There are several reasons to be alarmed by this outrageous violence.  

The Canadian state seems to think it is O.K. to continue to abuse Indigenous people so long as it apologizes later! This attack took place just a couple of days after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology for the abuses that took place at the residential schools.   These were designed to commit genocide and to eradicate all Indigenous cultures.  

There has been a lot of discussion in Canada recently about both elder abuse and the excessive use of police force.  These two grandmothers were assaulted by a troop of muscular young men wearing Canadian government uniforms, directed by an officer on a cell phone.  The procedure appears to have been planned.  It came close to achieving the same results as the much maligned tasers.

Neither of these women is associated with any kind of criminal activity. They appear to have been targeted for their opinions.  

This is part of an established pattern of colonial behavior.  In the mid 1800’s when British settlers were colonizing British Columbia, Governor Douglas instructed ships to fire their canon outside Indigenous villages to scare them and stop their protests against invasion and resource theft. (See Cole Harris, Making Native Space: Colonialism, Resistance, and Reserves in British Columbia UBC Press, 2002.p.22)

The people of Akwesasne have always objected to the imposition of foreign boundaries through their community.  The Mohawks never agreed to join either Canada or the United States.  Their ancestors have occupied the same territory since time immemorial.  That particular community has been there since the 1740’s or 1750’s long before anyone dreamed there would be a “Canada” or a “United States”  

Katenies and Kahentinetha are not the only people who have been harassed.  There are problems with both U.S. and Canadian officials.   Young people especially have been targeted.  Babies and very young children are often left outside or unattended in cars for long periods of time.  People have been sent on wild goose chases trying to find family members imprisoned because of border problems.  Katenies’ was taken to Ottawa and her mother was not permitted to see her or speak to her until she appeared in court two days later. Apparently hundreds of complaints have been filed but harassment continues.    

The corporate media failed to report this attack. This suggests that violence against Indigenous elders is not news.    

It’s still open season on “Indians”, just like it was when the Spaniards stumbled ashore in 1492.  Just like it was when Benjamin Franklin reported on the unprovoked massacre of the last survivors in New England.  Just like it was at Wounded Knee.  Jut like it was in the residential schools.  Just like it was at Oka-Kanehsatake,  Just like it was when Betty Osbourne walked along the road near The Pas.  Just like it was when over 500 more women went missing.  Just like it was when the Saskatoon police nabbed native youth on the street and took them to die of exposure on their “Starlight tours”.  Just like it was when the Mayor of Brantford was told he could call in the Canadian army to intimidate people at Six Nations who object to illegal development on their land.  The beating of elders by border  guards is part of an established pattern of bullying.  

People objected to the Nazis.  Why don’t they object to this?  Why are these customs officers targeting women?

According to international law, all differences MUST be solved by PEACEFUL DISCUSSION.  EVERYONE IS EQUAL.  EVERYONE HAS A VOICE.  

These principles are all part of the Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee People.  The League of Nations was founded on the same principles.  So was the United Nations.  

Most people are alarmed by the current rise in corporate, military and government corruption and violence.  Fascism has hijacked Canada, the U.S. and the U.N.  The diversion of tax payer’s money to fund armies and weapons has to stop.  

We must all defend all our rights, including the right to PHYSICAL INTEGRITY,  FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and the right of all nations not to be absorbed by large states without the FREE AND INFORMED CONSENT of the majority of the population.

BEWARE all readers!  Especially if you are Indigenous.  Especially if you are Mohawk. Who’s next?

Canada’s spin-doctors are already working overtime to defame Indigenous people and all honest people who want a free and peaceful world.  They are doing this to scare Canadians.  They’ re doing this to scare us all.  They want to trick us into believing that their violence against Mohawk elders is justified.

Akwesasne is a small community.  The people have to cross the border many times a day.  The badge numbers of the men who committed the assaults are known.  Canadian government officials will probably try to blame what they are doing on these low-ranking foot-soldiers. Whoever was hiding behind the cell phone will probably get off scott free even though Kahntinetha heard him say “Take her out”. The attacks on Katenies and Kahentinetha, the continuous attacks on Indigenous youths and elders will not stop the fight to defend Indigenous rights.

This state-sanctioned violence has to stop!!! Those who sit silently and allow bullying to continue are part of the problem.  This is not the kind of world any of us want to leave to our children and grandchildren.

 

Ieriwa’on:ni   ieriwaonni@livemail.com 

Posted by MNN Mohawk Nation News