Eastern Door, April 18, 2003

Questioning Legitimacy Within the MCK

When talking about the MCK and its legal right to use the terms treaty, treaty rights, wampums and other generally accepted terms within the Mohawk Nation. One forgets to ask one very simple question. How did a colonial government designed entirely different from Traditional Iroquois Government gain legitimacy?

The answer I find in terms of Kahnawake is very complex yet can be explained in some simplicity. In order for a colonial government to gain any legitimacy within a foreign nation it must erode the powers of the Traditional governments. It must grab hold to its political structures, institutions and economic forces.

In Kahnawake the MCK has done exactly that, they have stolen all of the social structures and moved them outside the confines and control of the Traditional people with exception to cultural events. The MCK has legitimized all political structures by breaking down the traditional structures through events such as the cigarette trade, cigarettes and other illegal activities in accordance with Canada's Laws. Now which are controlled by the MCK's political forces that are in line with colonial ideology in regard to assimilation.

The final straw in full legitimization of the MCK in a structure of power now lies in the hands of Membership. In that the MCK lays claim that it has the right to determine who their people are. When explicitly the Mohawk Nation and the laws that govern the Mohawk Nation have sole right to determine who is a member of the Nation/State.

If the MCK does aquire rights to determine Membership within the power structures of its colonial government. The Longhouse people in turn will never be able to gain any political, social or moral legitimacy within foreign governments. Why because the currently proposed membership code takes legitimacy of all traditional laws and treaties. Yet at the same time gives no legitimacy to the government whom signed and has rights to those laws and treaties. Meanwhile stating, should the community wish to return to traditional government. Having stolen legitimacy of the Traditional peoples rights and responsibilities under and in accordance with the Great Law. No one can honestly expect any form of Traditional government to succeed on such hostile political terms.

What is it that I'm trying to say? What I'm trying to state is that the MCK's rights to use the Mohawk Nations treaties, laws and traditions have to cease and desist in order for any form of Traditional Government to be allowed to survive. Otherwise the Traditional people of the Mohawk Nation have to impliment the laws in which they have every right to protect and observe, by any method they so choose. Methods such as full implementation of Haudenosaunee Laws and implementation of newer laws regardless of any counter legitimization from any Band Council.

Should the MCK continue to eat up Mohawk Nation Legitimacy and tear up the power structures of the Mohawk Nation and deny such oblivious actions, the Mohawk Nation will simply cease to exist.

Kahon:wes - Nia:wen

http://www.kahonwes.com/ Where Everything is Iroquois