How could I not have seen it? I now see the light.
The laws that Mohawks make are really a carefully formulated conspiracy plan initiated by Ottawa and which was designed to eventually eliminate us as Mohawk people and leaving no one to blame but ourselves.
The Federal Government is very patient and their patience to pull this off may finally be bearing some fruit.
Ottawa planted a handful of fake Mohawk people into Kahnawake years ago and gave them directives to transform the Kahnawake Mohawks into a Metis styled people. The planted/fake Mohawks were very well paid and they set up the government's long-term plans by inducing real, younger and upcoming Mohawk leaders to buy into the plan through a never ending funding guarantee.
Finally in 2003/4, Ottawa's century long efforts began to pay dividends when Kahnawake instituted the Membership Law. Ottawa's leaders were beside themselves with joy. Who really would have thought that a couple of "planted ringers from Ottawa" would actually put Kahnawake at the precipice of capitulation as a People and Nation by creating the Membership Law.
Therefore, I now plan to vigorously lobby against the "Law" and for Kahnawake to be an "open zone", much as other municipalities that now surround us. Vive les Quebec libre!
For the record and in case anybody gets offended or carried away by what I have just written, the words are a satirical response to the previous note. Nia:wen.

Ok. I understand the the 100 signature where just a reminder to council to enforce the 2003 moratorium. Thats fine. Do you recall how many people decided or took part in that decision making process. I question does that law truly reflect our communitis wishes and traditional values?

You see, groing up, I was told by my family that it was Goverment/indian Act's intention to abolish us. Thats why such laws where developed. That we where inclusive thinking, because that is how you could ensure the survival of our people and its culture.

I think we need to re-evaluate wheather this is a law that is true to our values or is it just a law that helps the Gov. to save money. Let's all question what is best for the survial of our people, despite issues of limited land and resources.

sandra

I went to school in New York and would return to Kahnawake every summer and winter vacation. When my parents went through a separation I would return to Kahnawake to attend school. Every time I returned and walk into a store the elders would ask me "who is your mother, who is your father"? They wanted to know if I belonged here and to what family. My great grandmother could name every person walking up and down the road. I don't think that is the case anymore because of the influx of strangers into this community. I was extremely shy in school because I didn't know anyone. The students did not make me feel welcomed. Quite the contrary. I was called a Kahòn:tsi (black person) because I have Native Features like dark hair, eyes and skin tone. So the time has already come when a Mohawk person can feel like the minority. Yet I hear from the Community Meetings that we must show compassion to the non-natives. I feel like my community, my people are my medicine. If we keep planting dandelions in our medicine patch, it will take over and the medicine will be gone. Every living thing on this earth has a place to flourish. Is it so wrong that I want to see my next seven generations flourish in this place.

The response from Ms. Picard concerning the recent eviction notices highlights the fact that many people, some Kahnawakero:non and many others, have a distorted view of the chain of events that led to the "Eviction Notices".
The Membership Law exists and has since 2003/4. The 100 or so complaints, referenced by Ms. Picard, were extended to the MCK through a "fed up" effort by community members for the "Law" to be enforced.
I know the "Law", inside and out, having been an original participant when the Council of Elders was simultaneously created to oversee, manage and make decisions pertaining to all aspects of the Membership Law.
The "Law" and "The Council Of Elders" proved to be an extremely contentious mix and it soon became clear that changes to both were needed. There are dozens of areas which need clarification, modification and standardization.
One issue that was never, ever unclear or contested by anyone on the Elders Council was the simple fact that Kahnawake was on the verge of being overrun by the "Whiteman" and this is one major element of the "Law" that needs NOT an iota of change.

In regards to the note on the evictions been a long overdue action/reaction by MCK. and basically responding to the will and demands of NUMEROUS community members.

I believe that NUMEROUS does not qualifie in this situation. It seems to me that kahnawake has a population of aprox. 7 Thousand. So,100 anonimous complaints is not numerous enough to take such actions. 100/7000 it should be more like 4000/7000 Would 'nt that make more sence?

To me, what is long overdue. Is a law that obliges there be a magority participation of members when it comes to making any changes to laws. People need to come forward. All members need to take on their collective responsibility so that the laws will trully reflect the wishes of its community members. As it stands, It seem that too many just live in kahnawake. They dont care about what happens to it.

Sandra Picard

Kanenrake asks an interesting question regarding KSS and what he "hears" goes on there. If there exists substantive information that reveals major problems, then this site would appear to be the perfect venue to share them and perhaps contribute to solutions.
What are some of the issues regarding KSS that is referenced in the question?
This new and innovative sounding board is a great addition to Kahnawake. Voices otherwise unheard now have a public forum to inform, complain or simply to raise general awareness.
As an older man, I am generally quite detached from the K.S.S. and though I do find it somewhat troubling that something may be amiss there, I haven't heard, seen or read anything that would justify further concerns.
The floor is open. Nia:wen

In some situations the people weren't even living here. What harm is there if they want to stay here as long as they know they have to leave once their connection to the community is done. I don't think it was handled the best way possible and was really embarassing to watch unfold.

A bigger problem right now is the stories I hear coming from K.S.S. seems like nobody's talking about what's going on in our education system (other than the drugs). Why hasn't there been any talk about what's happening there?

The eviction notices and subsequent efforts to remove "some" non-natives from Kahnawake was a long overdue action/reaction by the MCK, who basically responded to the will/demands of numerous community members with longstanding complaints, including mine.

These measures were by no means deemed by anyone, to be "a solution" and "fear" of anything was hardly a factor.

The term "grabbing the bull by the horns" would fit the context of their actions quite apropos and "following the wishes of the people" also bears well with their decision to move forward with a "roll up your sleeves" type conviction and attitude.

Nia:wen, Watio Montour

I think the evictions are a band-aid solution to Kahnawake's real problems: Fear of losing our cultural identity, fear of losing our most valued resource -land- and an over-paranoid fear of what the Canadian Government "could" do.