Dave Richmond’s Last Victory

 Dave “Sweet Knees” Richmond was a survivor and a winner.  He endured combat tours in Vietnam where he was a member of the US Army’s Rangers.  He lived through the troubles of 1979-80 as one of the leaders of the Mohawk Nation men, keeping them calm, showing them through example how to control their emotions, how to take a stand without having to resort to bluster and anger.

 Dave defended the Nation, he stood for the rights of the people, he contributed to the rise of Mohawk nationalism.  He believed we had the right to define for ourselves who we were as a people and that we were not to be restricted by the artificial boundaries of alien governments.

 Dave lost a decade long struggle with cancer.  His body gave out, as it must with us all but Dave conceded nothing.  He was brought home from Connecticut where he lived with his wife Trudy Lamb-Richmond of the Schaticoke Nation, a trusted friend of the Mohawks.   While in Connecticut he worked at the Pequot Museum, showing the visitors the skills he learned as a student of Ray Fadden.  When it came to be his time he wanted to be buried in Akwesasne earth near his mother and aunt on Kawehno:ke.

 But there was a problem.  The US government has shut down the border at Rooseveltown, only allowing police and emergency vehicles through.  The blockade was tight and as Dave’s funeral was on July 4 it did not seem likely that his funeral procession would make it through.  He was carried into the Mohawk Nation longhouse, followed by his family and some of his many friends.  For those inside it seemed there should have been many more there given who Dave was and his service to the people.  When the words of condolence were concluded he was taken into the hearse with still no word as to how he was to be carried to the Island.

A few minutes later, the border was opened.  Contrary to the fears of his family everyone in the procession made it past the American blockade.  This happened because the Mohawk Nation leadership took a hard stand.  Nation royiane Ernest David and clanmothers Louise Herne and Angela Swamp-Elijah informed the US that they would go past the barricade.  The negotiations took a few hours, made more challenging because it was July 4th and no one seemed willing to give the okay. Mike Mitchell of the MCA got involved and the people from Kawehno:ke walked across the US Bridge to meet Dave. Together they compelled the US to release its grasp and open the way for Dave to go on through.

 Even from the spirit world Dave won another victory for the Mohawk Nation, but that was just the way he was.  A winner whose Snipe clan name “He Clears the Way” was pure justice and magnificent poetry.