Canada Bill S3 detrimental to Kahnawake - Kiosks to explain

11/23/2018

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) has announced three important dates for Information Kiosks on Canada’s S-3 legislation amendments to the Indian Act, and the potential detrimental effects it can pose for Kahnawà:ke, highlighted by a new assimilation threat.
 
The Kiosks will be held at the Kahnawà:ke Services Complex beginning this Saturday, November 24th from 9am - 12 noon, on Tuesday, December 4th from 9am - 12 noon and Tuesday, December 11th from 9am - 4pm.
 
According to Canada’s own estimates, over a million new Status ‘Indians’ will be created based on new and open eligibility criteria in the Indian Act as a result of the S3 amendments. Of this, between 35,000 to 65,000 could be added to the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke Federal list, which is controlled by Canada and not to be confused with our internal Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Registry. Many of these persons would likely have a very distant connection to our community by either ancestry or family ties and, in the near future, they will significantly outnumber the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke who grew up and reside in the Territory.
 
“There has not been an issue so threatening to First Nations people across Turtle Island since the Indian Residential School System,” said Ietsénhaienhs Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. “They didn’t fulfill their mission with that assimilation tactic, now this is the new era, and we all need to know about what’s coming.”

“We must institute protective measures to defend ourselves and this community from Canada granting people Mohawk identity and giving them rights in our lands without our consent,” continued Sky-Deer. “Although people may not have a lot of time at the Kiosk to understand all of this at first glance, people will be asked to leave their contact information so we can set up focus groups or private family info sessions to give full presentations because it’s that important.”