Akwesasne Youth Meet with New Democratic Ministers of Parliament

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne invited community members to attend a gathering with the New Democratic Party (NDP) members of Parliament, MP Anne Minh-Thu Quach and MP Jonathan Genest-Jourdain to discuss Federal and Aboriginal issues. Attended by at least 20 youth from Akwesasne and several interested adults, MCA provided a forum to talk directly to each MP.

Anne Minh-Thu Quach is a Member of Parliament for the Beauharnois-Salaberry district and is based in Valleyfield. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain is a Member of Parliament based in Manicouagan. Genest-Jourdain is only the second Aboriginal Member of Parliament along with Romeo Saganash who belongs to the Cree Nation and a Member of Parliament for the Abitibi-Baie James Eeyou Nunavik. Genest-Jourdain traveled 16 hours to reach Akwesasne. Both belong to the New Democratic Party and are avid speakers working to inform all people against the dangers of recent bills being proposed, and bills in the process of being passed, such as Bill C-27 and the now infamous Bill C-45. They are concerned about the ruling Conservative Party and their tactics on proposing and passing important Bills without properly and responsibly informing the public of the true ramifications of each Bill. These Bills directly affect not only Aboriginal people, but all people in Canada. Bill C-27 and the current Bill C-45, which is sitting in the Senate waiting to be passed, has already passed the 3 required levels in the House of Commons. The Senate is currently being controlled by the Conservative Party.

Both Bills C-27 and C-45 have dire consequences on the control, rights, and direct conservotorship of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal lands. The Bills will essentially terminate First Nations preexisting rights to have direct and complete control of all natural resources on these lands. The Conservative Party often portrays Aboriginals who stand in protest to these Bills as “economy stoppers”, people who stand in the way of business and prosperity. In reality there is a large number of Canadian Citizens who stand beside Aboriginal people fighting against the passage of each Bill. Both Minh-Thu Quach and Genest-Jourdain stressed the need for a transparent government, a government that clearly informs all as to any proposed and passing Bill. They stated both Bill C-27 and Bill C-45 are being “fast tracked” to make sure there is no opposition to either Bill.

Bill C-27 directly affects each privately owned business in Akwesasne. If the bill is passed each privately owned business in Akwesasne would have to report comprehensive financial records to MCA and MCA would in turn have to report them to the Federal government. MCA does not support Bill C-27. As stated, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has responsibility only to its members and not to all of Canada.

During this particular forum, Akwesasne youth were silent and did not express any views or ask any questions to either invited MP. MCA plans to hold another forum for youth, where youth will have the opportunity to speak freely to invited political leaders. They encourage all to become involved and informed by doing their own research online, in public libraries and within your local MP office. You can contact Jonathan Genest-Jourdain at [email protected]. and Anne Minh-Thu Quach at [email protected]. Both are accessible online on Facebook.