WHAT ARE THE WARRIOR SOCIETIES?

The first warrior society of the new era was the Kahnawake Warrior Society. It was operated with the sanction of the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs at Kahnawake. It included any young man dedicated to defending Mohawk people from outside foes. It was formed as an internal way for the young men to assist in keeping the traditions strong. The elective council had become abusive toward longhouse followers. The warrior society took on as one of its first tasks the eviction of nearly 1,000 non-Indians in their community. Some of those to be evicted were the ones who were defined as Mohawk by federal definitions, but were not Mohawk through traditional lines of descent. The warrior society sent eviction notices to the families ad this was followed by a directive from the band council to leave, but the dates of departure were different.

Members of the first warrior society included Paul Delaronde, Sandor Rice, Peter Jacobs, Julian Delaronde, Allen Delaronde, Thomas Delaronde, James Deer, Pat Goodleaf and Steve McComber. Louis Hall was a longhouse leader associated with the warriors and was charged by the band council with intimidation. The Warrior Society occupied one of the recently vacated homes. The Quebec Provincial Police arrived to force the Warriors out and a melee erupted. The warriors destroyed the house by arson. Seven warriors were arrested and detained, but hundreds of Mohawks forced the Police to flee the reserve, destroying the cars they left behind. More police arrived and the warriors set up a bunker encampment at the longhouse. Mike Meyers, a Seneca, headed the Canadian operations of the American Indian Movement in 1973, and they were deeply involved in this conflict. Meyers helped to negotiate a settlement by agree to have his AIM followers withdraw of the QPP withdraw.

While the traditional people may have first supported the idea, a draft copy of the Policy of the Warrior Society showed that they were more preparing for war than for the maintenance of the Great Law of Peace. That policy stated that:

No drugs or drinking was allowed - however, the warriors have been intimately involved in the spread of drugs, especially cocaine among their own people, destroying a younger generation through this dangerous drug. They have also been involved in supporting themselves by selling drugs and acquiring the weapons to protect this illicit trade.

Weapons were not to be used accept for practice - however, the warriors have been running guns for use against their own people. They have fired thousands of bullets within our communities, destroying houses, vehicles and human lives.

There would be squad leaders - This mimics a military operation and allowed individuals to have their own small group of goons to enforce their will on others.

All warriors are answerable to the War Chief - This allowed individuals with no title to feel self-important and directed the warriors against their own people.

All people are to be treated with respect - However, the leader of the warrior society, Louis Hall put forth a very racist agenda and was anti-christian, anti-longhouse, homophobic and directed hatred against the Chief of the Haudenosaunee.

Every warrior is to have a weapon that should be kept from sight - However, they only hid their weapons when the police tried to investigate their crimes, otherwise the constantly brandished their weapons at their own people.

100 rounds per weapon are to be kept at all times - they shot so many bullets at their own people, it must have been difficult to keep this policy.

The preferred weapons are 12 gauge shot guns, Mini 14 rifles, H & K 91 & 93, SKS and 7.62 x 39 Russian rifles - The warriors were involved in the smuggling of over 2,000 guns, many of which were used in crimes across the U.S. and Canada.

The policy states that the warriors are to be a defensive force unless the War Chief directs them to go on the offensive - The warriors brought the situation at Kanesatake (Oka) to a deadly consequence, but when the warriors under their command had to give up, the warrior leaders escaped unharmed, after collaborating with the police and army against their own people.