The St. Lawrence is the river of life. The river of life has many falls, twists, turns and steep
walls. We travel down it in our own way. The same has been from the very first day. I’ll stay in my canoe.
You’ll stay in our boat. I only hope you stay afloat. I’ll smile at you. You’ll wave at me.
You’ll continue on toward the sea.
MNN. AUG. 22. 2024. A 7.00 pm today this ship enroute to Huelva Spain sailed through the St. Lawrence Seaway which meanders through the middle of Kahnawake Mohawk Land, expected to arrive there on Sept. 2. [MO 94433669 MMSI 244010871]. It’s a General Cargo ship of the Netherlands. The crash shook the community and sent many indigenous people to the site near the Pow Wow grounds. The S.S. HEEMSKERKGRACHT, which is Dutch, were our first allies in 1684. They “sold” their colony to the English. They were the first to adhere to the Two Row and kaianerekowa as the law of the land. So they knew they couldn’t sell our land.
It is possible the Mohawks can take possession as the ship is now in the middle of kanienkehaka Mohawk territory. They surely know 
where they are! On ‘kaniatarowanon,’ the “The Great River of the Kanienkehaka”, one of the biggest, most beautiful and most impressive rivers in the world.
Screenshot
Seventy years ago the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority forcefully took the land from the Mohawks. We were never compensated.
The children use to go stand on the wall behind the catholic church and yell war whoops as the ships sailed by. The crew were so terrified they would run and hide inside their cabins. The captain is powerful when he’s out on the sea but not on our land. He now can only sit on the ship like everyone else.
A big crowd has emerged, a reminder that Creation put us here to take care of our river. We will be here til the end of time carrying out our duties. When all these settler/boat people are gone, we will still be here on our river where creation placed us. Since this kahonwehia cannot move, this ship is now a part of our land. We shall send to the shipping company bales of tobacco and our thanks, according to our proper protocol. All the goods on that ship are ours. The Seaway is ours and the river is part of kasatsensera kowa sa oiera, the great natural power, and we will take care of her.
As old Hank Williams said, “Sometimes the river doesn’t act like it should….”.
