Building Blocks of Our Indigenous Foundation Educational Conference – Part One

A two-day educational conference, "Building Blocks of our Indigenous Foundation" was held on June 28 and June 29, 2017 at the former IGA building. The conference featured such luminaries as Oren Lyons, Bruce Elijah, Doug George, Kenneth Deer, and Mike McDonald. The Building Blocks of Our Indigenous Foundation was sponsored by Ononhwason:we, Traditional Medicines, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and in part by Entewatatha:wi and Akwesasne Area Management Board.

This is Part One of an overview of the conference. Part Two will be featured in next week's edition.

Participants had the opportunity to hear an historical overview of the groundbreaking Haudenosaunee Delegation to the United Nation in Geneva in 1977. As well, presenters provided actual accounts of the challenges and difficulties leading up to and the actual historical UN meeting in Geneva. The panel included Oren Lyons, Erin Oakes, Loran Thompson and Bruce Elijah.

As with the Akwesasne History Summit held in March of this year, the conference took on its own life as the two days unfolded. Traditional leaders, Faithkeepers, Chiefs and historians shared their knowledge and experiences leading up to this historic 1977 United Nations meeting, the meeting itself and the present Indigenous political climate in the UN.

Mike McDonald's presentation, 'Evolution of Social Political Structure', relied heavily on symbols on purpose. McDonald wanted participants to move away from concrete written words and to start thinking in a manner that is almost unquantifiable. Symbols were used to assist in understanding our relationship to each other, to the world and how symbols are still vital to Haudenosaunee today; 'oral traditions are locked into symbolism.' McDonald spoke of wide range of topics entirely connected by its origins and who we are today. Such as what is inherent right and according to McDonald and reiterated at, of all places the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal meeting two weeks later, 'It is in the actions that we do. It's the practice that gives it the right.'

He spoke briefly about the evolution of our development; the role of men and women, our relationship to our ceremonies, the separation of roles after we were given ceremonies, and the balance between the two. He also shared his belief on the controversy of using traditional Kanien'keha names versus English names, the structure of families, clans and grief and healing.

Ending, McDonald stated, "It's a hard life today to try and be traditional".

On Day Two, Bruce Elijah, Oren Lyons, Loran Thompson, Erin Oakes and Francis Boots shared personal accounts of their experience in the 1977 United Nations meeting in Geneva.

Bruce Elijah revealed just how many Native people in the world are fighting for their rights; in South and Central America alone there are 15 million natives. Even with the arrival at the UN in 1997, it was difficult at best, to find a way to officially voice their concerns and issues. While there, he met Thomas Banyanca, who told him, 'You have a long way to go. Go home and unite your people and show the UN what we are.'

Elijah stated, "Those who went to Geneva, 'We Became One Mind'. Do you believe in the peace that is given to us? If you don't believe it, whom are you trying to mimic? We need to set aside our differences. We need to focus on a commonality. Our commonality is our children."

Oren Lyons presented the major talking points on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This Declaration was adopted by 143 nations in 2017, 11 nations abstained, 33 nations were absent and 4 votes against it in 2007; Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Each country eventually adopted UNDRIP, Australia (2009), Canada (2016), New Zealand (2010) and the United States (2010).

Lyons shared the first visit of a Haudenosaunee; Deskaheh (Oneida) and his visit to the League of Nations to file charges against Canada. On July 14, 1923, Deskaheh sailed to Geneva, Switzerland to make his appeal. After staying for 18 months and leaving in 1925, Deskaheh wasn't allowed to address the League. However he left an indelible impact on those who heard his lectures. This trip also changed his personal life forever. Upon returning home, Canada forbid him to enter his homeland and exiled him. Deskaheh was never allowed to return and died on American soil. This historic visit changed the face of modern day native people's political activism.

From this, in 1947 a delegation from the Hopi Nation arrived at the boundary of the Onondaga asking to meet as the Haudenosaunee had the most experience with non-natives and were asked to represent Native people at the United Nations. In Grand Council, the responsibility was accepted. Traveling on the first ever Haudenosaunee passports, they arrived in Geneva to find closed doors and frustration. After finding legal assistance to present the Haudenosaunee delegation presented themselves to the United Nations.

Offering words of wisdom, Lyons told participants of the conference to be prepared, "We have to be ready for the future. Global warming is coming fast. We have to be ready. With our presence at the United Nations, we are declaring, 'We Are Here'".

Erin Oakes also traveled with the 1977 delegation, he stated, "We have to stick together as Indigenous People. We have to learn our language. That is the basis or being Ohnkwehonwe. That is the foundation of who we are".

Loran Thompson was also a member of the 1977 delegation. He spoke of our citizenship as Ohnkwehonwe – Onkwaneha and a brief history of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty between the Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayuga and how the Mohawks never signed.

He stated, "We had a certain mindset. We all believed that. You have to be careful whom you send; you have to know every single word they are saying".

Francis Boots, who is often considered one of the best Kanien'keha speakers in Akwesasne, stated, "In 1977 we were so honored and so respected by other native people. We had our own passports. We impressed other native delegations. I even remember my passport number – 000019. We showed the world we are Ohnkwehonwe. Look at how many years it took to pass this resolution and will it protect us?"

Of the conference, he thanked the organizers and stated, "It is about time we gather together".

Beverly Cook 'carried the voice of the women' as she journeyed to Geneva in 1981 as part of the Haudenosaunee Delegation. In her role, she described an always 'watch and learn' as always being part of their role. There, she learned of the global struggle for Indigenous people from the Sandinista's in Nicaragua to Ireland's nationalist, Bobby Sands to the native people of Italy. She reminded us of how the Haudenosaunee stick together, even when it appears not so mainly because of the way we support and help one another but mostly because of the way we 'collectively think'.

She left us with a quote many remember, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."

This conference comes after the successful, Entewatatha:wi 'Akwesasne History Summit' held in March. The History Summit was a venue 'to educate Akwesasronon of all ages in our community about the history of Akwesasne and how it correlates and differentiates from the way we live our lives now.'

As with the previous conference, 'Akwesasne History Summit', presenters spoke with "a strong underlying 'message of unity, positive energy, and optimism for the future with a clear and unequivocal message of the crucial need for Akwesasronon to learn Kanien'keha."

The Educational Conference was the next logical step in what should be a series of conferences on educating the young and old on historical and contemporary issues, events, taking us one step closer to the unification of the Kaniehkehaka people.

In next week's edition of Indian Time, Part Two will include the words of Doug George, Kenneth Deer, as well as Mike McDonald's 'White Mat Predictions" and Mike Mitchell and Loran Thompson's 'Testimonials and Triumphs'.