Haudenosaunee Confederacy News

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy Grand Council met on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Onondaga longhouse, the capital of the Six nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The meeting was opened with the Ohenton kari wahtekwen (Thanksgiving Address) by Tadodarto. The Mohawks, the Senecas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Tuscaroras and the Oneida were represented at the council meeting.

The first item on the agenda were reports from Darwin Hill (Seneca) and Carol Hill (Cayuga). The reports included the Haudenosaunee meetings with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the identification cards and the anti-terrorism agency. Also concerning g the I.D. cards and passports. Also reported on was the meeting Carl Hill and Chief Sam George (Cayugas) attended at the White House with other leaders to discuss issues and priority by the native leadership.

Next was a discussion on the border problems and the bridge closure at Akwesasne. A report was given my Mohawk Chief Howard Thompson who explained the seizure of the Mohawk resident’s vehicles and the Mohawk’s refusal to pay the imposed fine of $1,000.00. the bridges are closed.

Discussion took place over the Canadian Border Service actions and the actions of Canada. “Canada is turning this into an international incident” stated one chief. The Haudenosaunee chiefs talked about the issue and options for the Confederacy. It was decided a letter would be sent to the Prime Minister Harper, tot he Opposition Party, and the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations. The Confederacy leadership will also try to arrange a meeting with Jeni Ania, the legal counsel of the Indigenous people participating in the United Nations.

The issue will be put forward to the United Nations. As the United Nations convenes on Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

The Confederacy leadership did break to burn tobacco for the Mohawk to have a peaceful resolution to this issue.

After lunch, the Confederacy leadership continued the discussion on Akwesasne. The leadership agreed that it was time to resurrect the external Rights committee and to find Haudenosaunee leaders and technicians to sit on the committee.

The Tuscaroras requested the Confederacy to send a letter to the United Nations and United States stating Doug Anderson is not a representative of the Tuscarora Nation Council or the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This was agreed to and letter(s) will be sent out.

The Friesland Dutch held a commemorative dinner in New York City and Haudenosaunee representatives attended the event. Attending were Tonya Gonella Frichner (Onondaga), Kenneth Deer (Mohawk), ?? Deom (Mohawk) and Charlie Patton (Mohawk). Presented to the Frieslaud Dutch was a replica of the Two Row Wampum. H historically the Haudenosaunee had a friendship agreement with the Dutch and the event commemorated that long ago agreement.

Next meeting of Grand Council is November 14, 2009.

• Iroquois Nationals Men’s Lacrosse Team tryouts

The open tryouts for the Iroquois Nationals Men’s Lacrosse Team will culminate on Sunday, October 4th at the St. Regis Mohawk School in Akwesasne. This final open try out will begin at 9am with registration. Field practice begins at 10am and runs through noon, then back for an afternoon session from 1:30-3:30. The fee is 50.00 dollars and each participant will be given an Iroquois Nationals reversible jersey, which is theirs to keep. The turn out for the first three open tryouts has been fantastic and we are looking forward to a well attended try out on October 4th. Head Coach Cam Bomberry had this to say:” The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse program has made great strides forward each and every tournament both on and off the field. With more players in the college and pro ranks every year our program benefits greatly from those experiences. These try outs are indicative of that experience and it is the most competitive try out in the history of the Men’s team. It is great to see the effort put forth by the guys”.