[R-G] Uranium at Sharbot Lake: From Algonquin Frying Pan into Mohawk Fire

[Richard Menec]

Letter to the Editors

Out of the Algonquin Frying Pan and into the Mohawk Fire

January 8, 2008

From the beginning, the Crown, Ontario and agents wanted the farcical 
mediation meetings to be held behind closed doors.  They wanted to isolate 
the Ardoch and Shabot Algonquin "leadership" to make secret $deals$ over a 
supposed uranium mine.  According to Indigenous law, such meetings that 
concern the people should be open to the people as the Algonquins have 
repeatedly insisted.

Suddenly, Ontario says the meetings are open to the public but now they are 
to be held in Kingston, outside of Algonquin territory, two hours away from 
the affected community.  Moving the mediation out of Algonquin territory is 
also a breach of Algonquin law.

However, this is a clear case of the proverbial, "Out of the frying pan and 
into the fire!"  Kingston is in Mohawk territory!

Why, we must ask, would the meetings be moved to Kingston?  For whose 
convenience?  We hear rumours of Crown agents who need city night life and 
their accustomed type of "watering hole", not available in the remote areas 
of Sharbot Lake.  The new location was certainly handy for the Mohawks, 
perhaps too handy.  When they changed the venue, the mediation team knew 
Kahentinetha Horn of MNN was planning to attend - Randy Cota and Bob 
Lovelace had invited her!

(In July 2007, the Algonquins sent a wampum to the Mohawks seeking their 
help in the blockade against uranium mining at Robertsville.  Nuclear 
development on Algonquin land would affect Mohawk communities downstream. 
This official nation to nation agreement is ongoing.)

The mediation team were all surprised anyway to see a large delegation of 
Ongwehoneh women and men from the four Mohawk communities of Kahnawake, 
Kahensatake, Akwesasne and Tyendinaga.  I am very sorry I could not arrange 
transportation to join them.

The mediation team were even more shocked to hear Elder Kahentinetha speak 
in Mohawk to open the meeting according to Ongwehoneh customs and protocols. 
Ardoch Algonquin Negotiator, Bob Lovelace sought to ignore her and defer to 
one of the Mohawk men.  Bob "the Great Pretender" is so accustomed to 
colonial and sexist ways that he could not accept a woman with such obvious 
authority.  The Mohawks were not about to let the farce continue without 
exposing it for what it is.

From what I gather, the Monday meeting was a game of tag with it being moved 
to a secret location when Ontario's Cam Clark, Bob Lovelace and attorneys 
became so flustered at the Mohawks' asking uncomfortable questions that they 
fled.  When they sought to hide in a restaurant down the street, the Mohawks 
found them, no problemo.  Afterall, they were in Mohawk territory where even 
the birds speak Mohawk.

The details of the derailed meeting are best described by those who were 
there.  MNN has published an informative report that can be accessed at 
www.mohawknationnews.com.  The outcome will become more apparent in the days 
ahead.

One thing's for sure from where I sit.  Mohawk people have tried to help us 
Algonquins over and over again since the uranium crisis began last June at 
the Robertsville mine site.  From the Mohawk warriors who came to put their 
lives and liberty on the line at the mine site to Mohawk elders like 
Kahentinetha who publishes the MNN articles in support of the Algonquin 
struggle, they have given their time and resources to us.  Yet people in 
this community have been warned not to talk to Kahentinetha and not to talk 
to me.  This is colonialism, intimidation and outright gangsterism.  This is 
not the Nishnaabe way.

Indigenous people all over Turtle Island are renewing their alliances.  The 
Mohawks are our nearest neighbours down-river and long-time allies.  They 
have much wisdom and expertise to share with us.  They cannot take over our 
land or ways according to our laws.  They simply want to stop any 
desecration of the Earth such as a uranium mine would be.  Together we must 
protect the Earth for the future generations.

Gratitude is an essential Nishnaabe principle.  I would like to take this 
opportunity to thank the Mohawk women and men who took the time and had the 
courage to stand up for our rights.  Nia:wen and Chi miigwetch.

I urge everyone, Nishnaabe and settler alike to send a note of thanks to 
them at <kahentinetha2 at yahoo.com> and <katenies20 at yahoo.com>.

Jennifer Tsun Nishnaabe Kwe, McDonalds Corners, Algonquin Territory

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