wes0t4 Gal - eter rom HRNABranford Grail srAsranford Six Nations Domain wpoogle Letter from HRNABrantford #3 1 message HRNABrantford Six Nations Domain Fri, Nov 28, 2014 at 1:39 PM To: cfriel@brantford.ca, lwolfe@brantford.ca, dneumann@brantford.ca Cc: BTFD News , Linda Williamson , "rlevac@brantford.ca" , Jonathan Garlow , kings @brantford.ca, tsalisbury@brantford.ca, jatanas@brantford.ca, gdworak@brantford.ca, grae@brantford.ca, dlee@brantford.ca, avahill@sixnations.ca, arleenmaracle@sixnations.ca Bec: hmabrantford@gmail.com Letter to Brantford Mayor, Acting as CEO, for the Corporation of the City of Brantford November 28, 2014 Occupant of the Office of Mayor; Acting as Chief Executive Officer for the Corporation of the City of Brantford Brantford City Hall 100 Wellington Street Brantford, Ontario Dear Occupant; CEO Chris Friel: lam writing to inform you that we have not received a response from the two letters we sent to your office. First letter: http://btfd.ca/tV2w, second Letter: http:/btfd.ca/hH11 Ug Recently Justice G, Edwards conceded that pre-colonial rights of the Kaniankehaka (‘Mohawk’) have been in the past been limited to hunting and fishing, however these include the fundamental elements of pre-colonial culture and society that maintain its integrity. J.G.E Nov 14 2014, Paragraph 78 read: Certainly this creation story supports the conclusion the use of the traditional medicines by Six Nations was practiced prior to European contact. Secondly, as to the integral nature of the practice Professor Martin-Hill in her paper quotes from Christopher Jock’s article “Spirituality for Sale: Sacred Knowledge in the Consumer Age”: Traditional ceremonies and spiritual practices.... are precious gifts given to Indian people by the Creator. These sacred ways have enabled us as Indian people to survive — miraculously — the onslaught of five centuries effort by non-Indians and their government to exterminate us by extinguishing all traces of our traditional way of life. Today, these hips: google-comimallu'7ui=28ie 80852398718uewr pt&search ino 149F7Bs0911701Bsiml= 1497630011701 18zo4 Gra -Lat: rom HRNABraord #9 precious sacred traditions continue to afford American Indian people of all [nations] the strength and vitality we need in the struggle we face every day; they also offer us our best hope for stable and vibrant future. These sacred traditions are an enduring and indispensable “life raft” without which we would be quickly overwheImed by that threatens our survival. Because our sacred traditions are so precious to us, we cannot allow then to be desecrated and abused (CSPIRIT, 1993 IN Jock) http://btfd.ca/XeYMG The ‘Mohawk’ science of medicine and practise is only one element of cultural integrity and vital to the way of life of a culture. The fundamental elements for a culture to thrive are based on each society but may include: organization, tradition, language, arts, beliefs, government! representation, economy, medicines/sciences itis our understanding that Haudenosaunee rights and freedoms include preexisting political communities that constituted through the representation of their own origin; this preexisting right was reiterated in the ruling by Justice G. Edwards when he linked the Mohawk Creation story to. their inalienable right to se/f-determination. We believe this includes pre-existing rights to the Kaianerekowa (Great Law/Constitution), a civil representational framework without Canada. Because of the lack of Canadian census information on the demographics of the Mohawk and other peoples, the association will be conducting a voluntary census to locate any Mohawk member within Brantford, Six Nations Domain, As you are aware from our second letter wherein we listed the association's charter goals. In part, No 4: “Improved communication and representation of community. Encouraging active engagement and effective communication within the community so that the needs of the neighborhood are properly understood and addressed.” In our attempts to communicate this intelligence to your office we have had no reply to our letters, Itis the goals of this association to establish a good relationship with all community organizations. The purpose of the association is to improve the quality of fe for people who live, work and play in the Haudenosaunee & Raseron:ni Neighborhood of Brantford, Six Nations Domain. The two questions that you failed to answer: 1. Does the Office of Mayor and /or Council of the Corporation of the City of Barntford represent Kanienkehaka (Mohawk)? We Answered: "NO, Kanienkehaka have a pre-colonial representational framework that is integral to the maintenance of their culture.” 2. Do Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) qualify to vote or become elected in the municipal elections? hips: google-comimallu'7ui=28ie 80852398718uewr pt&search ino 149F7Bs0911701Bsiml= 1497630011701wes0t4 Gal - eter rom HRNABranford We Answered: “NO, according to the Municipal elections act, you must be a Canadian Citizen. Kanienkehaka are NOT Canadian citizens” There is a clear need for better communications, your offices’ both the Mayoral office and Executive office including your agents and council-persons has made some very intriguing claims about your representation, yet when we ask for clarity or Proofs of your claims you are no where to be found, until you officially respond we can only assume that you have abandoned your claims and offices, Sincerely, Benjamin II Authorized Representative Haudenosaunee & Raseron:ni Neighborhood Association of Brantford hmabrantford@gmail.com 519-720-0677 hips: google-comimallu'7ui=28ie 80852398718uewr pt&search ino 149F7Bs0911701Bsiml= 1497630011701