words from inside a Mohawk

July 8, 2006

Elections, People Elected

If there is one thing I think about this years MCK elections is the fact they people voted mostly for the same individuals.

I find it sad that supports of the MCK would elect most of the former council especially after something people kindly forgot.

I distinctly remember a womans house burning down in Kahnawake and the MCK saying they would get her some land to build on. Apparently the only place the woman had was a tiny spot in what I think was her mothers yard.

The MCK out of all the things they couldnt do like remove a stamp tax from the post office. The very least they could have done for the woman was get her a speedy land allotment in order to build a new house. I find it sad in this day and age we as Mohawk people could not have found this woman who was in genuine need of a place to live. Nothing could be done.

I dont know the circumstances in which the MCK could not get this woman a land allotment but it better be a good excuse like there is no more land. Why because had I myself had access to my currently land locked land I would have donated a quarter acre to this woman regardless of who she was.

If we are able to let our people go without a place to build shelter. Surely we will undergo soon the greatest insult the Mohawk Nation will endure. One of our own people will probably starve one day to to MCK red tape. If we can let this happen we obviously will let something even more insulting to us as Mohawks happen.

So if I'm wrong in some way someone please explain to me why she didnt get a piece of land..... I really want to hear this excuse....

July 8, 2006

The "Outside" What Rubbish

I always in town hear this term the "Outside" being used in regards to people taking MCK officials to court.

What strikes me the most is when the Mayor of Kahnawake uses it in regards to MCK members suing the MCK. Its convient to use the term "Outside Courts" when the MCK is being Sued. Yet, no one thinks exactly whats wrong with that statement.

Joe Norton use to say that phrase everytime the MCK was in court with a member of Kahnawake. In the case of Joe Norton ranting about the "Outside Courts" never himself realized that the language he used to utter those words were indeed "Outside Language" but never any quelms about speaking English. I think he even enjoyed the "Outside" salary he got from the MCK.

We like to make this grand assumption we are on the "Inside" and there is an outside. But whats so different inside from the "Outside". There is about 90% or more people iin Kahnawake speaking "Outside" languages. Majority of us eat, shop and wear clothing, buy gas, travel, spend, and some even live on the outside. We even baptise and marry people just like "Outside"

Everything in a majority of Mohawk peoples lives is from the "Outside" right down to the government that was installed by the outside, the religions people adopted from the outside to the way there yards have been divided up. 99% of Mohawk lives are lived exactly like "Outside" and yet a vast majority think we live in this vacum called the inside.

So to the MCK what exactly is this "Outside Court" you are talking about? I wonder where is this outside because everything on the inside is the same as the outside. Even your inside court is a product of outside courts. Every one of the MCK's employees all have "Outside" lives yet they all are fenced in by this imaginary line we think is inside.

Truth of the matter is that "Outside" is just a political tool used to discredit Mohawk people when they dont like what they are doing. Joe Norton used this "Outside" tactic to his advantage, yet he enjoyed the spoils of the MCK's "Outside" funding from DIAND.....

Kahon:wes - Your all Living in Dreamland

Kahon:wes - Mohawks where???

July 8, 2006

Kahnawake, How We Swallow Opinions

March 3, 2006 I wrote commenting on how the MCK does not represent all people here in Kahnawake. If one clicks on my March blog they will find it in there to read.

Approached by the author Ross Montour today at the Pow-wow here in Kahnawake. I apparently missed his point in the article he wrote and he kindly explained what he was trying to get across. I kindly thank him for his opinions but have to express a few other opinions in regards to my blog.

Firstly, regardless of what you were trying to get across in the article. My point still stands that no matter what, who or how the MCK tries to represent people. They still have no right to represent all Kahnawake people. Regardless if people are elected under the notion they will try to do a good job when elected and try to represent the best they can all people. The MCK still should not simply assume anything unless the Mohawk people as a Nation decide to be represented upon.

I agree MCK officials should have some moral standing, should try to look into the best interests of all people. There is no argument there on my part, much the same way we all as Mohawks should try to live good honest lives. But the suggestion that any portion of the MCK exercises any rights to represent people of the Mohawk Nation is simply self-inflicted Genocide.

Secondly, Ross Montour states I should put his article up beside my blog so other people can read it. I agree maybe I should put the article you wrote up beside the blog I wrote. Only there is one problem.....

How come I as an individual should put the article up you wrote in regards to an opposing opinion. Though the same paper does not have to comply with the demands of this author on 100's of other topics where one or two quotes have been picked out.

I dont have to put the article on my website because anyone wanting the article. Anyone interested in the topic I wrote about was clearly given cited reference to the article. Thus, like thousands of other publications world wide, we like many other human beings can track down the article and read it for ourselves.

Unfortunately the rules of engagement in Kahnawake try to be separate from the rest of the world. If you critique or write an opposing opinion about someone your then on there black list. If you write anything about someone you stand the chance of getting sued by someone. If you say something that someone said, you can never say it, because they are never there to defend oneselves. If you write about there article you never got the point of any of it.

Whats my point? My point, writing is a place to discuss ideas. Its a place to voice opinions, get commented on, discuss and learn. I learned something from Ross at the Pow-wow, mostly that sometimes people take life way to serious. Life is short.... Make a dent and get the hell out smiling....

Kahon:wes - Tossing Wrenches is fun