Latest news with #Kanehsata'kehró
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Kanehsatake marks 35th anniversary of Siege
Just days before turning 80, John Cree was one of the Kanehsata'kehró:non who marched through the shady Pines and the sweltering heat of Oka streets to commemorate the Siege of Kanehsatake. For him, it's about relighting the fire that was lit in 1990. 'It's the fire of defiance, that this is our land, not their land. It's our land. We have to reassert that and let them know that we didn't go to bed and fall asleep,' he said. 'We still remember what they did. We're trying to teach our young generation what it means to stand up and say no.' By walking, he hopes to set an example to younger Kanehsata'kehró:non that if a man of his age can do it, so can they. 'I think I'm at the edge of the road, but as long as I can walk and my mouth can flip and flap and make all kinds of noises, I'll still do it,' he said. Cree was just one of about 50 community members who turned out on July 11 to remember what took place in 1990 and to demonstrate that the Kanien'kehá:ka of Kanehsatake are still taking a stand for their territory. 'I wanted to be here because myself and a few of my friends, we were the original 11 women up in the front,' said Shirley Bonspille, one of the organizers of the march. 'We took the front lines that day, and we just wanted to come together and remember why we were there, what we were standing up for, and to let people know that we are still here and we are still fighting for our lands.' The march began at the lacrosse box at 10 a.m., moving through the Pines, down residential streets, and stopping at l'Annonciation and Highway 344 before going up the hill back to the lacrosse box. 'It's all about remembering that day and what happened to us that day. Some of it I can't remember still, like a blackout. I have good memories, and I have bad memories,' she said. 'We all came together as one and we fought together as one to let everybody know that Indigenous Peoples are still here, and we're still fighting, for 500 years or more, for our lands.' Cree remembers 1990 as an experience that fortified his already strong convictions about what it means to be Onkwehón:we. 'I believed in our rights and our culture and who we are, but it even strengthened me that I needed to try to have the young ones understand how important it is, and be proud,' he said. 'You can work in white society, you can speak their language - I speak three languages. You can work there, but don't ever give up who you are as a Kanien'kehá:ka person. Follow your ways. That's the only way you're going to find yourself, the pride that you're looking for. It's not in the churches; it's in your custom, the language, everything. That's where it is.' While many of the marchers were too young to have witnessed the events of 1990, they expressed a desire to carry forward a legacy they grew up with at home, in many cases passing this legacy on to the next generation, with several young children being pushed in strollers or pulled in wagons. 'I remember taking these walks with my parents when I was a young kid, so I'm trying to teach my kids about the history and why it's important to remember the day and what happened,' said Kimberly Simon. 'I think it's really important because we'll probably hear less and less about it as time goes on. It's important to teach them the history of their community and what happened and how they're lucky to still have this land today to enjoy,' she added. 'It feels good because we're not usually unified on many things, so it's nice to see everybody just come together for something important.' Kahontóktha Beauvais said that even though the summer of 1990 was five years before she was born, she is keenly aware of the significance of the events, not least because the Oka Golf Club had threatened to desecrate the cemetery where Kanehsatake's ancestors are buried, including many members of her own family. 'It was very traumatic for our people, but we're still here. We're still letting them know that they can't just take what's ours and get away with it,' said Beauvais, who spoke of her appreciation for being able to march with her fellow community members. 'This walk is healing, it's healing for me,' she said. 'It's nice to see everybody here. We're all supporting each other, supporting those who've passed on that fought for this land for us and our future generations. I'm very proud to walk, proud that my parents, my cousins, my uncle fought in the Oka Crisis, and I'm glad that he did, because if you didn't then you wouldn't have that.' For Cree, seeing Kanehsata'kehró:non across generations march together for this commemoration is something he felt in his heart as he walked. 'It makes me feel proud that somewhere along the way, they heard some of the words we spoke, not just me, but other elders,' he said. marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Commemorating 1990 in solidarity
During the Siege of Kanehsatake in 1990, Ellen Katsi'tsakwas Gabriel would speak at night with the men on the front lines after wrapping up the day's negotiations. One of the men, Richard Two-Axe - 'Boltpin' - had a saying. You can break one arrow very easily, but if you take a bunch of arrows, you cannot break them. 'That's what solidarity is,' said Gabriel, speaking to more than 200 people assembled at Place du Canada in Tiohtià:ke on July 11 to mark the 35th anniversary of the Siege. The commemoration was not merely a remembrance, but a call to action that highlighted the pivotal importance of solidarity. 'I really think that if we understand one another and have a relationship with one another, maybe we'll stop killing one another, and we can bring children up in a world that is safe for them,' said Gabriel. As such, the rally featured speeches not only from Kanehsata'kehró:non and Kahnawa'kehró:non, but also the Palestinian Youth Movement and other speakers who are not Indigenous to Turtle Island. The speakers, gathering at Place du Canada, also made clear that the fight against the government for the recognition of Kanien'kehá:ka rights and territory is not over. 'As oppressed people, we are stronger than our colonizer because we resist constantly, and it may not be shown evident on a daily basis, but it's in our hearts and our minds. It's that courage and strength and the resilience to be able to say 'throw what you want at me, my ancestors are walking with me. You cannot defeat my ancestors,'' said Gabriel. Despite the government's efforts to assimilate Onkwehón:we, Indigenous people are not ashamed of who they are, Gabriel said. 'We hold our heads high because we won, in a sense, simply because there was solidarity with all of you, with all of the people that you heard today,' she said. The rally also sought to highlight 16 calls to action directed at the governments of Canada and Quebec and to Canadian institutions and the public at large. Wanda Gabriel, one of the organizers of the rally along with Ellen, summarized a few of them to the crowd - for Canada to negotiate in good faith to return stolen homelands, to eliminate policies that violate and exclude rights to self-determination, and for institutions and the public to seek better education on the root causes and history behind the 1990 Kanehsatake and Kahnawake Siege. 'We are awake, but there has been a cost to the awakening. While the world remembers the barricades, we remember what it cost our community: mistrust, divisions, and wounds that have not healed. When the land is insecure, the people are insecure,' said Wanda. 'When governments profit from our exploitation, safety is impossible. The Kanehsatake Resistance was not just a standoff; it was a reckoning.' She went on to describe how Canada has not honoured the findings of commission reports since then that have identified root causes, already known to the Kanien'kehá:ka who had been fighting for their land and sovereignty, before directly addressing the young minds in the crowd. 'I want to say to our young people, you are not here just to listen,' said Wanda. 'You are here to pick up the work. You are the next barricade, but this time it won't be built with logs and tires, but with knowledge, unity, and courage.' Kahnawa'kehró:non Allison Deer attended the rally with guests of hers from Six Nations of the Grand River who were in town for the powwow. 'I thought the venue location (Canada Place) was appropriate as the challenge is still with the federal government. It was important to let the general population know that the disputed lands are still not in the possession of the people in Kanehsatake, and that more work needs to be done,' she said. 'My key takeaway is that our true strength lies in cultivating a thoughtful and open-minded approach by using a good mind - this is our way. Our resilience is rooted in peace, diplomacy, and unity.' Joe Deom, spokesperson for the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake, spoke at the event to recall his experience of 1990. 'We had to deal with the Army and also the politicians from Quebec who were determined to annihilate us in Kahnawake and also in Kanehsatake,' said Deom. 'Throughout that whole summer, I tell people that I never had so much fun in my life. There were times when things got really serious, but we prevailed through all that.' However, he said, while the encroachment of the Oka Golf Club was halted, the larger land issues remain unresolved. 'I was asked several times today, what's the purpose of this commemoration?' he said. 'The men in Kahnawake, we have a small group that raise our flags near the bridge to remind the motorists that we're still here and we're still alive and kicking. That's what this is all about because a lot of you people today were not even born in 1990, or maybe you were very young, so you don't know the whole story behind what happened in 1990.' Others also spoke to share their stories. One was Kahentinetha Horn, who recalled how a member of the Canadian military stabbed her 14-year-old daughter, Waneek Horn-Miller, in the chest. She called for an investigation to finally take place. 'They sent in the Canadian Army to deal with us, and they keep saying and telling the world and everybody that we're citizens of Canada, and yet they sent their soldiers against us,' said Horn, reminding the crowd that this land belongs to its Indigenous peoples. 'We never gave it up,' she said. Another who spoke was Wendy Mayo, the wife of the late Richard Two-Axe, who died in 2003. Two-Axe, who grew up in New York, had been one of the Kanien'kehá:ka held captive in the Onen'to:kon Treatment Centre and transported to custody in Farnham. His thick New York accent made him a particular target, Mayo said, because the authorities were demanding on that basis that he confess a connection to the American Indian Movement (AIM). Mayo visited him with their three-year-old daughter every day until his release a month later. 'We were treated like we were killers, criminals,' she said. 'They escorted us to the bathroom almost with a gun on our back each time that we went there.' The summer had been a painful episode for the family, with the couple apart and scarcely able to communicate outside of the news media. Mayo's 15-year-old son, meanwhile, became a man overnight, she said. She recalled the incident on Tekakwitha Island, when the military landed. 'When the island happened, it happened so quick that my son came running. He said 'they're going to tear gas you.' I was holding (my daughter) in my arms, and when the first thing went off, all of a sudden we're at the water, and my daughter wasn't in my arms any longer,' she said. 'I swear to god, I thought I dropped her, and all the while it was my son that grabbed her and went running and put her under his hood because the tear gas was all over, and not to mention it was right beside a hospital.' It was in the final moments of the rally that Ellen recalled Two-Axe's saying, not long before inviting those assembled to take part in a round dance to the sound of the drum, which she described as the heartbeat of the people, performed by Spirit Wolf. 'That's what solidarity is,' said Ellen about the bunch of arrows. 'That's what that solidarity is about, and together we cannot be broken.' marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
All names make it to final candidates list in Kanesatake
All of the Kanehsata'kehró:non on the provisional list of candidates appear on the final list that was published Monday, including Amanda Simon, who announced last week she had been told she had a disqualifying Council debt. Victor Bonspille, Brant Etienne, and Serge Otsi Simon are the confirmed candidates for Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) grand chief. For the six council chief seats, Amy Beauvais, Shirley Bonspille, Valerie Bonspille, Lynn Cataford Gabriel, Denise David, Derek Denis, Kahionhate Riley Denis, Cindy Gabriel, Mary Nicholas, Francis Phillips, Amanda Simon, and Serge Otsi Simon are on the final list. 'It's a lot easier to complain than to throw your hat in the ring, so I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to put their name forward to serve their community,' said chief electoral officer Graeme Drew. He is now turning his attention to ensuring candidates abide by the code of ethics for campaigning, he said, as well as forming an appeal board as mandated by the Custom Electoral Code. Disqualifying debt Upon being informed that MCK finance had reported she had a disqualifying debt, Amanda Simon took to social media, saying she had never been informed of owing money to Council. Following the release of the final list, she has cast her inclusion as a vindication. 'There was no debt. There never was. I remain focused on the truth and the process, and I'm grateful that due process was followed,' she said. 'I'm committed to a campaign that's rooted in honesty, good governance, and transparency, because that's what Kanesatake deserves after all these years.' As part of his vetting process, the chief electoral officer sought input from MCK finance; an outstanding debt to Council renders a person ineligible to be nominated for the election under the electoral code. Drew told The Eastern Door he felt the publication of an article saying Simon had been disqualified was premature. 'The final list of candidates is posted. Amanda Simon was not disqualified (as previously reported),' he said. 'The ball was in her court to contact the finance department,' he added, saying there was an opportunity to deal with and resolve the issue. 'That's why I shared the letter as soon as I got it, so there's an opportunity to respond, just like I did with another candidate,' he said. 'I don't make decisions to disqualify like a snap decision. My preference is to make sure people have an opportunity to be considered and let the voters choose as the final list reflects,' he said. The Eastern Door's article on the situation outlined that it was still possible for Simon to be on the ballot if she quickly resolved things with MCK finance. 'I don't believe that there was time at all,' Simon said. 'I was disqualified without any proof. I was given an email after the provisional list was published.' Following her announcement that she had been told she had a debt which disqualifies her, Simon promptly hired a lawyer, she said, to seek clarification on the alleged debt. In a post, she included the text of an email to the electoral officer on Monday morning from a member of MCK finance: 'In my computer, I have no debt, but the chief told me she had a debt and the chiefs tried to explain to Simon, but she never came to the meeting. So I have to follow what the chiefs tell me,' it reads. Simon characterized this as evidence of interference in an interview with The Eastern Door, echoing her previous statements on social media. As reported by The Eastern Door following Simon's resignation from her position as lands manager in 2024, she had been summoned to a non-negotiable meeting about her contractual agreements relating to estates, which she did not attend, instead resigning. At the time she called this demand the straw that broke the camel's back and cited stress and health issues. Asked about the situation with Simon this week, MCK chief Brant Etienne referred to this, saying, 'When we attempted to organize the meetings multiple times, she resigned. The issues we wanted to talk to her about were not resolved.' One name, two ballots Many were surprised, even outraged, when the provisional candidates list came out to see Serge Otsi Simon running for two positions - chief and grand chief. However, there is nothing in the code that prohibits such a decision. Simon said drawing attention to this is one reason he made the decision to move forward, after first considering withdrawing his nomination for grand chief. 'My intent wasn't to further divide. I think it was more to prove a point,' he said. 'There's so much that needs to be done in that code. We need to clarify some things in there.' According to the chief electoral officer, Graeme Drew, it is not uncommon for election codes to permit a candidate to run for more than one position on council. He was a little bit surprised by the reaction from some, but said he took it under consideration and conferred with legal counsel to confirm his interpretation. 'In the end I decided not to allow online voting. There was no reference to it. And in the electoral code there's no reference that restricts a person from applying for both,' said Drew. 'There was nothing in the rules that restricted that, so as a result, he didn't do anything wrong, and his name remains on both, so his name will be on both ballots now,' said Drew, adding that others could have used the same option. 'I heard people think it was offensive to the code or the integrity (of the process). I didn't take it like that at all. I think it was just someone who wanted to hedge their bets and put their name in for both,' he said. The important thing, Drew said, is that a single person not be permitted to hold the position of grand chief and chief simultaneously. He said, however, that section 7.1 of the code serves as a safeguard. This clause defines Council as being comprised of one grand chief and six chiefs. 'That means one person can't hold both seats,' Drew said. Simon said he believes that rather than being on both ballots being an advantage for him, it could actually cost him votes, with some people potentially voting for him on one ballot and not the other, effectively splitting his own vote. 'I have no illusions about my chances in an election,' said Simon. Besides wanting to make a point, another reason he decided to stay in the race for grand chief, he said, was to stop Victor Bonspille from winning by acclamation in the event Brant Etienne were disallowed on a technicality, whether through contestation or appeal. Clean election With the final candidates' list released, the election is officially underway, and one task the electoral officer has is to ensure a clean race, free of foul play or zealous personal attacks. 'The code has a lot of weaknesses in certain areas,' said Drew. 'I think in terms of section 11, the code of ethics for campaigning, it is actually quite well written.' Candidates must adhere to certain rules, including a prohibition on intimidation and vote-buying, a requirement to respect freedom of the press, respecting the rights of other candidates to campaign, and to campaign 'ethically, focusing on political issues, candidate platforms and (refraining) from conducting smear campaigns or ones of gossip and innuendo.' 'I'll be monitoring this very closely, and if there's non-compliance, people are going to be disqualified,' said Drew. July 18 is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot. Advance polls will be held on July 26, while election day is set for August 2. marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Right of way blocked in Kanehsatake
A historically used right of way situated on Oka Golf Club has recently been fenced off, much to the dismay of Kanehsata'kehró:non, who say that the closure of the passage is a further infringement on their inherent rights. The right of way is located where Centre Road continued to the village, before the golf club was built. When the golf course was built, developers included the right of way so that community members could still access the village, since the golf club was blocking the way. Over the years, posts have been erected to narrow the right of way so that only one person can walk through at a time, but community member Ellen Gabriel said that in the winter, she saw a wire fence strung between the posts for the first time. Back then, another community member removed that fence with wire cutters, but on June 6, Gabriel saw that it had been re-hung. 'This has never happened before, they just started doing it,' she said. 'There needs to be something done to correct the situation.' The fence was once more taken down by community members, but Gabriel said that when passing by on Monday morning, she noticed it was once again strung up, this time reinforced with additional iron posts. Gabriel said that she had been told that a golf course administrator said people had been parking on the lacrosse road and stealing the flags from the greens. 'The agreement a long time ago when they gave a permit to the golf course was that there would be this right of way,' Gabriel said. 'The people of that generation had said 'Well, how are we going to get to the village, the golf course is blocking us from going to the village,' and so that was the agreement, that there'd be this right of way.' Gabriel said that the right of way can't be put anywhere else, because that would constitute a detour - this right of way represents the original, direct route to the village. 'That's the original agreement. It's been there since I can remember, and I'm as old as the golf course, it's always been there,' she said. Oka Golf Club did not respond to The Eastern Door's request for comment by deadline, nor did the municipality of Oka when seeking clarity about who installed the fence and why. 'The trouble is always going to be there, simply because it still exists,' Gabriel said. 'Those posts should remain where they are, and in fact they should be wider.' On Monday, Gabriel returned to the right of way to cut back foliage that had grown up around the fence over the past few months. There, she met a non-local who claimed he was 'just driving around' on 'the edge of some reserve.' Gabriel told him that the area was for residents only and asked him to leave, and the individual refused, starting to insult her and calling her a 'crazy old lady.' Gabriel called perimeter security, but the man took off before they arrived. 'A lot of the people who come here have been very disrespectful to community members and it's just another example of the kind of people that come through here to purchase products from Kanehsatake on the 344,' Gabriel said. Gabriel said that as of Wednesday morning, the fence was still up, and the right of way still blocked. eve@ Eve Cable, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Justice Cree inspires community
Lysane Cree was appointed as a Superior Court of Quebec judge in September, but a ceremonial sitting last month gave community members a chance to reflect on their pride in a fellow Kanehsata'kehró:non reaching this milestone. Long before becoming a judge, Cree's success in the legal field already served as an inspiration for the community, with some members following in her footsteps. 'For me, being a lawyer was only a thing people did in movies or in the big cities. Not in Kanesatake out of all places! But boy was I wrong,' said McGill law school graduate Brandon Bonspiel, who has just a few months left of bar school ahead of being sworn in as a lawyer. 'When I started speaking up about my ambitions, I was often told that being a lawyer would not be easy as a Mohawk, but it was not impossible. That's when I first heard of Lysane Cree.' It was more than just an encouraging sign for the aspiring legal professional, who has been dreaming of entering the profession since his high school days. 'I am a direct result of Lysane's impact on our community. She paved the way for myself and many other Kanien'kehá:ka youth wishing to practice law,' he said. 'As for Lysane's appointment as a judge to the province's Superior Court, it furthers her legacy as a role model and a leader in our community. Today, young Kanien'kehá:ka know that being a judge is possible because, once again, Lysane Cree did it!' It's not only law students who appreciate Cree's impact on the community, however. 'I've always known she was a go-getter, determined and tenacious,' said community member Karonhienhawe Nicholas. 'I am so proud of her and proud to say that we have a judge in the community and that there is proof our community is not all bad apples or delinquents like it's so often portrayed as being. There are so many good things about our community, so many good people, but it's overshadowed by the bad.' The event was attended by friends and family from Kanesatake and officials such as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Manon Jeannotte - the first ever First Nations person to hold that office. 'It was a profound honour to witness the ceremonial sitting of the Honourable Justice Lysanne Cree at the Superior Court of Quebec,' said Jeannotte, who is Mi'kmaq. 'Her appointment marks not only an important moment for Quebec's justice system, but also a meaningful step on our shared path of reconciliation,' Jeannotte said. Cree is one of only a handful of judges at the St. Jerome courthouse, which tends to the Terrebonne judicial district, so she is overseeing cases in the region that includes Kanesatake. 'Her voice, integrity, and deep sense of service will undoubtedly enrich the judiciary and inspire future generations,' said Jeannotte. According to the Department of Justice, Cree was first called to the Bar of Quebec in 2003 following her graduation from the McGill University Law Faculty in 2000. She started her career at Hutchins Legal Inc., where she worked on Indigenous law and worked with First Nations governments across the country for 16 years. Prior to being appointed as a Superior Court judge, Cree was an administrative judge at Montreal's Administrative Tribunal for Police Ethics. She declined to participate in this article. marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
