The Caledonia Dispute - First Nations In Crisis
CALLING ALL ABORIGINAL PERFORMERS, ENTERTAINERS, ARTISTS TO SUPPORT SIX NATIONS RECLAMATION
Submitted by Jeanne Svhiyeyi Aga Chadwick
DATE OF CONCERT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED FOR FRIDAY,JUNE 16TH, AT THE SITE IN CALEDONIA, TO PROCEED AT NOON
I am sure you are now ALL aware of the unrest going on in the Six Nations Territory, and what they are trying to accomplish in Caledonia. I, David R. Maracle from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, am a First Nations Artist and Musician, and want to show support. I am calling all my fellow Aboriginal musicians, entertainers and artists to band together to show OUR support, and give back to OUR communities, and do a Benefit concert up in Six Nations, at the Site of Reclamation.
I am trying to establish interest in this initial contact...We have had an overwhelming response already, but are still looking for performers
This is a free concert, no one is being paid to perform, and if you can afford to be there to support this, it would be greatly appreciated by our future generations to come. Everyone will come on their own dime, but we have been assured that there will be plenty of food and camping space available.
We, as Aboriginal Artists, have clout and will have the EYE of the Media and the Eyes of the World upon us. We can make a difference right now. Please email me back, as I have spoken to SEVERAL of the organizers of the barricade in Six Nations, who feel that this would be very worthwhile. It’s time to take a stand and bring all the Aboriginal Peoples together to show the world, that we are all NOT "SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR A MONTHLY CHEQUE" as one of the government officials said in the newsbroadcast.
WE are professional people who need to take a stand, and pitch in NOW...ITS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE TO DO THIS. WE NEEDTO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM.....having a band card is not a privilege, its a RIGHT...being Native isn’t a trend...its our blood. We want to rally behind the People, show our support, and stand up for our Aboriginal Rights, and the time is now...
Please call me at my home at 613-396-2767, or my cell at 613-391-5132 if you will stand up and be counted
...Please send this on to your fellow Aboriginal Musicians, Artists, Entertainers, etc....The more on board will show Unity within the First Nations Peoples across Canada. LETS TURN THIS INTO AN ABORIGINAL WOODSTOCK FOR UNITY AND STOP THEFT AND INJUSTICES ON OUR NATIVE LANDS
If anyone is interested in donating artwork, there will be a silent auction as well. Please contact our events Coordinator Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald of TAP Resources (519-445-1794) on how you can help, and where to send any donations.
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
DAVID R. MARACLE
NATIVE EXPRESSIONS,
TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY
"The tall mountains and the valley floors, this is our church.We worship there so our Indian way of life can exist."
Opinions and Views - Native Protest Continues
Dave Cressman – The Hamilton Record, May 12th, 2006
Once again, generations of federal government deceit and neglect have led to another outburst of aboriginal frustration that the province is expected to contain and “keep the peace”.
Confrontation is not the answer. It’s hard to muster up sympathy for a developer who knowingly purchased lands in an area under dispute and now cries for pity. In my view, this is but one example of the many huge debts society owes to First Nations people across Canada.
As hard as it is to find anything positive in the sorry and volatile dispute at the would-be subdivision in Caledonia, a few positives are noteworthy.
Most important is Premier Dalton McGuinty's choice of negotiation versus the heavy-handed choice of his predecessor, Mike Harris.
In a similar situation the wrong response by the government resulted in the tragic death of native protester Dudley George. Next is the wisdom and courage of the members of Haldimand council who publicly denounced what I consider to be prejudiced remarks by their mayor.
The irritation of Caledonia residents "inconvenienced" by the demonstration is not surprising, but these pale in comparison with the injustices endured by the Six Nations community for generations, as successive federal governments have ignored the treaty commitments made in the 1700s by then governor Frederick Haldimand, Chief Joseph Brant and his followers, i.e., native control over all land six miles on either side of the Grand River.
It's time for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the rest of us to put an end to the stalling and negotiate, in good faith and honesty, solutions to legitimate grievances such as those that have surfaced in Caledonia.
It's never too soon or too late to admit to past mistakes and strive for justice. The world is watching.
More Opinions and Views:
Andrew Orkin: "It is time that Canadians remind themselves of all the applicable law, not just the bits that seem to justify our occupation and taking of others' lands. The only alternative is the use of overwhelming military force against the Iroquois, to conquer them.
But Canada's legitimacy and reputation would take a severe beating if the colonial and oppressive nature of its relationship with aboriginal peoples was thus laid bare. Respect for the law is not a one-way, natives-only street. Non-natives and their governments must respect the law, too, and all of it."• Law demands universal respect (The Hamilton Spectator 5/12)
Mary Boutin: "I'm so sorry to have to write this letter, but Caledonia will be a ghost town soon if something isn't done. The businesses are losing money, the house prices have gone down, and people like me, who enjoyed the quaint town, no longer go there.
I realize the natives got a bad deal years ago, but I feel that was a very bad decision they made. I, too, have made some bad investments, but that was my bad choice."• There must be a better way (The Hamilton Spectator 5/12)
TO SUBMIT an ARTICLE or OPINION PIECE to the Native Unity Digest, e-mail bobbieo@digitaldune.net.
NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
Visit Vietnam Vet. Larry Mitchell at http://www.potawatomivet.com and click on his blog at the site.
Submitted by Jeanne Svhiyeyi Aga Chadwick
DATE OF CONCERT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED FOR FRIDAY,JUNE 16TH, AT THE SITE IN CALEDONIA, TO PROCEED AT NOON
I am sure you are now ALL aware of the unrest going on in the Six Nations Territory, and what they are trying to accomplish in Caledonia. I, David R. Maracle from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, am a First Nations Artist and Musician, and want to show support. I am calling all my fellow Aboriginal musicians, entertainers and artists to band together to show OUR support, and give back to OUR communities, and do a Benefit concert up in Six Nations, at the Site of Reclamation.
I am trying to establish interest in this initial contact...We have had an overwhelming response already, but are still looking for performers
This is a free concert, no one is being paid to perform, and if you can afford to be there to support this, it would be greatly appreciated by our future generations to come. Everyone will come on their own dime, but we have been assured that there will be plenty of food and camping space available.
We, as Aboriginal Artists, have clout and will have the EYE of the Media and the Eyes of the World upon us. We can make a difference right now. Please email me back, as I have spoken to SEVERAL of the organizers of the barricade in Six Nations, who feel that this would be very worthwhile. It’s time to take a stand and bring all the Aboriginal Peoples together to show the world, that we are all NOT "SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR A MONTHLY CHEQUE" as one of the government officials said in the newsbroadcast.
WE are professional people who need to take a stand, and pitch in NOW...ITS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE TO DO THIS. WE NEEDTO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM.....having a band card is not a privilege, its a RIGHT...being Native isn’t a trend...its our blood. We want to rally behind the People, show our support, and stand up for our Aboriginal Rights, and the time is now...
Please call me at my home at 613-396-2767, or my cell at 613-391-5132 if you will stand up and be counted
...Please send this on to your fellow Aboriginal Musicians, Artists, Entertainers, etc....The more on board will show Unity within the First Nations Peoples across Canada. LETS TURN THIS INTO AN ABORIGINAL WOODSTOCK FOR UNITY AND STOP THEFT AND INJUSTICES ON OUR NATIVE LANDS
If anyone is interested in donating artwork, there will be a silent auction as well. Please contact our events Coordinator Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald of TAP Resources (519-445-1794) on how you can help, and where to send any donations.
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
DAVID R. MARACLE
NATIVE EXPRESSIONS,
TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY
"The tall mountains and the valley floors, this is our church.We worship there so our Indian way of life can exist."
Opinions and Views - Native Protest Continues
Dave Cressman – The Hamilton Record, May 12th, 2006
Once again, generations of federal government deceit and neglect have led to another outburst of aboriginal frustration that the province is expected to contain and “keep the peace”.
Confrontation is not the answer. It’s hard to muster up sympathy for a developer who knowingly purchased lands in an area under dispute and now cries for pity. In my view, this is but one example of the many huge debts society owes to First Nations people across Canada.
As hard as it is to find anything positive in the sorry and volatile dispute at the would-be subdivision in Caledonia, a few positives are noteworthy.
Most important is Premier Dalton McGuinty's choice of negotiation versus the heavy-handed choice of his predecessor, Mike Harris.
In a similar situation the wrong response by the government resulted in the tragic death of native protester Dudley George. Next is the wisdom and courage of the members of Haldimand council who publicly denounced what I consider to be prejudiced remarks by their mayor.
The irritation of Caledonia residents "inconvenienced" by the demonstration is not surprising, but these pale in comparison with the injustices endured by the Six Nations community for generations, as successive federal governments have ignored the treaty commitments made in the 1700s by then governor Frederick Haldimand, Chief Joseph Brant and his followers, i.e., native control over all land six miles on either side of the Grand River.
It's time for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the rest of us to put an end to the stalling and negotiate, in good faith and honesty, solutions to legitimate grievances such as those that have surfaced in Caledonia.
It's never too soon or too late to admit to past mistakes and strive for justice. The world is watching.
More Opinions and Views:
Andrew Orkin: "It is time that Canadians remind themselves of all the applicable law, not just the bits that seem to justify our occupation and taking of others' lands. The only alternative is the use of overwhelming military force against the Iroquois, to conquer them.
But Canada's legitimacy and reputation would take a severe beating if the colonial and oppressive nature of its relationship with aboriginal peoples was thus laid bare. Respect for the law is not a one-way, natives-only street. Non-natives and their governments must respect the law, too, and all of it."• Law demands universal respect (The Hamilton Spectator 5/12)
Mary Boutin: "I'm so sorry to have to write this letter, but Caledonia will be a ghost town soon if something isn't done. The businesses are losing money, the house prices have gone down, and people like me, who enjoyed the quaint town, no longer go there.
I realize the natives got a bad deal years ago, but I feel that was a very bad decision they made. I, too, have made some bad investments, but that was my bad choice."• There must be a better way (The Hamilton Spectator 5/12)
TO SUBMIT an ARTICLE or OPINION PIECE to the Native Unity Digest, e-mail bobbieo@digitaldune.net.
NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.
Visit Vietnam Vet. Larry Mitchell at http://www.potawatomivet.com and click on his blog at the site.
posted by Bobbie Hart O'Neill @ 10:50 AM
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