Complaint to United Nations concerning attack on Mohawk grandmothers
Kahentinetha Horn, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, filed a complaint with the United Nations, following the attack on her and Katenies at the border. Kahentinetha suffered a trauma induced heart while handcuffed in a police stress hold during the attack by special forces at the Canadian border. Katenies, editor of Mohawk Nation News, was beaten and jailed. The Mohawk grandmothers live in fear for their lives after exposing the truth of Canada's genocide of First Nations peoples, including the genocide of uranium mining, the murder of innocent children in residential schools, the seizure and rape of Indigenous Peoples lands and digging up the graves of the ancestors for housing, industrial development and the NAFTA highway. The complaint to the United Nations sent today follows:
Box 991, Kahnawake of Haudenosaunee Territory
[Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0
REGISTERED MAIL
Mr. Rudolpho Stavenhagen
Office of High Commission for Human Rights
Ms. Tonya Gonella Frichner
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples
United Nations, UN Plaza, S294, New York 10017
COMPLAINT OF ATTACK BY CORNWALL BORDER GUARDS ON 2 MOHAWK WOMEN
She:kon - Mr. Stavenhagen and Ms. Frichner:
In the past we have informed you of the problems that we Kanion’ke:haka face at the U.S.-Canada border. As you know, our territory is comprised of vast areas of the eastern half of Onowaregeh/Turtle Island. The colonial border has been placed through the middle of our territory. We are not Canadians or Americans. We are Kanion’ke:haka. We have always traversed freely on our territory. Treaties and international laws confirm this right.
We have reason to believe that many of our peoples’ lives are in “danger”. They have particularly been targeting youth, women with children and elders, particularly if these people are known for speaking out in favor of our rights.
I am a 68 year old grandmother. We run MNN Mohawk Nation News, a website that is known for reporting on issues of interest to the Mohawk Nation.
On June 14th 2008 two other people and myself were crossing the border at the Cornwall checkpoint that is placed in the middle of our community of Akwesasne so that it seriously impedes normal community life. We were attacked by a swarm of muscular young guards under the direction of the Canada Border Security Agency.
They attacked us so violently that I suffered a heart attack. I am presently under a doctor’s care and ordered to avoid stressful situations. However, Canadian authorities seem determined to create as much stress for me as possible. They are blocking my internet, intermittently withholding my phone service and my mail service.
Katenies [aka Janet Davis] was a passenger with me on that day. She was assaulted and held incommunicado for three days. Instead of investigating this violent incident, they are trying to serve us with charges.
We have reason to believe that the Canadian “State” conspired to kill us. This attempt appears to have been carried out by the Canada Public Safety and Security, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services and Mohawk Security Officers, all agencies of the Canadian government. The courts of “Canada” are issuing false charges and attempting to serve warrants on us.
In 2003 Katenies was falsely charged with “running the border”. She has filed a question which the court refuses to answer: “How did you get authority and jurisdiction over me and my land“? We understand that we have a right to ask this question and to have a proper answer. We are aware that Canada does not have authority according to international law.
The same checkpoint agents have physically and psychologically attacked Katenies’ daughter, Teiohontathe. A complaint was filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2006 with no proper response to this date.
Killings of our people by the Canadian state are not uncommon. We are concerned about these recent developments because two Mohawk men were killed in Akwesasne in 1989 during a political conflict. There is strong evidence to suggest that they were killed by agents of the Canadian government under the direction of the Department of Indian Affairs. These crimes were never resolved by the Canadian justice system. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne are under the direction of the Canadian State. They do not represent the people of Akwesasne. We are afraid for our lives.
The Canada Border Services Agency has hundreds of documented complaints of abuses committed by their agents against our people. Policing agreements, Joint Investigative Task Force and Remission Orders have all been applied to Akwesasne illegally without consultation with the community. The community has been unable to get copies of the agreements that the band council has signed with the Canadian government.
The video footage of the June 14th 2008 assaults on us and Teiohontateh have been confiscated by Canada‘s Department of “National Defense”. We are informed the only way to obtain these videos is to “waive our rights”. Canada has defined us as “terrorists”, “insurgents” and a “global risk”. We have no army or weapons. In reality, we are a peaceful people who want to live quietly with our families.
The international relations between Canada and our people have degenerated seriously. There is a desperate need for an investigation by a neutral and independent tribunal.
Canada’s courts are not neutral. Canada is a party to the disagreement between our nations. A fair decision can never be reached when one party is allowed to judge the other, especially when there is a serious power imbalance of the kind that exists in this case.
We would appreciate your immediate intervention. We are afraid for our lives. Please help make sure that no more of our people are killed or threatened.
Onen ki:wahi
Kahentinetha /s/ ________________________ kahentinetha2@yahoo.com
Katenies /s/ ___________________________ katenies20@yahoo.com
cc: Members of the United Nations
tonya@aila.org
pespinilla@ohchr.org
tihs@unitednationsofturtleisland.com,
Unrepenter unrepenter@aol.com
UNOisikaChakrabarti, chakrabarti@un.org
UNMurtizastrvyenberg unat@un.org
UNIndigPermForum indigenouspermanentforum@un.org
UNIndigForum TB-petitions@ohchr.org
UNIndigenousPeople IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org
UNHumanRights tb-petitions@ohchr.org
UNfrance france-presse@un.int
July 22, 2008
AIM For Freedom Reception July 30, 2008
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Friends and Relations,Thanks for your continued support and encouragement for the AIM 40 years retrospective exhibition. Make plans to attend the reception, July 30. Here's the latest painting from Leonard Peltier. It is for sale! A silent auction will be held at the Somarts Gallery during the time of reception! See you there!
Tony Gonzales
AIM-WEST
415-577-1492
Painting Chief Red Crow by Leonard Peltier
AIM FOR FREEDOM!
A 40 Year Photography & Art Retrospective of the American Indian Movement
July 16th - July 31st, 2008
July 16th - July 31st, 2008
SomArts Bay Gallery
934 Brannan Street (between 8th & 9th Streets)San Francisco, CA 94103
http://www.somarts.org/
Gallery Hours
Gallery Hours
Tuesday-Friday: 1:00pm – 7:00pm, Saturdays: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Featuring Photography and Art by J.R. Auginash, Dick Bancroft, DaveCordova, Ilka Hartmann, Brenda Norrell, Paul Owns the Sabre, LeonardPeltier, Kerry Richardson, Michelle Vignes, Floyd Red Crow Westerman,and traditional Dine rugs.
Opening Reception Thursday July 17th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Featuring Photography and Art by J.R. Auginash, Dick Bancroft, DaveCordova, Ilka Hartmann, Brenda Norrell, Paul Owns the Sabre, LeonardPeltier, Kerry Richardson, Michelle Vignes, Floyd Red Crow Westerman,and traditional Dine rugs.
Opening Reception Thursday July 17th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Honoring thewomen in the movement with special guest AIM co-founder PatriciaBellanger. Also featuring the Vallejo Sweet Medicine Singers, TheCalifornia Traditional Pomo Dancers, The All Nation Singers, and TheTlingit Women's Dance Group.
Friday July 18th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm - A lecture and screening ontraditional basket weaving by Orie Medicine Bull and a performance byMedicine Warriors Dance Troupe care of Gilbert Blacksmith.
Tuesday July 22nd 2:00pm - 8:00pm Storytelling, poetry and musicFeaturing California Indian storyteller Anne Marie Sayers, all ageswelcomed.
Wednesday July 30th, 3:00pm - 9:00pm - Founder's Day Reception &Fundraiser A silent auction of work by Leonard Peltier and Floyd RedCrow Westerman with MC Bill Means, a ceremony honoring Lee Brightmanand the completion of the Longest Walk II, a book signing by AIMauthors and photojournalists, The All Nation Singers, The CaliforniaTraditional Pomo Dancers, The Tlingit Women's Dance Group, and Dr.Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band.
Curated by Tony Gonzales, Rene Yañez, and Rio Yañez
http://www.aimovement.org/
Friday July 18th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm - A lecture and screening ontraditional basket weaving by Orie Medicine Bull and a performance byMedicine Warriors Dance Troupe care of Gilbert Blacksmith.
Tuesday July 22nd 2:00pm - 8:00pm Storytelling, poetry and musicFeaturing California Indian storyteller Anne Marie Sayers, all ageswelcomed.
Wednesday July 30th, 3:00pm - 9:00pm - Founder's Day Reception &Fundraiser A silent auction of work by Leonard Peltier and Floyd RedCrow Westerman with MC Bill Means, a ceremony honoring Lee Brightmanand the completion of the Longest Walk II, a book signing by AIMauthors and photojournalists, The All Nation Singers, The CaliforniaTraditional Pomo Dancers, The Tlingit Women's Dance Group, and Dr.Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band.
Curated by Tony Gonzales, Rene Yañez, and Rio Yañez
http://www.aimovement.org/
Tohono O'odham Baboquivari Defense founder jailed
From the Mohawk grandmothers, Kahentinetha Horn and Katenies, beaten at the northern border, to the bogus arrests at DQ University of students and elders in California, to the attack by the Columbus, Ohio police on the Longest Walkers, Native Americans are under assault by police and special agents using bogus charges. In the case of the Long Walkers, a taser was pointed at the forehead of Michael Lane, Menominee, without provocation, and walker Luv the Mezenger tackled and thrown in the concrete. Kahentinetha, publisher of Mohawk Nation News, suffered a trauma-induced heart attack while handcuffed in a police stress hold at the Canadian border. Katenies was tackled and thrown to the concrete and jailed. The arrest and jailing of Ernest Moristo, Tohono O'odham, defending the O'odham's sacred Baboquivari Mountains from tribal development and the swarming and littering Border Patrol agents on sacred Tohono O'odham land at the southern border, is the latest attack.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: JULY 8, 2008
Baboquivari Defense Project founder jailed 30 days for trespassing and resisting arrest
From: sacredmtn@gmail.com
The Baboquivari Defense Project is funded by the Seventh Generation Fund organization. Baboquivari is the sacred mountain of the O’odham people. Ernest Moristo's family has lived at the base of the mountain for many generations. For over twenty years Moristo, with his family and friends has been fighting the development and commercialization of the area. The jail of the Tohono O’odham is currently crowded and the sentence is severe considering the charges. While Moristo is in jail, the development may begin again which has been opposed by the Moristo family. For O’odham, Baboquivari mountain is the home of I'itoi and has been the focus of our language strength truth and spiritual healing. Further disrespect of this area will increase the damage of our people and those yet to come. How can anyone trespass on their own sacred homeland? Contact sacredmtn@gmail.com with your concerns.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: JULY 8, 2008
Baboquivari Defense Project founder jailed 30 days for trespassing and resisting arrest
From: sacredmtn@gmail.com
The Baboquivari Defense Project is funded by the Seventh Generation Fund organization. Baboquivari is the sacred mountain of the O’odham people. Ernest Moristo's family has lived at the base of the mountain for many generations. For over twenty years Moristo, with his family and friends has been fighting the development and commercialization of the area. The jail of the Tohono O’odham is currently crowded and the sentence is severe considering the charges. While Moristo is in jail, the development may begin again which has been opposed by the Moristo family. For O’odham, Baboquivari mountain is the home of I'itoi and has been the focus of our language strength truth and spiritual healing. Further disrespect of this area will increase the damage of our people and those yet to come. How can anyone trespass on their own sacred homeland? Contact sacredmtn@gmail.com with your concerns.
July 21, 2008
Remembering the vision of Corbin Harney
Corbin Harney and Olsaus Suleimenov at the Nevada Test Site near Mercury in 1990. Photo by Linda Putnam
Sent by Ian Zabarte
Secretary of State for the Western Shoshone Government
Corbin Harney was Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone National Council. Sometimes called "The hardest working man in shamanism," Harney, for many years, spent most of his time travelling around the world spreading a message about the dangers of nuclear energy and the problems facing our Mother Earth.
Corbin Harney was Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone National Council. Sometimes called "The hardest working man in shamanism," Harney, for many years, spent most of his time travelling around the world spreading a message about the dangers of nuclear energy and the problems facing our Mother Earth.
"The Mother Earth provides us with food, provides us with air, provides us with water. We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together, to save our planet here. We've only got one water, one air, one Mother Earth."
Among other excursions, he visited mutated children in Kazakhstan hospitals who lived close to the Russian nuclear test site. He received the 2003 International Nuclear Free Future Solutions award. [3] He spoke out about the contamination of our water and shared with people a vision that he experienced several years ago.
"I was praying to the water and the spirit of the water told me, 'Pretty soon, I'm going to look like clean water, but no one is going to use me .' I didn't really understand what I was told until I went to Kazakhstan in Russia. Kazakhstan is where Russia tested nuclear bombs for many years. Over there I saw water that looks like clean water, but people can't drink it because it is contaminated with radiation ... the nature put all the living things here for us to take care of, not to destroy them, but to work with them so that we may live with them for many more years."
Olsaus Suleimenov again became a world-wide name in 1989, when he led the establishment of international environmental movement Nevada-Semipalatinsk. Nevada Semipalatinsk campaigned to close nuclear sites in Nevada and Semipalatinsk city in Kazakhstan. After independence, Suleimenov established Peoples' Congress party in 1991 and served as the speaker of Parliament until 1994. While at the Parliament, he rose to the position of opposition leader, engaging in several political struggles with President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Many opposition leaders urged him to run as a candidate in the next presidential elections. In 1995, to preempt his potential candidacy, Nazarbayev broke a deal, and Suleimenov was appointed as Kazakhstan's ambassador to Rome. Currently, he serves as Kazakhstani ambassador at UN.
Olsaus Suleimenov again became a world-wide name in 1989, when he led the establishment of international environmental movement Nevada-Semipalatinsk. Nevada Semipalatinsk campaigned to close nuclear sites in Nevada and Semipalatinsk city in Kazakhstan. After independence, Suleimenov established Peoples' Congress party in 1991 and served as the speaker of Parliament until 1994. While at the Parliament, he rose to the position of opposition leader, engaging in several political struggles with President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Many opposition leaders urged him to run as a candidate in the next presidential elections. In 1995, to preempt his potential candidacy, Nazarbayev broke a deal, and Suleimenov was appointed as Kazakhstan's ambassador to Rome. Currently, he serves as Kazakhstani ambassador at UN.
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