Greiving Community Needs Time And Respect, Not Troops And Invasion

On Monday, May 3rd the community of Kanehsatake was forced once again to defend its Territory against an outside and invading police force loyal to the ousted and former chief Jimmy Gabriel. During the night of the 3rd, Kanehsatake community member, Joe David died as a result of injuries he had sustained five years earlier. On June 5th, 1999 Joe David was shot in the back and was paralyzed. It is some of the very same officers who oversaw and were present during the operation in which Joe was shot that play a prominent role in the current force attempting to gain entry into the Territory.

Kanehsatake is a strong and unified community that is ever looking for peaceful and just resolution to the crisis that has been imposed on them. Most immediately they need the time to see to the passing of their brother. It is an affront on basic decency and human dignity to threaten the community once again with invasion, not only by Surete Quebec and the RCMP, but also by the very same police officers that so many see as directly responsible for Joe's long-suffering and death.

Kanehsatake's sister community, Tyendinaga is proceeding on a mandate of security, protection and re-enforcement for the period appropriate for the passing of Joe David as prescribed by the Great Law of Peace, and will ensure that no outside incursion or intervention disturbs the community during this time. Tyendinaga is seeking and would welcome all support to see that this mandate is fulfilled and would encourage people to make their way to the community. Tyendinaga community members have arrived and set up camp at this time.

The message to Quebec Public Security Minister, Jacque Chagnon and the Federal Government is simple: The community of Kanehsatake is capable not only of policing, but of governing, itself and a peaceful, Mohawk solution would have been found long ago had it not been for the Governments' continued interference, imposition of violence and insistence on backing Jimmy Gabriel despite the community's unwavering position that he no longer and will never speak for them again.