[discuss-dan] Mohawks and New Gun Law

[Doc Rosen <drdrdoc@dr.com>]

Sovereignty and the gun law

By: Kenneth Deer

We have known for some time that the new Federal Gun
Legislation
was going to come into effect on January 1 of this
year, yet two parties in
this issue, the Mohawks and the Feds, have not come to
an agreement on the
issue.

The Mohawks, both the elected councils and the
Traditional Longhouses, have
made it very clear that they perceive the Gun
Legislation to be a violation
of our sovereignty and will not accept its application
in our territories.
The position of the Mohawks is one of principle and
therefore not one that
is easily negotiated.

The Canadian government's position is one of authority,
the government
believes they have the right to impose these laws on us
whether we consent
or not. The conflicting positions are about to come to
a head.

Gun safety and reducing gun related crimes is an
admirable goal, however
Canada's relationship with, and understanding of,
Native Peoples has not
been so admirable.

Mohawks have always stated that they are a sovereign
people; Canada has
always resisted and oppressed that reality, sometimes
by the use of force.

As a sovereign people, the issue of gun control has a
deeper meaning than
safety and criminal use of guns. It is the power to
control and use guns
that is at stake here, and by extention the power to
control our lives.

Mohawks have the right to decide how guns can be used
in our territories.
Whether for hunting, target shooting or national
defense. This is our
right. If Canada approaches the Mohawks in peaceful and
reasonable manner
over this issue, there is a good chance that Canada
will come to a
reasonable and respectful agreement with the Mohawks.

Somos la misma familia,
Doc
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