A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
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by Kaniehtonkie The new year began much like last year – with local governments issuing precautions to mitigate the constant threat of COVID. Akwesasne, Kahnawake, and Six Nations all closed out 2021 with renewed safety measures. The Saint Regis Tribal Council’s Emergency Operation Center released on Monday ‘the highest total active COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began.’ Their last report on Thursday, December 30th, the SRMT EOC and Health Services reported forty-six (46) new cases of COVID-19 in Akwesasne’s southern portion t...
By Kaniehtonkie. Last week, three school district superintendents gathered at the St. Regis Mohawk School for a press conference. There, they made their plea to take their substandard school buildings similar to those found in countries with less than robust education systems. They want to renovate the school buildings to modern safe standards. They are the only three school districts in New York State that have Native American schools on Native American land: The Salmon River Central School...
by Kaniehtonkie In a Utah desert charred seeds were found possibly representing the earliest-known human use of tobacco. In early October according to new research, some of the first people to arrive in the Americas used the tobacco plant. The researchers said this discovery reveals that humans used tobacco nearly 10,000 years earlier than previously thought. The scientists of this study said of all the intoxicant plants that humans use and abuse, tobacco has arguably had the most critical social and economic impact. Tobacco has often played...
By Kaniehtonkie. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced in a news release Wednesday, saying it was based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The changes will also apply to ferry crossings. Mayorkas did not provide an exact date in November for the reopening. Canada and the U.S. closed the land border to non-essential travel in March, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading and this past August, Canada adjusted these controls to allow fully-vaccinated Americans to enter....
By Kaniehtonkie. President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Friday, October 8th. The proclamation lends the most significant boost yet to efforts to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Native peoples. However, Biden also issued a proclamation for Columbus Day on Friday as well. Columbus Day, which is established by Congress, was observed on Oct. 11, along with Indigenous Peoples Day. Biden wrote, “Since time immemorial, American Ind...
By Kaniethonkie. Ottawa. On Thursday, Sept 30, thousands gathered on Parliament Hill creating a sea of orange for Canada's first ever National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. As Indigenous people started to arrive early Thursday morning, they went for something closer to their heart than a government sanctioned commemoration - they were there for "Remember Me – A National Day of Remembrance. It all started when two women said, 'we should have a ceremony on this day.' Dawn Iehstoseranón:nha and...
By Kaniehtonkie Despite local efforts by MCA Community Health Program and SRMT Heath Services, COVID-19 cases have been rising steadily and mostly in Akwesasronon youth. The number of rising COVID cases was as predicted by local and national health authorities and as warned - preventable. MCA Community Health program reported three new cases on Tuesday, September 28, on the same day the SRMT EOC reported three new cases bringing the total number of cases on Tuesday to thirty-one (31) on the southern side of Akwesasne and eighteen (18) on the...
By Kaniehtonkie Since 2000, Indigenous people have made up 21% of homicides in Wyoming, even though they are only 3% of the population. That’s according to a Wyoming state report released in January 2021. In Montana, there were 166 active missing persons cases as of April 2021. Indigenous people account for 48 of these, or about 29 percent, despite comprising only 6 percent of the state’s population in Montana. Yet, when a photogenic young white woman goes missing, she makes headline news across the country. On Sunday, the FBI confirmed the...
by Kanietonkie The Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) held their 'welcoming ceremony' on Monday, August 9 at 9am. Parents, grandparents returning students and new students listened closely as Richard Mitchell recited the Ohenton Karihwatehkwen, directly addressing how Onkwehonwe children are growing up during such difficult times and how much support they need to learn Kanieńkehá; our culture and our traditions. Level Pre-K to Level Six teachers welcomed each family individually. As each family m...
By Kaniehtonkie On July 1, 2021, The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal filed an application for a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunction on Morris Oakes, Gabriel Oakes, William R. Jock and Good Leaf Dispensaries. On July 6, the Court issues a Temporary Restraining Order against Morris Oakes, Gabriel Oakes, William R. Jock and Good Leaf Dispensaries. This order was served to the respondents on July 6. On July 12, Michael Rhodes-Devey, Esq., a former legal representative of the Tribe filed a notice of appearance on behalf...
By Kaniehtonkie This past week saw tremendous strides being made on the national and local level for women in politics. Two women were elected as a national chief of Assembly of First Nation (AFN) and as a grand chief for Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK). Akwesasne had reached this milestone years ago in 1963. Florence Thomas was the first female Grand Chief elected for MCA. She had replaced Alex Oakes in a 1963 by-election for the 1962-1964 term. Mary David had replaced Angus Bonaparte as...
By Kaniehtonkie. The Penelakut Tribe announced on July 8th that more than 160 unmarked graves and undocumented graves were found at site of former residential school near Vancouver Island. The Penelakut Tribe is a Hul'qumi'num speaking community in British Columbia that is separated into 4 reserve locations: Tsussie 15.5 hectares, Northern tip of Galiano Island 29.1 hectares, Tent Island 34.4 hectares and Penelakut Island 556.7 hectares. It was not clear in the statement how or when what are bel...
By Kaniehtonkie. The day began in the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation and ended on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. On the first day of July 2021, estimates of fifteen hundred people gathered at Generations Park to participate in the 'Community Rising: We Rise for Every Child Taken and for Every Parent Left Behind March'. The morning began with the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen at 9AM as runners were 'bundled' to run from Akwesasne carrying a message to Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and Archbishop M...
By Kaniehtonkie On June 24th, Cowessess First Nation announced the nation had located a suspected 751 unmarked grave sites on the Marieval property. Some of those buried may have been adults, Cowessess First Nation Delorme said, and the margin of error for the technology used means the number of graves could be fewer, but no fewer than 600. “This is not a mass grave site. These are unmarked graves,” said Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme told CBC. The Marieval Indian Residential School was operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1899 to 199...
By Kaniehtonkie. A dangerous variant of the coronavirus is spreading so quickly in the United States that it’s likely the mutant strain will become predominant in the nation within weeks, according to U.S. federal health officials and a new analysis. The ‘Delta’ variant is considered the most contagious and among those not yet vaccinated, it may trigger more serious illness in more people than other variants do. This variant was first identified in India and the United Kingdom. It now accounts for 20.6% of new cases in the U.S. are due to th...
By Kaniehtonkie At least one in three women have experienced either physical or sexual violence. Almost half of all murdered women are killed by intimate partners or family members. Women and girls make up 80% of the estimated 800,00 people trafficked globally. Nearly 3 out of every 4 trafficked women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation. Up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under 16. For 30% of women, their first sexual experience was forced. Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides married before the...
By Kaniehtonkie. With the recent news of 215 children's remains being found at a former residential school in B.C. bishops across Canada have offered their apologies and pray for reconciliation and healing going forward with their parishioners and communities. However, the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican...
By Kaniehtonkie New York State lifted mask and social distance restrictions on Wednesday, May 19. People in NYS, following CDC guidelines, who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to wear a mask inside or maintain 6 feet of social distance. NYS’s mask mandate has been in place for more than a year, since April 2020. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is maintaining their mask mandate stating, “Despite NYS and the CDC easing their guidance on mask wearing for fully vaccinated individuals, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Emergency Operations Cente...
By Kaniehtonkie. Wednesday, May 5th was Red Dress Day in Canada and National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in the United States. The next day, widespread reports were made of people on both sides of the border flooding social media with comments saying their Instagram "stories" and Facebook posts had disappeared. On May 6th, Illuminative issued this statement, "This morning, we were made aware that there was a widespread problem on Instagram where posts that...
By Kaniehtonkie. Seven Dancers Coalition held a full day of events – suited to your personal safety – to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women on Wednesday, May 5th. The MMIW Life Matters started early in the day with a drive through distributing background information MMIW, a virtual meeting online to talk about issues facing Indigenous women and girls, two-spirited and transsexual, a live jingle dress dancer performance and a discussion of the "why the red handprint". The...
By Kaniehtonkie The SRMT Tribe Election and Referendum Ordinance Board has certified and announced their official list of candidates. The SRMT held their Tribal Caucus on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The official roster of candidates for the June 5, 2021 Tribal Election are: Tribal Clerk Summer Bero J Jamie Ross Tribal Sub-Chief Benjamin Herne Tribal Chief Eric Thompson Herne and Thompson are running unopposed on the ballot. Former tribal chief Ron Lafrance has announced his intention of running as a “write-in candidate’ under his formal name, Ron...
By Kaniehtonkie Over thirty women in Akwesasne participated in the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Virtual event – a race at your own pace and place. Participants could run, walk, bike, hike; basically, any movement, anywhere. Many did their part at Generations Park under falling rain and cloudy skies. The mission was to be in solidarity with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirits, grieving families, and individuals working on the frontlines to end this e...
By Kaniehtonkie A former US senator and CNN political commentator has sparked outrage among Native Americans prompting calls for his dismissal. Rick Santorum told a group of students at a right wing students’ conference that European colonists who came to America “birthed a nation from nothing”. CNN has been urged to fire Rick Santorum after his racist comments saying, “There was nothing here. I mean, yes we have Native Americans but candidly there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.” Santorum spewed this racist and white s...
By Kaniehtonkie. The trial of Derek Chauvin captured the attention of world. On May 26, 2020, Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes and captured by then seventeen-year-old Darnella Frazier, the video has been viewed millions of times. Murals of George Floyd can be found across the globe in communities of color. On Tuesday, a Minnesota jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. While many hail this as a victory, others see this as a one s...
By Kaniehtonkie Recently two North Country youths have taken their lives in what appears to be from ongoing online harassment. Shylynn Dixon of Lisbon committed suicide on March 3 after suffering from online harassment and blackmail for over a year and a half. Riley Basford, 15, Potsdam took his own life on March 30 after an extortion attempt and being told online that embarrassing photos would be circulated among his friends. The death of both teens is under investigation by the New York State Police. New York State Police told North Country...
