Membership Law vs Kanienkehaka Law

For all the people who still hold allegiance to the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy I have a few comments to make about your existence. In the Feb 21st issue of the Eastern Door Mayor Joe Norton states the new Membership Law is "an interm measure designed to preserve our identity" but I must ask how.

How does this "New Membership Law" preserve Kanienkehaka Identity when clearly the Mohawk Nation and Haudenosaunee have clearly always followed different methods such as a clan system.How does a law that creates a new extension of assimilation, preserve the womens place in Haudenosaunee Society. You mean to tell me after 6 years of consultation both the consultation team, Joe Norton and the so called elders havent figured out we as Kanienkehaka people already have an identity. Where in the constitution of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy does it say that I need 3 grandparents. Where in your Constitution does it state you need to speak Kanienkehaka.

Where in your constitution does it state the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and/or any Elders have any Rights to any Membership code. Can someone explain this to everyone. Clearly you are all in severe violation of Iroquois Law... If this "New Memberhip Law" was about as Joe states "who we are" I'm sure they would have spent 6 years sitting down with traditional people repairing the Clan System. If it were about "who we are", 6 years would have been spent teaching people about how the Great Law works. If this Membership Law were about "who we were", 6 years would not have been wasted on assimilating us with another band aid law that is only as Joe stated "an interm measure".

I'd be willing to bet the new Membership Law is more about how to distribute 60+ Million Dollars of Welfare to the Mohawk's of Kahnawake and clearly does not reflect the true identity of Kanienkehaka People.

One other question, how does "three great-grandparents" not have anything to do with blood. Because in order to determine if those "three great-grandparents" are Mohawk are they going to flip a coin. Fact, is that "three great-grandparents" is a form of blood quantum only the percentage system has been removed. The Nazi's used this similar system, its used on horses, cows, dogs, cats, and numerous other animals. I ask anyone where in Iroquois History or Iroquois Law does it state we need at least "three great-grandparents". I'd be willing to bet anyone whom knows anything about both Iroquois History/Culture or Laws will tell you this has absolulely nothing to do with "our identity".

Lastly, to the community of Kahnawake and its youth. I dont know for what reasons the MCK wishes not to abide by any Haudenosaunee Laws/Customs/Traditons or its Constitution but cleary it is not abiding by anything Haudenosaunee. Fact remains that we the people who remain faithfull to the League have a responsibility to adhere to and defend our constitution. We have a responsibility to our people no matter how assimilated they may be, and this case it appears severe... Kahon:wes - Traditions dont get lost, People thow them away...