have a
duty to spread the Kaianerehkowa throughout the world. The white roots
from the Tree of Peace go in the four directions. Those who wish to find
shelter may trace its roots to the source. My nation and Six Nations
Iroquois Confederacy are in need of this alliance at this time.
Mr. Chavez holds the same political positions as the Mohawk Nation.
We are here to help fan the flames so that the fire grows larger to make
a place for all humans to share its warmth and benefits.
No one needs anyone’s permission to promote alliances, unification of
our peoples and to spread the peace as prescribed in the
Kaianereh’ko:wa. We refuse to live under a dictatorship.
An opportunity came to us to come here. We seized it. Last September
some of our people went to New York City, which is on Iroquois land, to
hear Mr. Chavez speak. He was inspiring. They told us that they agreed
with every word he said.
Our message of peace came to us from our ancestors, Dekanawida and
Jigosaseh. They told our people to bring everyone into a covenant of
peace, to link arms with all the other peoples of the world. We are
continuing the work of our ancestors to bring the message of peace to
you today.
South America has the same colonial past as Onowarekeh, Turtle
Island. We have occupied our territories since time immemorial. This
land is who we are. It is our identity. Mr. Chavez is one of us. His
roots go deep into the soil, the jungles, the mountains and fields of
Venezuela. From the earth he gets sustenance, vitality and ability to
help his people. The people feel safe. His first instinct is to protect
the Indigenous people and the visitors who are here.
Venezuela is a beautiful wealthy part of the world. Your resources
are now being skillfully used to enhance the best interests of the land
and the people who live upon it. You are tapping into the wellspring of
ancestral memories that are hidden in the minds of every person living
here.
Now all other Indigenous people are seeing that it is possible to
take our lives under our own control, not be dominated by foreign forces
and to do good.
We feel secure with the Venezuelans. You are competent and sure of
who you are. Initially the multinational corporations felt intimidated
by the turn of events. They are finding they can work with the original
people in the best interests of all. Everyone is benefiting. The only
way to achieve harmony and prosperity among us is to bring all our
talents and innate abilities together.
Mr. Chavez has found a way to bring this out in all of his people. He
represents the forces of a people who are on the move. He has offered a
new paradigm. He is showing Indigenous peoples and others that we can
take over our own lives and run our own affairs. We can do it so that no
one feels intimidated or threatened. It is becoming the natural way to
do things.
Dekanawaida and Jigosaseh, the man and woman who helped develop the
Great Law of Peace, understood this. They realized that the strength of
the Confederation was based on no nation dominating the others. Each, no
matter how large or small, had a right to exist and remain who they
are.
There was no stifling of the innate abilities of the Onondagas,
Senecas, Oneidas, Cayugas, Mohawks or Tuscaroras. Larger nations did not
overpower the smaller ones. We were equal. Diverse peoples were brought
together to work in harmony for the benefit of everyone. No one could
assert themselves over others.
This is the reason why the indigenous government in Venezuela is
successful. Mr. Chavez has tapped into the same knowledge that exists in
all Indigenous people. The renaissance in Venezuela is going to spread
all over the world.
People always feel threatened by a new paradigm. We can expect many
attacks from the colonial powers. We do not use guns but they point
theirs at us. They don’t know what else to do. The young, the poor and
even the middle class in the colonized countries are all suffering from
the same insecurity and dislocation that has been imposed on us. They
will join us once they understand.
If everyone doesn’t relearn how to look after the earth and each
other, there will be nothing left for anyone to eat; no clean water to
drink; and no clean air to breathe. The colonial commercial exploitation
of the environment has been taken to such extremes that human life
itself is in peril. We can work together to clean up the mess we have
created as human beings and make the earth healthy again.
The greedy grasping power hungry people who are trying to gain
control over all of humanity have lost touch with reality. Just when
they think that they have achieved their goal of absolute control and
domination, the pyramid of delusion will collapse beneath their feet.
Life itself will be gone.
Nobody wants to suffer the consequences of a collapse of this order.
Venezuela has a model that is working. People are free and work together
to develop everyone to their full potential in whatever area of life
they have chosen.
When somebody wants to go from one place to another through forests,
jungles, swamps, deserts or mountains, somebody always goes ahead and
cuts the trail. The others follow the steps of those who went ahead.
They all get to their destination safely. It takes a courageous
visionary to see far ahead the dangers that are prowling around. Hugo
Chavez is a trailblazer in the realm of the world’s progressives. He
helps whole groups of people move forward together. He is setting in
motion an act that others will follow.
We have a chance to see how this model is working to its fullest
potential so that the good life and good health is shared by all
equally. We feel gratified and honored that we are taking part in the
dedication of the land to the original people. We need more people like
Hugo Chavez all over the world. We hope for the continued good health of
Mr. Chavez, who cares to lead in troubled times. Artificial ways will
dissolve themselves because they are not real. Humanity must go back to
the natural relationships. We salute you, Venezuela, for showing the
world how your humanitarian goals are being achieved and are inspiring
others to achieve”.
Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Send your comments on this movement to be presented to the
Venezuelans and the Indigenous people who are attending his event at
congresoindigena@gmail.com, Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com and
katenies20@yahoo.com |
No comments:
Post a Comment