We need all of our supporters to make a STRONG statement on February 28th and send a clear and concise message of the Unity of all the Onkwehonweh in this world. According to a message that was delivered to me, apparently we have not shaken the earth enough for them to understand what they are doing, not only to the Onkwehonweh with their continued development, but what they are doing to their own future by destroying our mother earth.

Good Morning from Grand River. Well,I know everyone has been waiting patiently to see whats happening. It's like watching a movie and then having the next episode postponed indefinitely, no idea how the ending is going to be. Well, its the same for those of us here. We never know from one day to the next how things are going to be. With all of the instigating that still goes on, from the stealing of flags to try and get a rise out of us, to the hate mail and death threats that go out through the internet targeted at individuals involved. Its physically and spiritually exhausting. However, it is also a definite and clear message to the people at Kanonhstaton. It helps to keep us strengthened to continue, so, in that respect, we turn it around and say Nya Weh for the support.

It's been a difficult task for me to update when there hasn't been a lot of things to report. But on Thursday, we had an excellent day at the lands side table and main table meetings, with our Chiefs taking a strong position again with the Crown. Sub-Chief Leroy Hill made a direct hit in the morning by tabling evidence that supports the position that the Six Nations has taken all along........ that in fact, the Crown's intention all along was to swindle the lands from the Six Nations as well as encouraging squatters to settle on our lands. The area we concentrated on providing the evidence for is the plank road, but there is plenty of evidence to prove the point all up and down the grand river.

The evidence included a map which shows the lots that were being sold PRIOR to the so-called surrender that the crown is claiming to have recieved from the Six Nations and it clearly shows some of the lands along plank road, including Kanonhstaton, the former Douglas Creek Lands, as being sold in November when they claim to have received their surrender in December. Further to that evidence we also tabled documentation that supports the fact that other lands along the Plank Road were being sold in July, 5 months prior to when they claim our people surrendered it. We also were able to provide documentation that shows the squatters were being given "pre-emptive rights to the land" for their efforts in clearing the lands for the purpose of building plank road. Everything we have been stating all along, everything our elders and ancestors have told us through our oral history, everything our elder Chiefs and historians presented to the Crown at the main table a few months ago, and everything the people have stated from the beginning when we took back the land; was evidenced in the documentation we tabled yesterday. The response of the Crown of course was the same as it has always been. The information we provided is nothing new to them, they are aware of the documents, but they still believe the Six Nations has no legal claim to the land, however they will take the information as it was provided today, back to their department of justice for their consideration.

At this point Chief MacNaughton reminded the Crowns Agents that the most important point in this negotiation process is that the legal interpretation of Canada is irrelevant and that the table itself is a direct result of the precedent set by Canada in its attempt to extinguish 'aboriginal' title and that they continually change their laws to justify the theft of our lands and the extingushment of our rights. He further reminded them that this table has an opportunity to step outside of the box and that it is time for the Crown to recognize the moral wrongs of the past and begin to rectify them. Canada did acknowlede that they are trying to figure out how to deal with the Six Nations as we have clearly stated that we are not interested in monetary compensation and quite honestly they have never even had to consider the option of returning the land.

Our position is clear, we are taking back our lands, lands that were stolen and swindled away, and lands that currently are being swindled away. To support our position, we recently had one of the major developers in Southern Ontario present to the Crown their findings on the research that we asked them to do. They were asked to research the title to the land which they now have in their possession and that they are currently considering for development. These lands are within the Haldimand Tract, currently part of Brantford, and the result of their research is similar to that of the lands in Haldimand. The Crown unilaterally issued patents in this case it was in 1853; and there is a huge gap as to how it went from Six Nations to the Crown. The gap is there because there is nothing that exists to show that we relinquished it. There was no surrender, there was no sale. These lands were intended for the purpose of leasing only and throughout the grand river tract, you will find this practice of the crown over and over again. In fact, at a recent speaking engagement, I encouraged everyone living within the Haldimand Tract to do their own title searches on their property, and find out exactly how these lands came into their possession. I am confident that they will come back with the same results, the Crown unilaterally issued patents without authority and without sanctioning, and those individuals have been frauded by the Crown just as much as the Six Nations has, and today they continue to be frauded because they are paying the taxes on those lands, taxes that Canada has no authority to levy.

So, all in all, we've had a long year. It will be the first anniversary of the land reclamation of Kanonhstaton on February 28th. At this point, I don't believe the Crown is taking seriously the position of the Onkwehonweh. I don't believe they have any intention to turn back the lands of Kanonhstaton according to original title, anymore than they intend to turn back any of the other lands that they openly admit to stealing like Burtch, South Cayuga, Port Maitland, Townsend etc. Their only intent is to keep it as Crown lands with the intended use for Six Nations. They want to be able to dictate how this land will be used, and they want to continue to benefit from the lands. All I know is that from the beginning the people have said, the lands are to be returned to original title, and not according to the Indian Act, because quite frankly, the land is ours. It has always been ours. We've offered enough evidence to prove it, we don't need their paperwork to prove it. Whatever the Crown has to do to adjust its records to rectify its wrongs is entirely their business and has nothing to do with us. We will use the lands for our use and benefit as was intended, for as long as the grass grows, the rivers flow........etc. That IS being a Nation.

The only other thing I want to touch on in this update is the Unity of the people that has been building throughout this year. We have alot of people who have been working very hard to bring the Onkwehonweh together. Alot of people within the confederacy council and alot of people within the band council. Alot of people from Grand River, and alot of people from the other Onkwehonweh Territories. Alot of people from other parts of the world who are supporting us. Those who have organized rallies and fundraisers, we send our thanks because it truly has been amazing to have all of your support and prayers. The people who envision a Six Nations that is united on all issues, just as we stand united on the land at Kanonhstaton. It will not be easy and it will not be quick. But we cannot let those who choose to look for divisions to detract us from that goal. It is no secret there are factions within our territory. It is no secret there are factions within all Onkwehonweh Territories. It is not uncommon that there are factions within any Nation or Country out there, including Canada. In their system their factions are called "opposition parties". So just because we are human like the rest of the world, does not take away from the fact that the Crown has obligations to the Treaties to uphold, regardless of who the people sit at the table to deal with them. It does negate from the fact that Confederacy Council, that the Peacemaker helped us to establish, is a working body of Five Nations, working together, in Unity, Peace, Friendship and Respect, and it has a job to do. The same job that was given to us several hundreds of years before the coming of the Europeans. To oversee all the lands of Turtle Island and to uphold the Peace. That responsibility has never been taken from us and those of us who understand and accept our obligation to that, will continue on the path that has been set before us. All of the Onkwehonweh working TOGETHER. This is the message I would like to send to all of our supporters, both native and non-native who are standing in Unity with us. Do not allow the white serpent to worm its way into your circle to try and disrupt and undermine. It has reared its head once again in Grand River, but once again, we will stand in the light and in defence of what was given to us all, the Onkwehonweh throughout the world, and will continue to work toward upholding and protecting that Peace for All.

On February 28th it will be one year since the land reclamation began. Everyone in Onkwehonweh Territories needs to make the Crown understand that we ARE standing together in UNITY. That Canada, in right of the Crown MUST uphold its obligations to the Treaties. Regardless of the fact that the Crown had no authority or sanctioning to hand those responsibilties to Canada, it is a responsibility it has taken and accepted with its constitution act. Our actions here at Kanonhstaton have apparently not been enough to convince them of this fact. We need all of our supporters to make a STRONG statement on February 28th and send a clear and concise message of the Unity of all the Onkwehonweh in this world. According to a message that was delivered to me, apparently we have not shaken the earth enough for them to understand what they are doing, not only to the Onkwehonweh with their continued development, but what they are doing to their own future by destroying our mother earth. It is up to the Onkwehonweh to send that message that we have had enough. Enough of the encroachment of our homelands, enough of the intrusion of their laws within our circle and enough of their paternalistic attitude toward our people. We must stand united. Nya Weh Kowah!

In Love, Light and Peace,

Hazel