Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 29, 2020

MOHAWK NATION NEWS: 'TORONTO' IS ON ROTINOSHONNI LAND

 Posted on November 23, 2020

“TORONTO” IS ON ROTINOSHONNI LAND – MISSISSAUGA ARE ALGONQUIAN “ROGUES” Republished.

Mohawk Nation News

http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2020/11/23/toronto-on-rotinoshonni-land-audio/

ONONWAREKEH, TURTLE ISLAND

AUDIO:

http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2020/11/23/toronto-on-rotinoshonni-land-audio/

Audio Player

MNN. 19 Nov. 2020. The word “toronto” comes from a Mohawk expression, “aterontoh”, which means “Where they put the logs into the water”,   “ontario” comes from “oniatario”, which means “a beautful lake” and “canada” comes from the word “kanata” which means “squatters”.

This story was published on May 31, 2008.

Last November 2007 the Six Nations Confederacy reminded the Mississauga that Toronto sits on part of Haudenosaunee Territory. We refused to give up the 372 square miles of land on Lake Ontario. In 1787 the British brought in the Mississauga who are Algonquian from northern Ontario and got them to fraudulently sell our land to them. The Mississauga said, “It’s not our land, but we’d be glad to sell it to you!” They accepted L1,700 pounds and signed a blank sheet of paper. Why? Because they knew it wasn’t theirs. 

Now 221 years later Toronto is trying to buy it again because it wasn’t done “right” the first time. Once again, the colonists are trying to buy it from the Algonquian “misclaimers”.

The “Toronto Purchase of 1787 & 1805” and an area 12, 944, 400 acres in south and central Ontario known as the “Williams Treaty” of 1923 are part of this shady land deal. 

Another “tall tale” is about the Toronto Islands which Toronto wants to buy from the Mississauga. This is a group of 15 islands amounting to 332 acres about 1.6 km south of downtown Toronto. It was originally a peninsula made up of eroded sand and gravel carried west from the Scarborough Bluffs. In 1858 a violent storm separated the mainland from the islands. Since then the islands have been doubled in size. It is now an 8 km hook broken on the inside into tiny lagoons and islets. City Centre Airport is on the northwest area. Toronto then known as “York” was built inland protected by the old peninsula. 

The Mississauga even put in a claim to the two homes in Burlington of Mohawk traitor, Joseph Brant. Though we know this sell-out to the British is a treasonous bastard, his house and land still belong to us. We could turn it into a “Treason Museum” and display the 1805 Confederacy declaration signed by all 50 chiefs that he is a traitor to our people. He sold and gave away our land to his British army buddies and American UEL friends.  

Involved in this real estate “swindle” are the following Algonquian culprits, the communities of Hiawatha, Scugog, Alderville, Curve Lake, New Credit First Nation, Chippewa Nation of Georgina Island, Christian Island, Rama as well as Moose Deer Point. 

In 1784 Joseph Brant did state that the Haldimand Tract and the land between the three lakes was already Six Nations Land under protection from encroachment by squatters by the King, the Nan Fan Treaty, Peace Treaty of Montreal 1701, the 1725 Treaty, the Silver Covanent Chain and the Royal Proclamation of 1763. These all affirmed that the original “Beaver Hunting Grounds” of the eastern half of Onowaregeh/Turtle Island remains under the sovereignty of the Kaianereh’ko:wa, the Great Law, as maintained by the iera’kwah, Six Nations Confederacy, our friends and allies. [See list below].   None of our land can ever be given up. 

The Haudenosaunee and the Algonquian are descended from the “Paleo”. There were three branches: two were called “Clovis” and “Folsom” who developed into the “Laurentian Archaic”, the ancestors of the Haudenosaunee.   The evidence indicates we are older than the Algonquians. 

The “Shield Archaic” developed into the “Plano Paleo” who are the ancestors of the Anishnawbek/Algonquian, who came from the western plains.  

The two cultures also developed vastly different burial practices.  The Laurentian Archaic/Haudenosaunee built elaborate burial and ceremonial mounds to honor our dead. 

The Shield Archaic/Algonquian cremated their dead. Their original area is rocky, with little soil and very cold, which did not lend itself to building large burial or ceremonial mounds. After they became Christians, they buried their people in Haudenosaunee grounds. 

A traditional migration story known as the “Wallum Olum” tells of a time when the “Le Nape”, the ancestors of all the Algonquian, were located at the head waters of the Mississippi River and in the Lake of the Woods in northwestern Ontario. They moved southward to the bank of the Mississippi River. On the east side of the “Great River” was a giant race of people known as the “Alleghans”, also called “Alligwi”, who are our iera’kwah, Iroquoian, ancestors. The Alleghans lived throughout the Ohio River valley which converged with the Mississippi River. They followed the course to its source in the Alleghany Mountains which they called the “Grandfather”. Our territory is from the Mississippi River to the east coast of Onowaregeh, Turtle Island.  

To the north of the Alleghans were the “Mengwe” [the ancestors of the Wendats] another of our iera’kwah Iroquoian relatives. The Le Nape asked the Mengwe to help them get permission to cross the Mississippi and pass through the land of the Alleghans. They got permission for “safe passage”. With our help it took many years for the Le Nape to migrate to the East Coast. From there they moved northward on their way back to their homeland in the Canadian Shield and the western prairies.  

When the Le Nape reached the east coast, they branched off into other Algonquian speaking people. The Delaware, in their language, refer to themselves as the “grandfathers” of all the Algonquian. They became matrilineal like the iera’kwah Iroquois. They even picked up a few souvenirs from the Mengwi and Alligwi like wooden carved masks which they had never used before in their ceremonies. 

Some of the direct Haudenosaunee ancestors of the Alleghans/Alligwi are the Erie-Alligiwi (aka Cherokee and Choctaw) and the Erie-Neutral (Susquehannock, Conestoga, Wenro). [See previous MNN article dated May 28, 2008 for full list]. The Alligwi and the Mengwe (Six Nations and Wendat) converged to form the “People of the Longhouse”. Our world view and ceremonies are more elaborate and completely different from the Anishnawbek. 

The Ontario Ministry of Culture confirmed in 2004 that there are no old

Mississauga burial sites in the Toronto area. How could there be when they cremated their dead? There are hundreds of Haudenosaunee burial and village sites throughout Southern Ontario and south of the Ottawa River. 

The Mississauga are being paid to invent history and say they are the original owners of all Haudenosaunee land in Southern Ontario and the land between the three lakes, Ontario, Erie and Huron. What a big farce! In 2006 Indian Affairs paid them $12 million plus for our land around the mouth of the Credit River and to keep their barefaced lying mouths shut! These “fibsters” are about to receive $15 billion for the “Toronto Purchase”. It is purported that they plan to build a huge industrial park for the military industry. 

The Six Nations Grand River Confederacy contacted Brian “An-Indian-who-tells-a-white-lie-for-owista[money]” LaForme, the “big cheese” of the Mississauga of New Credit, to discuss this false land scam. He practically told them to “go f—k themselves” and to talk to his white lawyer, Kim Fullerton [contact info below] who never returned any calls. 

Then in October 2007 documents were taken to the “Toronto Aboriginal Affairs Committee” meeting to present to Mr. “B.S.” LaForme. It was about the “Thunderbird Mound” located on the village site of Taiaiagon in Toronto, [See map below] a Seneca-Mohawk village site on the Humber River dating back to 1687. He glanced at it, left it on the table and walked out.  

Researchers, archeologists, educators, politicians and traditional people from both Haudenosaunee and Anishnawbek confirm that the Mississauga are not from the Toronto area or from Southern Ontario. At the December 2, 2007 “Toronto Pow-wow”, Brian “Liar-Liar-Pants-on-Fire” LaForme publicly said with a flapping salivating “forked tongue” that “Toronto is the traditional territory of the Mississauga of New Credit”. He choked out this fiction in front of several Haudenosaunee chiefs from Six Nations. 

The Mississauga is a “rogue” band. On their website they state that they originated from the Mississippi River region of the Lake Superior highlands. They admit coming from the north into Southern Ontario. In 1784 their own Chiefs acknowledged they were not the owners of the land known as the Toronto Purchase, the Haldimand Tract or the land between the three lakes.  Two leaders of the Algonquian “Three Fires Confederacy” also confirm that the Mississauga is not a member of their alliance. 

According to our law, our land can never be alienated to any one as it is held by the women for the children yet to be born. The Haldimand Proclamation of 1784 was meant to protect the Mohawks, our posterity and those we invite to live with us from encroachment by the colonists. The Haldimand Tract is part of the vast Haudenosaunee Territory. 

Six Nations Confederacy acknowledges that in 1740 the Cayuga brought the Mississauga in as a “refugee nation” under the protection of the “Great Peace”. The Mississauga came to Southern Ontario onto the “Haldimand Tract”, after the whites kicked them out of Credit River in 1848. The Mississauga told the Confederacy that they were only “camping out overnight” and were on their way to the Detroit River, from where they were heading back northward to their homeland. They asked many times to extend their visit and never left. 

In the Great Law translation by A.C. Parker, the adoption of a “foreign” nation is temporary. The Mississauga remained under our protection as long as they respected the Great Law and our Confederacy. Now they are illegally assuming “acquired squatters rights” just like their masters, the colonists, who tell them, “You’ve been here for so long it’s yours now. So sell it to us”. There is no “squatters rights”! They have broken the conditions of their visit. They have to come to us for permission to stay. We have warned and given them a chance to live up to their adoption agreement. If they refuse to uphold the Great Law, we can’t protect them anymore. We must expel them from our territory and tell them to find their way home.  

In 1780 the Mississauga left their wampum behind for the Confederacy Council to hold. They never returned to take care of visitation matters. Should the “black beads” be held over their heads, they must come to us and make things right so they can catch the beads before they hit the ground. 

The Mississauga better talk with us immediately about their fraudulent claim to our land. Objections have been filed with all levels of the Canadian government, the United Nations and Mayor David Miller of Toronto. They all know full well that this land is ours.

A Tribe Called Red sing for the ratikonsataties, the unborn native children who own turtle island: “You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now, my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the roadsides. You will play golf and enjoy hot hors d’oeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick-shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They have said, “Do not trust the Pilgrims”. And for all these reasons, I have decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground.”

MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@protonmail.com  For, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go to MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0 

The late Rastia’ta’non:ha, the executive director of the Taiaiako’n Historical Preservation Society, stands on what his group believes are ancient iera’kwah Iroquoian burial grounds in High Park. The group is working to have the area, now used by BMX bikers, protected. April 18, 2011. (Photo by Jayme Poisson/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

rastiata’non:ha, May 2nd, 2011: makes predictions:

MNN Mohawk Nation News 

FRAUDULENT MISSISSAUGA CLAIMS OF IERA’KWAH IROQUOIS LAND

Map No. 1: 

Map Mississauga use to declare fraudulent land-claim

Federal Land Claims Commission Mississauga Land Claim-

Map No. 2.

Map of Toronto Purchase of 1805. 

NOTE: This Map also does not include the area that they are claiming in addition to the original 1805 Toronto Purchase, which also includes the waterfront and the Toronto Islands.

Map No. 3. 

Map of Toronto Mound sites: Thunderbird Mound, Bear Mound Complex & Tabor Hill which is also included in their Fraudulent Land Claim. These 3 sites are currently under the Trusteeship of the Six Nations Confederacy at Grand River.

SOME OF THE “COCK AND BULL Sh!T” TEAM: Indian Affairs: Patricia Valladao, Media Relations, (819) 997-8404; Diane Laursen, (819) 994-2044. Chief Bryan “Fibber” LaForme, 2789 Mississauga Road, R.R. #6, Hagersville, Ontario N0A 1H0 (905) 768-1133 bryanlaforme@newcreditfirstnatio; his “ambulance chaser” Kim Alexander Fullerton 256 Riverside Dr, Oakville, ON L6K 3M9 (905) 849-1700; Chief Commissioner Renée Dupuis Indian Claims Commission 613-943-2737; Ontario Ministry of Culture, Michael Johnson (416) 314-7144 Fax: (416) 314-7175 Michael.Johnson1@ontario.caRobert.vonBitter@ontario.ca,; Ontario Realty Corporation Jim Butticci (416) 326-4761 Jim.Butticci@orc.gov.on.ca Dr. Frank Dearman (416) 327-3937 Adrian.Mattes@orc.gov.on.ca; Toronto Cops Greg.forestall@torontopolice.on.ca; Ontario Realty Corporation Jim Butticci- (416) 326-4761 email: Jim.Butticci@orc.gov.on.ca; Dr. Frank Dearman (416) 327-3937; Adrian.Mattes@orc.gov.on.ca      

THE PEACE OF MONTREAL 1701.  The Iroquois of the League were the leaders in the negotiations with the French and other nations of the Great Lakes. The Algonquian have no power to make any treaties or agreements without consulting the Iroquois and all the signatories within the Peace Treaty of Montreal 1701 area. Should they do so their protection and treaty rights under the  treaty end. Their land claims and arbitrary arrangements with any colonial government is fraudulent.

The League of Six Nations signatories are:

Tekanoet-Seneca; Aouenano-Seneca; Tonatakout-Seneca; Ohonsiowanne- Onondaga; Toarenguenion-Seneca; Garonhiaron-Cayuga; Soueouon-Oneida; Teganiassorens-Mohawk;

L’Aigle (The Eagle) Sault St. Louis (Kaknawake) Mohawk.

The remaining signatories are:

Amikwas, Beaver Clan, represented by Mahingan and the Odawas who also spoke for them; Crees; Noro- The Foxes (or Outagamis) represented by Noro & Miskouensa; The Gens des terres ( Islanders); Kondiaronk- Huron-Petuns & Houatsaranti – Huron-Petuns; Quanrante Sols- Huron of the St. Joseph;  Kaskakias ( Illinois); Peorias ( Illinois); Tapouaros ( Illinois); Maroas (Illinois); -Coiracoentantanons (Illinois); Moingwenas (Illinois); Onanguice- Potowatomie; Courtemanche- Illinois; Kickapoos; Kiskatapi- The Mascouteans; Paintage- The Menominees; Chichicatalo- Miamis of the St. Jospeh River; Piankashaws; Ouiatenons; Chichicatalo – Miamis; Onanguice- Mississaugas; Onaganioitak – Nippissings; Outouagan (Jean Le Blanc)- Sable Odawas; Kinonge ( Le Brochet); Hassaki-Kiskakons (Culs Coupez);

Kileouiskingie-Kiskakons ( Culs Coupez); Chingouessi-Sinago Odawas; Elaouesse-Nassawaketons or Odawas of the Fork; Ouabangue-Ojibways (Saulteurs); Onanguice-Potawatomis; Ouenemek-Potawatomis; Coluby-Sauks; Timiskamings-from Lake Timiskaming ;

Puants-Winnebago; Otchagaras-Winnebago; Algonquians; Haouatchouath-Abenakis; Meskouadoue-Abenakis; Passamaqodys; Penobscots; Maliseets; Mi’kmaqs; Tsahounanhos-La Montagne; Montagnais; Susquehannocks;Mahicans

 

PLEASE SEND YOUR OBJECTIONS TO: QUEENIE ELIZABETH II, Buckingham Palace, LONDON UK; Governor General MICHAELLE “Haitian-Against-the-Nation” JEAN, 1 Rideau Hall, OTTAWA, ONTARIO info@gg.ca; Canada Prime Minister STEPHEN HARPER, House of Commons, OTTAWA, ONTARIO harper.s@parl.gc.ca; Ontario Premier DALTON McGUINTY, Queen’s Park, TORONTO, ONTARIO mcguinty.D@parl.gc.ca; Chief Doreen Davis, 3102-RR #2, Sharbot Lake, ONTARIO K0H 2P0 chiefdoreen@aol.com: CHRISTOPHER M. REID, 154 Monarch Park Ave., TORONTO ONTARIO M4J 4R6 lawreid@aol.com; United Nations unat@un.org; Indian Affairs Minister Strahl.c@parl.gc.ca; Toronto Mayor mayor_miller@toronto.ca; Minister Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Michael Bryand % Lars.Eedy@ontario.ca; and everybody else.

Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois

 

 

 

November 27, 2020

Navajo Council recognizes frontline workers, as virus cases spike to 226 on Thursday, Nov . 26





PHOTO: Public health messages across the Navajo Nation emphasize social distancing, as seen on this community billboard. The public is asked to follow public health orders and to follow CDC guidelines.


In recognition of the Navajo Nation’s first responders and front-line workers, Council asks all to follow public health orders and guidelines

By Navajo Nation Council
Nov. 26, 2020

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — As the country observes the national holiday, the 24th Navajo Nation Council encourages all members of the Navajo Nation to express their appreciation to health care workers, police officers, firefighters, facilities staff, first responders and essential front-line workers for their continuing service during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The public is asked to be vigilant in protecting against the further spread of the virus.

“Through following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines and abiding by the recommendations of our health care professionals, we can reduce the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. This is critical during and after this Thanksgiving holiday. We know many are of our most essential workers have worked tirelessly to address this pandemic for months on-end. The Council expresses its appreciation and gratitude to our hard workers and it is with them in minds and hearts that we ask the Navajo people to mask-up, practice social distancing, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and reduce travel,” said Speaker Seth Damon.


On Thursday, the Navajo Epidemiology Center reported 226 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on the Navajo Nation compared to 121 confirmed cases on Monday. A total of 15,862 cases have been confirmed positive through a total 154,384 Covid-19 tests completed. 8,606 cases were reported to have recovered. A total 645 mortalities related to Covid-19 have occurred.


“The Council has extended well-deserved recognition to the Navajo Nation’s first responders who have sacrificed their time, health and, in some cases, their lives to keep our people safe from the most drastic effects of this pandemic,” said Speaker Damon. “Today, and in the days and weeks that follow the holiday, we have to do more, individually, to reduce the risk of spread. We can help those on the front lines by taking these proven steps to reduce the chances this deadly virus overloads our health care facilities.”


On Wednesday, the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee of the 24th Navajo Nation Council heard from the Indian Health Service (IHS) updates on the rising number of Covid-19 cases and potential vaccines.


“You see the counties in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, most of them are red,” said Dr. Thiery Va, referencing the national risk map for Covid-19 infection by county. On the Navajo Nation, Dr. Va stated: “We know at this point that between 638 facilities and IHS facilities, they are reaching crisis capacity. Our staffed beds are getting full.


Dr. Jill Moses stressed the importance of answering calls from public health workers who are performing contact tracing work after an individual has been confirmed positive with Covid-19. “There are places and some individuals that are reluctant to share information with the public health team when they call to do their contact tracing work. A contact tracing is really a key piece for protecting families in the community. It’s done in a way that protects confidentiality.”


Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loretta Christiansen provided additional guidance that all members of the public should receive flu vaccinations by December 15. Although no Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for distribution by the federal government, IHS recommends not overlapping the two vaccinations in the same 14-day period.


November 23, 2020

Chief Arvol Looking Horse: Become individual leaders and protect the Sacred during dark time of sickness



Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Nov. 23, 2020


 

Cheyenne River Lakota youth locks down, arrested, to halt KXL pipeline construction




By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

PHILLIP, South Dakota -- Cheyenne River Lakota Jasilyn Charger locked down and halted construction at the KXL pipeline pumping station construction on Saturday and was arrested. Charger was released from jail after making her stand for the water and people near the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation.

"Jasilyn Charger, of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe said she felt it in her heart to make a stand for her people, her Homelands and all the children who have no say about the destruction currently happening to their home," 2KC Media reported.

"Today 11/21/20, she locked herself down to one of the pipes at the Royer road KXL oil pump stations to stop the illegal construction happening. A complaint was filed to the state's attorney in Haakon County but no action has been taken yet. So Jasilyn felt it was her civic duty to act and make a stand for those who can't. We stand with her, solidarity," 2KC Media said.

"Keep her in your prayers and keep eyes on KXL and the desecration happening to UNCI Maka."

Candi Brings Plenty said, "I almost got arrested today, but I am grateful for the crew who had my back and got me home safe to my Tiwahé. 

"But first of all, I am so proud of Jasilyn Charger for their bravery and stepping up to lead the way in our resistance stance to our continued fight to protect Mni Wićoni.

"Today they locked themselves down to the KXL pump station and she was arrested later in the afternoon.
Jaslyn opagi’d me, they followed traditional protocol and honored me by offering me tobacco and spirit food. I was asked to come support and hold space on this frontline action.

"We successfully shut down the KXL pump station, all the workers took down the cranes and had to cease work for the day. They all packed up and left back to the man camp.

"In this video the fire department was called in to bring in heavy machinery to cut their restraints off, Jasilyn was immediately arrested and is in need of a lawyer and legal support. This big-hearted warrior isn’t representing any non-profits, they are a true entity for the Oyaté. Jasilyn is a badass Two Spirit youth, who is a Water Protector and Earth Defender and definitely an answer to our ancestors' prayers.

"My phone died just as the Haakon County sheriff tells me he’s going to arrest me and Maské Waniya. He said when he was done arresting Jasilyn, he was coming after me next, even if it was down the road. I needed to charge my phone and inform my Baby Bears that I might get arrested, so I charged my cell and start praying, and my spirit guides decided it wasn’t my time and that they were going to keep protecting me. 

"Wopila Ikce for being part of that protection.

"It was just REALLY important to me that we document Jasilyn’s arrest and to observe their methods and treatment of our sibling who put their livelihood on the line, who made their stance today for not only the protection of our water but also for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn, In Solidarity for Line 3 and to call our President-elect Joe Biden to stay true to his words and shut down the Keystone Pipeline.

"This crew of folks is also fighting on the ground because their tribe is going into lockdown on Monday, and they know that this illegal construction is going to continue without disruption. This is Amerikkka," Brings Plenty said.

"Please share and bring awareness to this illegal construction that is happening and to bring visibility to the impactful work of our grassroots warriors."

Cherokee Nation Chief: Oklahoma needs state-wide mask mandate




 Statement of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

Censored News

Osiyo,

Since the COVID-19 pandemic first reached Cherokee Nation, our people have worked together to protect Cherokees. We have seen heroic actions and hard sacrifices by our health care workers, staff and volunteers who distributed food and economic assistance, and all those who gave up in-person social and family time to help keep us safe.

I am grateful for those sacrifices that have saved Cherokee lives and prevented even greater suffering, especially for our treasured elders. I have tried to support those efforts by following the best public health recommendations available. That is why I issued an executive order in May mandating masks at Cherokee Nation properties. I also made sure that, whenever possible, our employees could stay at home without losing a paycheck, and our Cherokee families and communities would be supported through this crisis.

Unfortunately, Cherokees cannot defeat this virus alone. The harsh reality is that COVID-19 is spreading faster than ever across our reservation, the state and the whole country. Cherokee Nation has 4,322 total cases and 35 deaths within our health system. Hospitals are reaching capacity at alarming rates, including at Cherokee Nation’s W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. In addition, 89 Oklahomans, including some Cherokees whom I consider dear friends, tragically died due to complications from COVID-19 in the past week.

These hospitalizations and deaths were preventable. Many more hospitalizations and deaths are still preventable. Our health experts at Cherokee Nation, in Oklahoma and around the United States have told us that face coverings help reduce the spread of this disease. Cherokee Nation and local leaders around the state have listened to the public health experts, but it is simply not enough. Cities with mask ordinances are reporting lower rates of transmission, but the virus doesn’t care about municipal or reservation boundaries. We need uniformity across the state to stop COVID-19.

I was glad to see Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt recently announce some new measures to slow the virus. Requiring masks in state facilities and instituting an 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants and bars are positive steps. These will help, but they are not enough.  I have called on Governor Stitt to issue a statewide mask mandate and urge you to do the same.

It is long overdue for the state of Oklahoma to enact a statewide mask mandate. The Centers for Disease Control recommends it, the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommends it, and the Oklahoma State Medical Association recommends it. Already, 35 other states have statewide mask mandates, including every one of Oklahoma’s surrounding states except Missouri. Statewide mandates were most recently adopted in Utah and North Dakota. This is not a partisan or a political issue; it is a matter of life and death.

I have heard some hesitancy about mask mandates and other public health measures out of concern that they could hurt the economy. But this is a false choice. We will never truly get “back to business” while this virus threatens our friends and families. It appears likely that an effective vaccine will arrive next year, and that makes it even more important to prevent unnecessary suffering and death for the next few months. Our economy will bounce back strongest if we save as many lives as possible today.

From the beginning of this pandemic, I have pledged that Cherokee Nation’s response would be guided by medical science and compassion. Now I am urging our state and our country to follow the Cherokee way: When times get tough, put your community ahead of yourself. Mask mandates and other proven public health measures are overdue.

Wado,