— Mohawk grandmother remains in hiding, defying arrest warrant “Katenies” challenges US-Canada border jurisdiction
Akwesasne/Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory; March 4, 2007 — A Mohawk woman from the Akwesasne Community remains in hiding, defying an arrest warrant from the Superior Court of Ontario in Cornwall. “Katenies” (gaw-den-yes – whose Mohawk name means “she changes things around”) refused to appear in court on customs and border violations this past January 18, 2007. Instead, she served her own “Motion to Dismiss,” questioning the jurisdiction of the courts and border officials over sovereign Mohawk peoples and their land. Katenies is a mother and grandmother – her third grandchild was born just 4 days ago on February 28 – and a researcher with Mohawk Nation News. She and her family — including her daughter and grandchildren — have been harassed by border officials, in various incidents that date back to 2003. To visit her daughter, Katenies needs to make a simple 5-minute drive, but that drive takes her through two provinces, one state, and two countries (Canada-U.S.-New York State-Quebec-Ontario). If captured by the police, Katenies faces possible pre-trial detention until her court date in August 2007. Katenies vows to continue to defy the courts until the jurisdiction question is answered; in her words: “It’s the Crown, the courts and the police that are the frauds, and it’s they who are in violation of the law.” Katenies remains out of sight, somewhere on Turtle Island. MEDIA CONTACT: Kahentinetha of Mohawk Nation News (MNN) at 450-635-9345 or kahentinetha2@yahoo.com For background information to Katenies’ case, including her Motion to Dismiss and a 28-minute audio interview, please consult: http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com -30- A call for your support and solidarity — Katenies defies the colonial US-Canada Border — Out of sight somewhere on Turtle Island Katenies, Bear Clan, is Kanion’ke:haka/Mohawk from Akwesasne. She is a mother and a grandmother – her third grandchild was recently born on February 28, 2007 — who works to carry out the Great Law responsibility to take care of the land for the future generations. However, an official of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently described her as “lawless”. Katenies has questioned the authority of the Canadian courts, or any colonial courts and border officials, over Onkwehonwe (indigenous peoples) of Turtle Island. Katenies is currently wanted on an arrest warrant, from the Superior Court of Justice in Cornwall, Ontario, for refusing to appear on phony customs and border violations. She and her family — including her daughter and grandchildren — have been harassed by border officials, in various incidents that date back to 2003. To visit her daughter, Katenies needs to make a simple 2-minute drive, but that drive takes her through two provinces, one state, and two countries. As recently as November 2006, Katenies was accused of running the border. She was ordered to court this past January 18, 2007, but didn’t appear. Instead, she earlier served the courts with her own Motion to Dismiss, demanding that the courts and border officials address the jurisdiction question: Does Canada, or the US, have any jurisdiction whatsoever over the Mohawk people? Katenies’ current struggle occurs in the context of wider issues concerning the “border”, or what Onkwehonwe call “the imaginary line”. For example, there have been repeated attempts to introduce biometric “smart cards” into Mohawk communities. Simply put, Katenies refuses to submit to colonial authorities, or abide by an imaginary line over her and her land. She remains out of sight of the authorities, somewhere on Turtle Island, but always under threat of being arrested and detained. If she is captured, she could be in custody until at least August 2007. Katenies is not alone. A network is being established to support her and her jurisdictional challenge, whatever might happen in the coming weeks and months. –> To offer your support, please get in touch by e-mail – support.katenies@gmail.com — or by phone via Mohawk Nation News at 450-635-9345. We are working to raise awareness about Katenies’ case, and we will mobilize for both court and jail support if Katenies is captured. BACKGROUND INFORMATION * Katenies’ MOTION TO DISMISS, demanding that the jurisdiction question be addressed, is linked here: http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com * Katenies was interviewed as part of No One Is Illegal Radio in Montreal. The interview is linked here: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21783 * MNN: Katenies will not “walk the line: http://www.mohawknationnews.com
Posted in MNN category ” Akwesasne ” * MNN: Katenies in Cornwall Court http://www.mohawknationnews.com
Posted in MNN category ” Akwesasne “ | 
