By Karen Best
Haldiand Review
January 04, 2007
The return of a historic government building is a symbol of renewed support for the Six Nations Confederacy council.
On New Year's Day, three members of the elected band council handed over the keys for the traditional council hall to Confederacy Mohawk Chief Arnie General. A crowd of 125 community members filled the gallery in the 140-year-old structure and spilled out to the front yard where old pines towered.
"This is what I've been working toward," said Janie Jamieson, who is the spokesperson for the Douglas Creek Estates occupation. "This is our Parliament building. The last time the chiefs and clansmothers met in there they were forced out by the RCMP in 1924."
She made her comments outside while a huge Haudenosaunee flag, a gift from the Akwesasne community, was attached to the building's chimney.
Earlier inside, a historic transfer occurred. General graciously accepted keys to the building from elected band councillor Melba Thomas. The simple drop of keys from one hand to the other was seen by many as setting history on its correct path.
Thomas said Six Nations is one of few First Nations communities across Canada getting back to traditional government. The patriarchal elected band system pushed the people down to white men, she said, noting destruction caused by assimilation.
Six Nations band councillor Glenda Porter said this was the return of "the correct government."
"This is a way to get on the same page if we ever want to move forward as a people," said band councillor Levi White.
After the federal government established an elected council system, in 1924, many people opposed the change and the Confederacy continued on. Three times over the ensuing 80 years, Confederacy supporters tried to take back the building but the band council refused to relinquish it.
Before the ceremony began, Hadocsay told the crowd that he wonders why these people who think they are Canadian have to be here. If they don't like Six Nations' ways, why don't they vacate this land and move to the white side, he said.
"They mix up our people with their mentality."
He said he hopes none of his people will back down from the DCE occupation.
"We'll get that land and more of it," he said.
About six months ago, the elected council decided to hand back the keys, said Brian Doolittle, who is the building's key holder. Once repairs were completed, the hall will be made into a "place as significant to us as a people as it was in the past", he said.
Holding an eagle feather, General thanked the elected council for returning the building. He said administration will be left up to the band council.
"Leave the land dealings to us. This land was given to the people of Six Nations for their help in a couple of wars," he said.
"The future holds benefit for our future up and down the river. This is a gift from a King and we don't give gifts back."
Outside, people involved in occupying Douglas Creek Estates gathered for a photo.
Out front, history was recorded again with yet another photograph of people involved in the hall transfer.
Nearby, Don Tripp, who is a member of the Mohawk workers, said Confederacy council membership should be changed to reflect traditional lineage and the Mohawk nation should be the lead nation in Six Nations.
Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said Six Nations is fragmented. She was not aware of the transfer of the council hall to the Confederacy council until told by the Haldimand Review.
Trainer said that they have to come to a consensus but wanted some guarantee of its acceptance in the community. “Somehow we have to be assured it’s the general consensus,” she said. It’ll be a huge issue until they can confirm that a particular matter was agreed upon by the community, she said.
Six Nations’s political tradition involves seeking consensus on matters important to the community.