Grand Chief Michael Delisle of the Kahnawake Mohawk tribe visited our Poli-Sci class. The First Nations are DEFINITELY part of the "nationalism" of Canada. The Grand Chief spoke first, and then the students asked (per our Prof) very good, intelligent questions.
These are some of the points that RHOTO came away with:
"Two Row Wampum Belt
Wampum refers to the tubular beads carved from shells commonly associated with the Iroquoian Nations of Native America. These shells were woven into patterns. They were used as a type of currency and to record significant treaty agreements. One such treaty is recorded in the Two Row Wampum. The arrangement consists of two rows of purple beads on a field of white, which ex-tends for a considerable length. Although simplistic graphically, the meaning inherent in the Two Row Wampum is profound. The white field of beads represents a river. This symbolizes the course of life. The two rows of purple beads represent a passage of two canoes down this same river - the Iroquoian culture on one side and European culture on the other. Although both canoes share the same river, each is allowed to travel separately, independently and at its own speed. Their paths do not cross and hence they do not impede the progress of one another. The spirit of honor and respect contained within this agreement was to be renewed on an annual basis with the English, French and Dutch settlers." - http://www.tworow.com/aboutus.html
Next was a discussion about the "Oka Crisis". A very simplified sketch of this 1990, 2-1/2 month event would be as follows: developers wanted to construct a golf course on what is Mohawk ancient, sacred burial ground. The Tribe responded by a peaceful demonstration of closing down a major bridge into Montreal. The counter response was not so peaceful... It's a peace of history that will outlast us all.
Grand Chief Delisle talked about when the "Indian" children were taken away from their parents, their homes by the white man. There the children were abused. They were beaten whenever they spoke their native language; it took time for them to learn English. The goal, according to Delisle was "to turn them into 'red apples': red on the outside and white on the inside."...
Yes, there are problems with drugs, with alcohol, with very young single mothers. The solution? Developing a sense of "who am I?", of self-image. Everything was very quickly stripped from the First Nation. They don't KNOW "who" they are now.
PART of that backlash is the youth's attitude of "You (whites) OWE me!!" That doesn't "help" solve the problem. That doesn't motivate youngsters to go to school, to develop. That creates decades and generations of welfare recipients.
These are "healing" problems...
What does the Grand Chief think about HOW to address these problems? To have the Canadian Government ACKNOWLEDGE the afore-signed Treaties. To say, "YES", this land DOES belong to the Mohawk People. The goal is NOT to reclaim the land--how do you reclaim MONTREAL??. It is to have it acknowledged that the First Nations WERE and are. To build a sense of pride in their Peoples...
RHOTO is only covering a smidgen of what was talked about. THANK you very much, Professor Hershorn, for extending this invitation to Grand Chief Michael Delisle of the Mohawk nation.
RHOTO
P.S. "First Nation" is a politically correct term that was chosen by the People involved. They are NOT "Indians" of India, as Christopher Columbus erroneously thought.
Tony
