Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Kaniehtonkie

As a rule of protocol, Tadodaho, Onondaga Chief would recite the traditional opening at formal functions at the United Nations. Tadodaho was unavailable as he was attending Onondaga’s Mid-Winter Ceremonies.

As an advisor who has worked for the Confederacy since 1987, Dr. Kenneth Deer, Secretary of Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake for Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee was asked to find a replacement. Deer suggested Kanentokon Hemlock, a young man from Kahnawake who delivered an outstanding Opening at the official launch of the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Deer attended as an advisor to support for the youth-oriented delegation, making sure the Traditional Opening address was delivered as per protocol addressing other nations.

According to Deer, “The IYIL declared by the UN will put pressure on States to do more for Indigenous Languages. The role of the UN to raise the issue of Indigenous Languages and use its influence in all its Agencies and Bodies, and there are many, so that Indigenous Languages have a better chance at survival. And States must repair the damage they did when they tried to destroy our languages. They have a moral responsibility to repair that damage.”

Deer added, “However, in the end, it is up to us to persevere, promote and maintain our own language. If the UN sees the importance of our languages, then so should we.”

When asked what role the United States and Canada played in the IYIL launch, according to Deer, “The Canada government was probably the most visible State at the Official Launch along with Ecuador. Canada brought a number of Indigenous representatives and a singing group from British Columbia. Canada also had a Round Table on Indigenous Languages on Thursday, January 31st and held a side event during the lunch break on Friday along with Ecuador. 

He also stated, “The United States was invisible at the Launch.”

In part, this is Kanentokon Hemlock’s Traditional Opening Address delivered at the official launch of the International Year of Indigenous Languages:

“Brothers and Sisters,

I send greetings to all those who have gathered, and to those who are watching this event from their homelands.

Today begins what will be the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

It has been a long struggle to keep our languages and ways of life alive. We first send our acknowledgements to our ancestors, to the ones who passed the knowledge of the earth and our understanding of the world down to us. Their way of life came under attack, but they struggled and maintained that way for us to have today. We send acknowledgement to those of our people who have been, and continue to revitalize our languages and ways of life for future generations. It is together that we find the strength to continue as Indigenous Peoples, and to maintain our connection to our Family, the Natural World.

To representatives of States who have gathered here today, you must also be reminded of the part you had to play in the current state of Indigenous Languages. We find many voices have gone silent over the generations, and many are still at risk of going silent. These voices do not belong to you, or to your States, but to the Indigenous Peoples themselves. It is the voices that have spoken for our people, and for the Earth, that continues to this day. For this coming year, and for the work coming in the future, you as States can assist us to see the fulfillment of our dreams become reality. We need the walls to come down between us, and to begin to find that common human purpose of living cooperatively, not only with each other, but with the Natural World as well. Let it be that way in our minds…”