Letter to the Editor

July 29, 2008

A great big niawen kowa to who and what I have dubbed the 300 Club. Over three hundred Onkwehonwe people of Akwesasne came out and supported the community spokespersons fight for basic freedoms that have been denied to us via the 3 chief system.

This was an easy decision for me to make when I was given the opportunity to help others to struggle for our freedoms. For others that attended our meetings and began to become educated on many of the injustices of this foreign way of governing our people it was not. I realize it was a choice.

I also realized that we have thousands of people who feel the same way as I. The 300 Club demonstrated this. Why do I say 300? Because 285 took part and 9 more wanted to vote but they weren’t card carrying members of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

These courageous Onkwehonwe people made their stand among our people. They picked up the ball and carried it to that finish line so that we all could embrace a new beginning for all of our people. And these 300 people went back to their people, their families and spread that word. Now it is up to you the people to stand up and tell us what direction you want to go.

I’ve spoken to many people these past four months. And incidentally I have never worked harder in my life for nothing, I haven’t gotten paid a penny for all I have given freely. I worked with the goal in mind that I was helping in a big way to free our people. And I have no hidden agenda. I don’t hide behind the facade of saying I’m a spokesperson though it is only an interim position it is one that I value highly.

I have watched our people over the years. I spent 27 years as a journalist as Kanienkehaka press. I’ve seen first hand the injustices, the fights, the roadblocks and now you the people have the right to make the changes. So it simply boils down to what do you want? I never changed my stand on principles that I have instilled in myself, I never lost my way. I never jumped out of my canoe and into others when the going got rough. I do not have millions of dollars to play with. I am not the tribal council. But I am first and forth most a human being, and next a member of the community of Akwesasne. I at this point in my life have nothing. But I have my life, my words and my experience. And that life now begins with freedom.

It will be one that will be unencumbered by the viciousness of a three chief system that has been shoved down my throat all of my life.

I have educated myself and with the mentoring of others that are gone now; I have used the education the wisdom and made choices that will now give us all a better way of life.

The tribal council on the other hand do not want you the people to see the freedoms you have gained.

By taking part in the referendum of July 5, 2008 you demonstrated this will. You valiantly and legally voted them out.

The 3 chief system of the St. Regis Tribe is defunct; they’re dead; they’re gone!

The Tribal Council continues to attempt to keep this veil of freedom from you.

History has been made. The three chief system is defunct; the people also voted out the Constitutional form of government and now there only stands the people.

It is our people who now will make decisions on how we will govern ourselves.

There have been many many injustices done against our people via the three chief form of government. I have witnessed first hand and been victim of what the last three chiefs have done to our community. Whether it was in the area of gambling our money on a scam between friends and family or spending our money (millions) in Sullivan County; they have had an open checkbook. There are so many injustices that have taken place they cannot be listed here; but they all will come out in the wash.

On Saturday August 2nd, the spokespersons along with the administrator of records of the people’s move for freedom will be holding a historical meeting of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. It will be held at our community building at the tribe. It will begin at 10 am. All of you the people are invited to attend. It does not matter where you live, this is Akwesasne! We have no border(s).

We made one choice; one voice and one government.

We have demonstrated the desire for something better. We have stood up and had our voices counted.

We are free. We are unique. We have suffered hundreds of years of oppression from the 3 chief form of government and the time is now to design a better way.

Come to the meeting August 2nd. You the people made the choice! You the people hold the power to make everything better. With all of the people standing together things can only get better.

There are three kinds of people here; there are those that make things happen; there are those that watch things happen and then there are those that wonder what happened!

You the people made it happen; while others watched and wondered...now lets all get together and organize a way to permit it to happen. This road will truly become a better way for our future and the futures of our children; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that is true description of watching out for the next seven generations.

Niawen for listening. Please attend the meeting.

Onen Ki;

Cindy Smoke

Spokesperson