ART OF CONSENSUAL DECISION MAKING
REGISTERED MAIL
FROM: Kahentinetha, Bear Clan,
Box 991, Kahnawake, Que. Canada J0L 1B0
kahentinetha2@protonmail.com
Jan. 14, 2026
TO: Mr. Mark Carney, Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Government of Canada, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada
Sego.
I am Kahentinetha, bear clan, Kanienkeha Mohawk, of kahnawake. We understand that you are going to negotiate with us about sharing our land and resources. We are the original people of turtle island. We would like you to understand our priorities regarding our land and heritage and help you fix the wrongs of the past. I would like to meet with you soon to discuss how we can help you deal with what is right and good for everyone and everything by using an indigenous form of consensual decision making. We had a group that did this exercise across turtle island which were very well received.
The oral constitution of the rotinoshonni united the Kanienkhaka [Mohawks}, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora based in the principles of Peace, Righteous and Power. This form of decision-making resolved centuries of conflict and created lasting peace.
GOAL: To make a decision that is in the best interests of all. The consensus does not mean that all agree but that all understand the decision, with everybody’s input, using the kaianerekowa great peace. We will demonstrate the culture of the original people since time immemorial. A fundamental aspect is everyone is sovereign and each voice is heard and included according to our philosophy based on the fundamental principles of the kaianerekowa.
NOTE: In entering the consensual decision-making process, whatever ideas are put into the process, the needs and attitudes of each is considered and complements the decision. Also, the individual has a duty to be directly involved, and to bring their ideas into the discussion within their clan. The final decision will be fully satisfactory to some, satisfactory to others, and relatively satisfactory to the remainder, and will reflect elements from each group. This is a slow careful process requiring the reaching of a full understanding by each individual and not a decision made by a “leader”. We have no leaders. We are willing to include Canada in living according to the kaianerekowa as long as Canadians agree to follow the kaianerekowa principles. They are welcome to enter our longhouse as Section 35 of the Charter of Rights in the Canadian Constitution of 1982 requires Canadians to follow the basic principle and culture set forth in our way.
- PEACE CHIEF Presides over the meeting to make sure that collective rational thought and behaviour are followed.
- CLANS. The People are divided into three clans: Bear, Wolf and Turtle.
- ASSISTANT PEACE CHIEF. Each clan selects a Spokesperson called an “Assistant Peace Chief”.
- WELL-KEEPER announces the subject for discussion and passes the issue over the Council Fire.
- The three clans deliberate.
- Then the Assistant Peace Chief either reports or asks questions or reports a final decision. If the Clans disagree or there is an error or the proceedings are irregular, the Assistant Peace Chief calls attention to it on behalf of his clan.
- The issue is then passed by all three clans.
THREE CRITERIA
When an issue is discussed, the clans consider the pros and cons of the issue. Three criteria must be met:
[1] “Peace”, does it preserve the peace that is already established?
[2] Righteousness”, is it morally correct? And
[3] “Power”, does it preserve the integrity of the nation? What does it do for the present and how does it affect the ‘seven generations’ from now? The 7 generations concept means that decisions made today must benefit the people forever. This will make all treaties null and void as they are not made according to the principles of the kaianerekowa. The present form of constitution is a fiction, as you know. The constitution is meaningless because the people have never been asked to vote on it. Ttherefore, it has never been ratified. It is based on corporate law which is based on taking and building an economy on the possessions of the original people of turtle island.
We original people will be part of every decision related to everything on turtle island. As you know, the band councils are administration bodies for Canada.
DURING DELIBERATIONS
Persons are asked throughout the process if they fully understand. If not, the process stops until this is accomplished. One cannot simply be stubborn and refuse to understand as they will be questioned. Each must follow the criteria of peace, righteousness and power.
Every person has a responsibility to expand and exercise their minds. The forces of life have given the human being the potential to use the mind to create a better life through peace, righteousness and power.
In the decision-making process
- all opinions have to be considered;
- all must be completely reasonable;
- all should come with an open mind;
- all must fully understand the other’s viewpoint;
- each participant cannot repeat a position once it has been fully explained and understood;
- if a person does not agree with the views that have been stated, they must fully explain their dissenting views;
- no one can impose their will nor make a decision for another;
- all must understand the viewpoint and agree of their own free will;
- if there is no consensus, the consensus is to retain the status quo.
- If there is a decision on an issue, this must be reviewed regularly by all parties.
The current system is based on 51% majority rules, the exact reason why we left Albany and came to live with our people in Kahnawake and kentekeh in 1784, long before Canada was invented. We told the Americans then, because of their 51% majority rules system, they will never know peace. Canada implemented the 50% majority rules representative democracy. Under our consensual decision-making program we are always able to achieve 100%.
We would like to explain to you the true form of consensual decision making of indigenous people. Please let me know when we could meet and discuss this process with you. You state you want to make ‘Canada’ relevant. If Canada could learn about this process and implement it into your government strategy, you could make this a model to the whole world. Peace would finally come to everybody. Let us know when you are available and we will make time for you.
Unity, strength, peace. kahentinetha, Bear Clan
As my elder Willie Nelson states so well and I can relate to, “Yesterday When I was Young” . . .
box 991 kahnawake que. canada J0L 1B0
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