Category Archives: New York State

1997 NYS ATTACK HAUDENOSAUNEE

Posted on by

mnnlogo1

 

 

MNN. Oct. 16, 2013. In May 18, 1997, members of the Haudenosaunee from our communities converged on Onondaga Nation land next to NYS Thruway 81. Most were  women, children and babies, as well as some of our men. It was to be a joyous celebration with a tobacco burning, feast, dancing and singing. At 3.00 pm 200 paramilitary New York State Troopers surrounded, attacked and viciously beat us up, injuring, jailing and incapacitating us. Many ran with babies in their arms to hide in the surrounding bush. STOMP DANCE

Over the years this case went through the court. All motions to drop the case and that the cops had a right to do it, were defeated. Judge George Low studied the evidence and reported that if this went to trial, we would win. There was no justification for the attack and it was all filmed. [See video below]

Eventually New York State decided to stop any trial by giving about 100 plaintiffs and the lawyers $3 million. The condition was that the traitorous state controlled Onondaga Council Inc. that requested the attack, NYS police and the politicians would be immune from prosecution. We could not be able to discuss it. Some signed as the people are very poor and needed the funds. It had to be unanimous. 

On Oct. 15, 2013, those who refused to sign were ordered to meet with the Judge Therese Wiley Dancks of the US Court Northern District NY and our lawyers in Syracuse. The 12 plaintiffs did not expect to be taken separately into rooms and intimidated by their own lawyers and the judge into signing the agreement or else!  They were threatened to remain silent. 

On Oct. 16, the following day, the remaining plaintiffs were called in. Judge Lowe made a presentation. “I am neutral!” Then he proceeded to tell us of the dire consequences if we don’t sign: years of trial, motions, this is an that, racist jurors. By 2020 if we win, we might be awarded $1. Money was mentioned over and over again.   

NYS does not know that Haudenosaunee consensus is discussion and full disclosure.

Haudenosaunee consensus is based on open discussion and full disclosure.

Several plaintiffs said, “I did not come here to be talked to like a child”. He withdrew his consent to the settlement. Another said, “Sovereignty is our goal. Not money”. The majority agreed. They walked out of court and went home.  We were reminded once again we can’t stand before the enemy and expect justice. To be continued… See the NYS attack: NYS attack Haudenosaunee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEbvX9hfBGY

MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@yahoo.com  For more news, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go to www.mohawknationnews.com  More stories at MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L

 

 

 

     

THREE FEATHERS

Posted on by

mnnlogo

 

 

MNN. Aug. 28, 2013. In the spring of 2005 the women of Akwesasne asked the men to fill council positions in the Turtle, Wolf and Bear clans. Bear and Wolf Clans each selected three men and the Turtle Clan selected one. During the next few years, they worked on establishing various businesses to help the people. 

In July 2011 to September 2012 the Three Feathers casino in Akwesasne was operated by the Longhouse people. 

Rorakwis of Wolf Clan.

Rorahkwiserake of Wolf Clan.

At 5.00 a.m. on December 18, 2012 Three Feathers was raided by US federal marshals, border patrol agents and Mohawk tribal police. Rorahkwiserake of the Wolf Clan was arrested at the business site on a US warrant using NYS Inc. gambling laws that are invalid in Akwesasne. Three men were named in indictments. Kahnieretiio of the Bear Clan was placed under house arrest and could not leave Akwesasne. Tony Laughing was also placed under house arrest with an ankle bracelet. Bail [ransom] of $50,000 was set for Rorahkwiserake of the Wolf Clan who remains in a Plattsburgh NY prison. leg bracelet

On December 28 2012 the Six Nations Rotiskenrakehte/Men received the issue. Six Nations Counsel of Chiefs, Tekarihoken Royaner, offered his clan family support. Kanenhariyo, on formal loan from the Turtle Clan, became temporary Ayonwes [War Chief]. 

The Two Row Wampum agreement gave Europeans limited rights to live on our land. They are bound to return any of our people who may be in violation to be judged by our people. We must also return their prisoners to them. [Two Row Wampum, Great Law of Peace and Great Peace of Montreal 1701.] Ignorance of the law is  no excuse.

The Mohawk/Kanionkehaka are the northern “Keepers of the Eastern Door” of the Iroquois Confederacy. We are the enforcers of the Great Peace and protect our people, territory and waterways. The charges by the foreign corporations of the United States, New York State, US federal marshals, border patrols and Mohawk tribal police against our people are illegal. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Inc. is a foreign entity. The Kaianerekowa/Great Law of Peace is the only law of Onowaregeh. We never forfeited jurisdiction over ourselves, our land and resources to foreign entities incorporated under the Admiralty law of the seas. We have a rightful duty to resist. 

These principles are affirmed in the US Constitution, British North America Act; the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nations Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international legal instruments that the US and Canada have signed. 

General Assembly Resolution 1541 [XV] requires the informed consent of the people before they are included in another state; the international Court of Justice affirmed this in the Western Sahara case; and the Indigenous people never consented to be part of the US and Canada.  

All individual or foreign entities wishing to discuss issues with us must go through proper protocol, which is the US President and Queen Elizabeth, who represents the occupiers.    

This illegal interference in Indigenous trade and commerce will end. The Mohawks will resist illegality and affirm our inherent rights.akwe casino 

Custer: Johnny Cash & Buffy Sainte-Marie. remind us that the Great Law will help us win: “There might have been more enthusin’ if us Indians had been losin’/But the General he don’t ride well anymore/General George A.Custer oh his yellow hair had lustre…”

CONTACT: Karennase, Cell 519-802-0312 E-mail she4adams@yahoo.ca  Rorahkwiserake 518-651-9950. 

MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@yahoo.com  For more news, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go to mohawknationnews.com  More stories at MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada J0L 1B0]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANTIS & WARRIORS

Posted on by

mnnlogo

 

 

MNN. July 1, 2013. Twenty-three years ago Akwesasne was mired in controversy supposedly over gambling. The two sides were dubbed the “Antis” and the “Warriors”. The antis would invite the press in and stage shootings. They falsely claimed gangs of marauding youths with semi-automatics were roaming the streets. The Warriors pledged they would never fight against our own people.HORNUNG AKWE   

The real issue continues to be sovereignty and jurisdiction. New York State and the FBI have no authority to come into Mohawk sovereign territory.  

The condoled Confederacy chiefs feared the Men who maintained the Great Law. They began a false campaign that Warriors no longer existed in Haudenosaunee society. Conflicts were ignited in our communities. 

NY State Governor Mario Cuomo had a weekly radio show on current events. One night he spoke about the issues at Akwesasne. Two calls came in. One during the show and another afterward. A man wanted Cuomo to send in the National Guards against the Warriors. The caller asked, “What is it going to take for you to send in the National Guards?” 

akwe casinoCuomo replied, “Dead bodies”. Within hours two men were killed, Harold J.R. Edwards and Matthew Pike, both shot in the back. The caller accused a well-known individual and the Warriors of the murders. The Governor knew that the accused was far away from Akwesasne at the time, that the caller was lying.  

The Warrior Society asked NY State Police to enter Akwesasne to investigate the two killings. They did not come in. 

A well-known native reporter was arrested and jailed based on eye-witness testimony. The witness was visited by unnamed persons. He recanted his statements. The charges were stayed. There was not enough evidence.   

friendly fireToday no proper investigation has been done. No one has explained the strange timing of the killings. Was this a product of organized crime? If so, who were the organizers? So far the Grand Council of Onondaga has never cleared this up, which is a violation of the Great Law.  As Gene Pitney sang about gunslingers: “Everyone heard two shots ring out, a shot made Liberty fall/
The man who shot Liberty Valance, he shot Liberty Valance/He was the bravest of them all.” The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Read the 2006 story attached: UNSOLVED MURDERS IN AKWESASNE REVISITED: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indigenous_peoples_literature/message/18603?var=1

http://www.amazon.com/One-Nation-Under-Rick-Hornung/dp/0679412654 describes how the killing of two Mohawks during a staged fire fight in Akwesasne in 1990 led to a conflict set up to bring in the outside police forces, NYS Police, RCMP, Quebec SQ, Ontario Provincial Police, National Guard, etc.   

MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Thahoketoteh@hotmail.com For more news, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go to www.mohawknationnews.com  More stories at MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0  For free download of Mohawk music thahoketoteh.ws

 

 

NYS GOVERNOR AND COURTS RETREAT

Posted on by

NO AUTHORITY TO INTERFERE WITH SENECA TRADE

MNN. Jan. 28, 2009. The colony of New York can only tax its subjects. The Seneca Nation and other Ongwehonwe are not part of this colony. The courts agree that the governor’s decree is illegal and non-enforceable. The Senecas say any attempt to interfere with our trade is an affront to our sovereignty.

On January 25, 2009, the Seneca, our brothers, sisters, friends, allies and supporters gathered at Cattaraugus to affirm that NYS must obey valid laws and agreements. At this time NYS Governor David A. Paterson began back pedaling because of the resistance and in anticipation of this New York State court ruling made on January 27th 2009.

The court confirmed that NYS has no right to interfere in Ongwehonwe sovereignty. Their face saving excuse is that NYS “hasn’t created a system to exempt Indians from taxation”!!! In other words, they remembered a bit of history. Or maybe they haven’t finished making the harnesses they were trying to put around our necks to make us rescue their failed economy. We stopped them from putting fake taxation remedies on us.

Just before the event Paterson sent a fax to the Seneca pledging his commitment to a “mutually productive relationship” with the “leadership”. He was referring to Barry Snyder of the tribal council which was set up as a colonial entity. This is not his call to make. We have a right under international law to chose our representative to negotiate with full knowledge and consent with foreign states like New York, the U.S. and Canada.

A deal between Paterson and Snyder to determine our fate is unacceptable. We must speak and our words must be heard. NYS has a history of making shady deals with co-opted “leaders”. The people will not let Paterson canoodle in isolation with so called leadership to make a tax pact that isn’t supported by the people.

We will not be threatened by colonial politicians in Albany who try to interfere with our trade and commerce and illegally force colonial jurisdiction on us. We will continue to make plans to collect tolls on the cars passing on the Interstate Thruway #90 that runs across our land. NYS did not honor the 1954 agreement to pay us $1 for every car that passes on the Thruway over our territory. We have every right to assert authority over our land. We have every right to travel freely on our territory. We have never relinquished any of this.

NYS is violating the Two Row Wampum Agreement, the Canadaigua Treaty 1794 and the U.S. Constitution. The Two Row created the U.S. colony. The Canadaigua Treaty states that, “the U.S. acknowledges that our property is our land and that the U.S. will never claim the same, nor disturb us in the use of our land”. It sets out the separate relationship between our nations. Article 7 states that only the U.S. President can select his designate to petition our leadership on nation to nation conflicts. The U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, also designates that only the President or his designate can speak with us on national matters, which is what trade and navigation is.

NYS illegally occupies our land. NYS cannot mount blockades on the delivery of trade goods to us. It is purporting it will come up with a scheme to trick, fool us and use force to make us comply with their pronouncement. They know the Seneca people must agree to everything. Otherwise we will resist as we always have. International law supports the protection of our birthright.

NYS constantly uses fraudulent means to make claims to our rights and possessions. It has never respected its agreement to not harass us, the owners of the land. It looks like NYS backed down when they got resistance. Their court system is set up to maintain their for-profit colonial corporation. But it did support us this time. However, it was the courts dedication to legal principles that forced it to recognize some of our rights.

This sounds more like a script for a B-Rate Hollywood movie. NYS is forming another impotent showpiece, the “Office of Indian Affairs”. We hope it is meant to educate themselves on the true history of the Ongwehonwe and their obligations to us.

Snyder is only familiar with NYS and Federal Indian Law which have nothing to do with our national sovereignty. We know any agreement will be used as a precedent to apply their one-sided edicts to other Ongwehonwe. Snyder is not authorized to negotiate on behalf of the “Keepers of the Western Door”. Only the people can do that through long established protocols. We will continue to live by the Kaianerehkowa, the Great Law of Peace.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ … 5407.story
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/561569.html

Posted by: MNN Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com Comments can be posted onwww.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com 

jmkane1220@aol.com katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal atwww.mohawknationnews.com, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much.
Go to MNN “New York State” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois

Contact: NYS Gov. David A. Paterson 518-474-8390 www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html;
New York State Legislative Session Information page at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us
president@whitehouse.gov ; US Dept. Justice askdoj@usdoj.gov; European Union public.info@consilium.eu.int ; Mohawk Nat Council Chiefs mohawkna@slic.com; OAS multimedia@oas.org ; UN Comm Human Rights tb-petitions@ohchr.org ; IMF mschrader@imf.org; hotline@worldbank.org ; info@gatt.org; supporter.services@int.greenpeace.org ; prsj2cr@sol.racsa.co.cr ;

“Kathryn Grant Madigan, President, NYS Bar Association, 1 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12207 318-463-3200 %Andrew R. Bush, Director, arush@sysba.org;

poster: katenies

 

Call Out by Seneca, Keepers of the Western Door:

Posted on by
Sunday, January 25th 2009, Noon. All welcome to hear and learn the issues.
Cattaraugus [Route 438 and NYS Thruway or Interstate I-90]MNN. Jan. 23, 2009. The Seneca People are inviting all our brothers, sisters, friends, allies and supporters to join us in Cattaraugus. The gathering will feature food, music, speakers and a bonfire. Heated shelter will be available. Bring blankets, cameras, phone cards, warm clothes, shoes, folding chairs, walkie-talkies and so on. Also signs, banners and flags indicating support for Ongwehonwe sovereignty.

The gathering will be a show of unity and solidarity to defend our inherent power to conduct trade free from intervention by colonial New York State.

New York State Governor David A. Paterson signed on December 15, 2008 an illegal document designed to destroy the economies of eleven Ongwehonwe communities by imposing illegal taxes and cutting off supplies to our traders. The scheme is scheduled to come into effect on February 13, 2009.

Paterson’s action has caused State Supreme Court Justice Rose Sconiers to issue a temporary restraining order stopping the enforcement of this highly questionable pretense at a “law”. A hearing is set for January 27th 2009 to decide whether a permanent injunction should be issued against New York State to stop it from implementing this questionable measure.

NYS has refused to pay for its use of our land under the 1954 agreement for the Interstate 90 easement that cuts through our Territory. Because of this the agreement is no longer in effect. NYS is trespassing. To assert our authority over our territory we are working on a system of tolls on the Thruway through Irving. The Seneca tribal courts are working on declaring the thruway as an invasion of sovereign Seneca territory.

The Seneca People are always ready to work cooperatively with New York State. We don’t understand why NYS has chosen to abuse us. Previous conflicts between us and NYS have always ended in the Governors reversing their illegal positions and acknowledging our sovereignty. Most NYS legislators are ready to violate our sovereignty while independent polls indicate that 70% of the people of NYS support legality, fair play and decent treatment of everyone, including us.

The Seneca are petitioning U.S. President Obama to respect the Canadaigua Treaty of 1794 and to protect us from crimes that NYS is attempting to commit. Please help us support Seneca sovereignty and the rule of law.

Contact Seneca Nation at 716-532-4900 and comments can be posted onwww.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com 

Posted: MNN Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com jmkane1220@aol.com katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal atwww.mohawknationnews.com, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “New York State” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updateshttp://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition!http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois

Contact:
NYS Gov. David A. Paterson 518-474-8390 www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html;president@whitehouse.gov ;
US Dept. Justice askdoj@usdoj.gov;
NYS Legislators http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ ; Office of Attorney General, Andrew M. Cuomohttp://www.oag.state.ny.us/contact.html ; European Union public.info@consilium.eu.int ;
Mohawk Nat Council Chiefs mohawkna@slic.com; OAS multimedia@oas.org ; UN Comm Human Rights tb-petitions@ohchr.org ; IMF mschrader@imf.org; hotline@worldbank.org ; info@gatt.org; supporter.services@int.greenpeace.org ; prsj2cr@sol.racsa.co.cr ;

“Kathryn Grant Madigan, President, NYS Bar Association, 1 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12207 318-463-3200 %Andrew R. Bush, Director, arush@sysba.org; Governor David A. Paterson, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224, 518-474-8390

 
poster: katenies

 

SHOWDOWN AT THE “WESTERN DOOR”:

Posted on by
Seneca v. NEW YORK STATEMNN. Jan. 16, 2008. The Seneca Nation of the Rotino’shonni:onwe, Iroquois Confederacy, are demanding that the colonial state of New York stop illegally operating an unlawful business on our territory – which is the Interstate Thruway #90. It is an unlawful business on our land. At the same time NYS is trying to destroy a significant part of the Nation’s economy by imposing illegal taxes. They have no jurisdiction over Ongwehonwe or our territories which is all of New York State and beyond. Every inch of Onowaregeh, Turtle Island, is unsurrendered Ongwehonwe territory. The U.S. and Canada are colonies that have no land. They are illegal occupiers.

The trusteeship of the territory in the people is affirmed in the constitution known as the Kaianerehkowa, the Great Law of Peace, which is the true law of the land.

The Seneca Nation and New York State clashed back in 1992 and 1997 leading to civil unrest in the local Seneca communities of Allegheny and Cattaraugus. With a February 13th 2009 deadline looming for collection of taxes on cigarettes sold to Ongwehonwe communities by wholesalers, the Seneca Nation is preparing for another clash with NYS. Speaking for the Seneca of the “Western Door”, Barry Snyder says the people will take any action necessary to protect its people, economy and way of life. In the 1997 clash NYS spent $30 million to bring in heavily armed troopers and tactical squads into our communities. Physical assaults were committed against women, children and men. [Shades of Palestine!] Thruway #90 was closed. Tires were burnt. Charges were laid against some of our people. Then NYS Gov. George Pataki backed off and rescinded any enforcement efforts to collect NYS taxes or impose tax law on us and our land.

The Senecas are now devising a system to collect tolls on the NYS Thruway through Irving. People are being urged to stockpile basic needs. Up to $1 million of Seneca money is being set aside for emergency response. And the Seneca are petitioning U.S. President Obama for federal protection from NY State and respect for our jurisdiction.

To be legal the Thruway requires a license from the Seneca Nation whose territory it’s on. Billions of dollars that should be going to the Seneca are being poured into NYS’s economy. The landowners get nothing. In response to the latest affront to our sovereignty, on April 14, 2007 the Seneca rescinded the 1954 agreement with NYS to use Nation territory for its highway. Outstanding is the compensation for past land use which NYS refuses to pay. Since May 12, 2007, $1 has been assessed on each motorist using the Thruway, leaving NYS $20,247,557 in arrears.

As if that’s not bad enough, to put pressure on us to submit, NYS is once again taking illegal actions to impose an embargo on tobacco products. This is a direct threat to the people who are recovering from the economic devastation imposed on us by the state and federal governments. Since Sullivan destroyed the agricultural industry of the Rotino’shonni:onwe, tobacco has been one of the most successful economic endeavors of our people. It has emerged from our traditional cultivation, trade and commerce traditions. Our people have every right to take all actions necessary to protect and defend our freedom, economy and unsurrendered sovereignty and territories.

The $1 million being set aside for “emergency response personnel” is to provide access to medical care, ensure that children get to school, and that all residents can go about their daily lives without interference. People are stockpiling everything. The history of our relations with NYS has been troubled from the start. NYS has tried to interfere with our treaty rights to tax-free commerce twice in the last few years. The only responsible approach is to protect our people by preparing for the worst.

The people have instructed their Planning Department to build a system to collect tolls on the New York State Thruway. The Seneca also intend to increase the current per-car toll to $2. They also filed an action in the Seneca tribal courts to declare that the Thruway is an illegal invasion of sovereign Seneca territory.

The Seneca are asking U.S. President Obama to respect the provisions of the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794 to provide protection for the Seneca from the crimes being committed against us by NYS. Obama probably does not know the history of our relationship with the British and U.S. invaders. We never agreed to become British subjects, or NYS or U.S. citizens. Our relations have been highly irregular especially since the American Revolution of 1776. It’s time to stop the abuse and set things right.

On December 15, 2008 NYS Gov. David A. Paterson illegally signed a law to subjugate the commerce of all Ongwehonwe communities under the authority of NYS. We don’t know what theory of legality he is operating on. You can be sure it’s not based on human equality or the principles set out in international law and the U.S. Constitution, for that matter. NYS would never abide by Canadian laws if Canada ever chose to colonize New York. By a temporary order of State Supreme Court Justice Rose Sconiers, his law cannot be enforced. A hearing is set for January 27, 2009 to decide whether a permanent injunction should be issued against NYS to stop it from implementing illegal policies.

The actions by NYS Gov. Paterson look like a deliberate attempt to fuel anti-Ongwehonwe sentiment. He is drawing a line where none should be. He is refusing to respect legitimate Ongwehonwe jurisdiction and boundaries. There’s no sign that NYS intends to respect the law. NYS is on a collision course as before. NYS should know by now that the Seneca will not stand down. We will unite and fight for the right to support our families and to protect our homes and territories. [Send your comments tohttp://www.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com]

Karakwine, MNN Mohawk Nation News Staff, http://www.mohawknationnews.comjmkane1220@aol.com katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com

Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal athttp://www.mohawknationnews.com, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “New York State” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updateshttp://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition!http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois

Contact: NYS Gov. David A. Paterson 518-474-8390 Click here to email the Governor.http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html; president@whitehouse.gov ; US Dept. Justice askdoj@usdoj.gov; Office of the NYS Attorney General http://www.oag.state.ny.us/contact.html ; European Union public.info@consilium.eu.int ; Mohawk Nat Council Chiefs mohawkna@slic.com; OAS multimedia@oas.org ; UN Comm Human Rights tb-petitions@ohchr.org ; IMF mschrader@imf.org; hotline@worldbank.org ; info@gatt.org; supporter.services@int.greenpeace.org ; prsj2cr@sol.racsa.co.cr ;

poster: katenies

 

VICTORY IN US COURT OF APPEAL

Posted on by

 

– NYS TROOPERS ILLEGALLY “AMBUSHED” IROQUOIS IN ONONDAGA IN 1997

MNN. Oct. 17, 2006. Nine years ago we went to Onondaga to celebrate a victory against New York State who wanted to illegally tax us in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Around noon, on May 18, 1997, when we started to burn tobacco on Andrew Jones property right along Interstate 81, the “Indian Detail” Division of the New York State Troopers came along the highway. They were dressed in full riot gear and bearing riot batons. A videotape made at the time reveals some troopers joking about their “sticks” and how every trooper has “gotta have a stick”. One trooper said that the Indians needed “to get their asses kicked”. They had removed their name tags even though the State Police Manual requires them to be worn at all times.

The Troopers used the “skirmish line” formation by facing the protesters who were 70 feet off the highway and then surrounded us. They were lead by Ollie Gibson who was wearing a ribbon shirt and pointing out people to them. Does this mean that the Troopers don’t know one Indian from another or who was a man or who was a woman or a child? We all had dark skin and dark hair.

They walked towards us smacking their batons on their palms. They charged into the people and began arresting protesters, beating us with batons, dragging us by our hair and kicking us. They threw one man, who was praying, to the ground and chocked him. They manhandled an eleven-year old girl and an elderly medicine woman and even tossed a baby in a double leg cast from his stroller. Not a nice bunch of people!

There was no order and no warning to us. The Troopers tried to stop people from taking pictures and video taping what was going on by putting their hands over the lenses and threatening to arrest the cameramen. They even beat up some of them. A videotape is available of the news clippings which appeared over and over again on local television in Syracuse.

26 people were arrested and charged. All charges were dismissed. One woman was accused of not moving out of the way when told to do so. She had fainted. They had to use smelling salts to revive her and then arrest her. The Troopers brought charges against one man for “running back and forth in a provocative manner”. He was acquitted. This man had arrived late, looked around at the melee, in shock and got the h–l kicked out of him.

The father of the property owner, Ron Jones, was murdered in his home soon after. His hands were cut off and his house in Onondaga was torched. This is still an unsolved murder. We continue to put our messages about New York States complicity with certain Indian individuals, the murders and other crimes on the billboard right next to Route 81 for all the world to see. This is one of the ways we can tell the public about our issues.

We brought charges against them in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York for violating our freedom of speech, religion and assembly, using excessive force, conspiring to violate our rights, our right to equal protection, while being indifferent to our medical needs. We did not want this to happen again to our people. The Troopers claimed that they had “qualified immunity” that “shields police officers acting in their official capacity from suits for damage…” They said they made an “honest mistake”. Is this like being “killed by friendly fire”? Are they saying, “I just forgot! Sorry for beating you up and killing you. I didn’t mean to let you make me get so mad at you”.

They lost at the first level. The Troopers took this decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 4th 2006 they lost again. Does this mean that the Troopers are going to be the fall guys for New York State and whoever requested and ordered this attack? [See case posted on  mohawknationnews.com].

The troopers want to get out of all this by declaring they had “qualified immunity” that they think will let them off the hook. This last decision makes it hard for NY State. So now we can look forward to a 6 to 8 month trial in Syracuse.

There are the issues. We were demonstrating on private property and the Troopers dispersed our meeting. The Troopers had just come from the Seneca protest on the New York State Thruway. There is evidence that the Troopers were partially motivated by what had happened elsewhere.

When the Troopers came in, it was tantamount to going into a church, chasing people out and desecrating their institution during a “religious” gathering. We asked for an injunction to stop the cops from attacking us again. There is a film showing the viciousness of the attack.

It was also found that the Troopers had pre-planned this attack. The protesters had gone to the Jones property 10 days before. The people had started a ceremonial fire and then invited other members of the Six Nations to join them on May 18th 1997 for a ceremonial gathering. About 100 people came. We handed out pamphlets on 81 as the cars slowed down to see what was going on. Then we backed off.

This is an important case because we need to curb the power of the police to make up scenarios so they can carry out their “Indian Detail” agenda. They said they believed that there would be guns there. In other words, they took the law into their own hands. Obviously the court did not believe them. On May 17th, the day before, calls went out. State Troopers were told to meet at the K Mart parking lot in Nedrow. This was coordinated with the local Sheriff with paddy wagons and the whole works. The plan of attack was set out. On the 18th more Troopers arrived at that parking lot.

At that time they were approached by Onondaga resident, Stone Horse, who told them that it was a peaceful gathering. He noticed they had all taken off their name badges and asked them why. The Troopers said that the pins might hurt and distract them, even though they were sporting guns in their holsters. [Do we think maybe they didn’t want their name badges damaged? Were they taking themselves out of their own persona and putting themselves into an adolescent street gang that could run rough shod over Indians with impunity? It’s not their badges that beat us up. It’s them! They still are what they are – New York State Troopers!]

Stone Horse told them that a few people would be handing out flyers and that there would be cameramen there. The people were not on the road for a short time. Stone Horse said, “We are off the road. What do you want us to do?”

The police were asked if they gave orders to us to disperse. They said, “No!” They started to arrest whoever they could lay their hands on. Why? They did not know why?” Did you see a gun there? “No!” they replied. Was politics running the police? Was it premeditated? They were going to arrest and kick ass, according to them. The Troopers said that we refused to leave the road. We were not on the road as they started to attack us.

We have a very important story to tell. There are two issues we want to deal with. What is the New York State Police “Indian Detail” Division? We know that the outside police cannot go on our land and onto private property.

One of the plaintiffs spoke about the case. He said that we are not taxable by a foreign government. We were celebrating its acknowledgement. Our people stood up against an illegal attempt to bring taxation against our people. We won in the court. Governor George Pataki said that he was going to be the first Governor of New York State to “put the Indians in their place”. The Chiefs worked with New York State to sign an illegal taxing agreement which had just been rescinded. It was a difficult day for us. We are a sovereign people to this day. New York State cannot impose their will upon us. We had a rally in April 1997 in Albany to make this point. Those who came were a cross section of every segment of the Onkwehonwe communities. Today Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is trying the same fraud.

We told Bob Bateson of the NY State government, “You can enter all the agreements you want with any of the so-called chiefs and leaders. If the grass roots people do not agree, then you have no agreement and you cannot enforce it. That’s the law!”

On May 18, 1997 New York State Troopers acted illegally. The leaders were so intent on proving how mighty and powerful they were. This attack shows how warped their minds are. Within three days Governor Pataki called a press conference at the Museum of the American Indian. When his helicopter landed, he came directly to the Dialogue Team of the Iroquois who were there. He put out his hand and said, “I am so happy to see you here. You are going to like what I am going to say”. He went up to the podium and said, “From this day forward we are going to respect the sovereignty of the Indian nations”.

Yes, he backed down on imposing taxes on us. Instead he is collecting taxes by setting up “revenue sharing” schemes with the “tribal” chiefs and councils set up under federal Indian law. This violates the U.S. Constitution and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in violation of international laws that respects self-determination. He is ignoring the peoples’ sovereignty by getting the tribal councils to force us to pay taxes to him without consulting us and without our consent.

Now his Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is starting the same war with us again, trying to fraudulently bring in the taxation process against us. Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were all in this war. We have said that never again are traitorous chiefs going to do what they have done to us.

We can’t go to our ancestors as they are not here. Should we leave the burden to our children? New York State violated its own laws. Federal Indian law is illegal. We are reminding the colonists that this is our land, our jurisdiction and we have a right to identify ourselves. The colonists must respect the Two Row Wampum and the Great Law. We were born free and are still free. We never agreed to be American or Canadian “Indians” and never will.

We had the wisdom of our ancestors who put that law together. It was the greatest gift that came from our minds. It doesn’t matter what our physical condition is, this is our power. Let us use the wisdom of our ancestors and our minds and we will succeed.

This was part of the resistance by the Iroquois people against the oppression on Turtle Island . For this reason, the Six Nations people are always facing hatred from the corporate controllers of colonial governments and institutions in Canada and the United States. As the guardians of northeastern Turtle Island they want to eliminate us. This is why these states and their corporate interests are exerting so much brute force on us. Our defense in this case with New York State and others is to live according to our constitution, the Great Law of Peace.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

Click “News” and see category “New York State”

poster: katenies

 

NEW YORK STATE POLICE SCANDAL:

Posted on by

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF IROQUOIS & COVER-UP – WHY NO CHARGES LAID? BEWARE OF “PRO BONO” CLASS ACTION SCAMS!

MNN. April 10, 2008. If a bunch of guys tried to break a guy’s neck, is it attempted murder? If five or more guys grab someone who is just standing there, jump him and hit him over 30 times with wooden clubs, is it an assault? This is what happened on May 18th 1997 to the Haudenosaunee/Iroquois people who were invited guests to the private property of Andrew Jones at Onondaga Nation Territory near Syracuse New York.

The assaults were videotaped. What happened is undeniable. No charges were laid against the assailants. Why? They were New York State Troopers. Who got charged? 24 of the 80 listed Ongwehonwe victims of this brutal attack by over 130 members of New York State Police! When the charges against the Ongwehonwe, the original people of the land, went to court, they were all dropped. New York State had broken their own laws and international law by overstepping its authority on territory that they claim is supposed to be federally protected.

In 1997 Governor Pataki had made an illegal deal with the Onondaga Chiefs to collect taxes on our cigarettes and gas sales.

We objected and were meeting peacefully using our traditional protocol to resolve the issue. All of a sudden we were attacked by a swarm of NY State Troopers. The crimes of the cops were so obvious that “pro bono” ambulance chasing lawyers flocked around us encouraging us to sue for damages, “You people have an amazing case. You’ll win! Your rights to practice your beliefs and to speak and assemble freely were violated”.

So far not a single charge has been laid against the cops for their brutal violation of the law. This attack was well planned. The cops had photos one week before of the guys they wanted to capture.

Before the attacks no one who was targeted was told what the allegations against them were. When they descended on us, it didn’t matter what these people were doing. The cops just lit in and started beating everybody in their path. Others present were charged with blocking Highway 81, even though they were on private land at least 50 feet from the roadway in question.

The NYS Troopers were subsequently investigated, tried to have their case thrown out but lost at two levels. At this point they should be charged and tried for their crimes.

On October 2006 we were invited by the pro bono lawyer, Terrance Hoffman and Mr. Marello to Syracuse. We emphatically instructed them not to settle. When crimes are committed, the perpetrators have to be tried by the state.

According to the Two Row Wampum agreement, the colonial state is responsible for the behavior or misbehavior of its agents. In this case, the Troopers involved violated both the law of the colonial state, international law and the agreements with the Ongwehonwe.

On Wednesday April 9th 2008 we heard that a meeting was taking place at the federal court house in Syracuse between our lawyers and New York State lawyers before Judge George H. Lowe. Two of us went there. Our lawyer, Terrance Hoffman, angrily gave us a “What are you doing here?” look. None of the clients were supposed to be present because “this is strictly between lawyers”.

After sitting in the locked courtroom all day long, it turned out that Mr. Hoffman wanted to get paid $4.5 million by New York State for his legal fees and then he would endeavor to get the case dropped. Is it up to him? If there is equality before the law in the New York State, they have to put the Troopers on trial. This is the only way that justice can be seen to be done.

Even though Mr. Hoffman is supposed to be representing our interests, he argued against us. He threatened it would cost another $2 – $3 million to have a 4 to 6 month trial. Judge Lowe remarked, “Well, we don’t want that” and laughed. In other words, 11 years of stress suffered by those of us who were targeted is being swept under New York States big dirty rug. Various members of the legal profession were conspiring together to profit from our pain and suffering. $4.5 million for the lawyer! No justice for the client! Is this what they call “pro bono”? This is turning into a big scam on the Ongwehonwe and the honest citizens of New York State.

This “wheeling and dealing” revealed a consistent pattern of disregard for the laws and trying to get away with the most heinous crimes against us. The following complaint was emailed and sent by registered mail on April 10th 2008 to the New York State Bar Association:

“Kathryn Grant Madigan, President
New York State Bar Association, 1 Elk St., Albany, N.Y. 12207 318-463-3200 %Andrew R. Bush, Director, arush@sysba.org

“Re: Andrew Jones et al vs McMahon et al, New York State Police, May 18, 1997 Incident, Onondaga Nation Territory, Docket Nos. 05-1830-cv [L] & 05-2035-cv [XAP]

“Dear Mrs. Madigan:

“On May 18, 1997 we were attacked by New York State Troopers and brought charges against them in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York for violating our freedom of speech, religion and assembly. They used excessive force, conspired to violate our rights, our right to equal protection, while being indifferent to our medical needs. The troopers claimed they had “qualified immunity” that “shields police officers acting in their official capacity from suits for damage…”. They lost at the first level. They took it to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 4, 2006 they lost again.

“On October 17, 2006, many of the plaintiffs [98 Cv 374 [FJS] [GLS] met with the two lawyers acting for us in Syracuse, Mr. Terrance Hoffman of Syracuse and Mr. Morello of New York City.… One of the defendants spoke on our behalf. We told our lawyers we did not want a monetary settlement, that we wanted the law to be carried out.

“Yesterday, I went to the Federal Court Building in Syracuse to attend a hearing, which looked like a private meeting between our lawyers and New York State lawyers before Judge George H. Lowe [U.S. Court House, P.O. Box 7346, Syracuse NY 13261-7346 315-234-8613]. They were discussing a “proposed settlement”. Our lawyers were asking for $4.5 million to cover their fees. In return they promised the case would be dropped. [This sounds like extortion!]

“Outside the court room, I gave Mr. Hoffman a note reminding him that we had refused a settlement. We want a public trial because we think there is a possibility of evidence being withheld. The only authority given by the defendants … is to proceed to a trial. It is in the public interest to protect people and to make sure that New York State authorities do not act outside their jurisdiction or violate property rights”. [This is a serious matter.]

“…Judge Lowe will return with his suggestions in one month. We would like to make a complaint against Mr. Hoffman, because he has been making decisions on this case without consulting us, without our consent and in direct violation of our instructions to him. What can we do to protect ourselves? Reasons for pursuing this were so that we would not to be taken advantage of by lawyers.”

A copy of this letter was sent to Mr. Terrance Hoffman tjhoffman@cnymail.com Hoffman, Hubert & Hoffman, 4629 Onondaga Boulevard, Syracuse NY 13219-3390 T315-471-43107 C 315-447-4814
……………

To pressure New York State to settle according to his terms, Mr. Hoffman said this was a “watershed” case on relations between the U.S. government, New York State and the Ongwehonwe. He called it “purposeful willful arrogance of power”. To back his arguments, he used videos of the cops brutally beating us. Some of the crimes being covered up were: the attack was prepared beforehand; false arrests and charges which were all later dropped; attempts to fatally injure or maim the demonstrators [hitting us continuously on the head and spine with clubs were intended to kill or permanently hurt us]; internal investigations were thwarted by high level officials; and how cops lied on the stand and in their depositions.

We saw that the “pro bono” scam is common. Ambulance chasers take on class actions suits on behalf of the victims and then settle for their fees, leaving the victims high and dry. They try to avoid laying criminal charges against the law breakers who are usually colonial state or corporate agents. Mr. Hoffman appeared to want to help find a way for the New York State Police to cover up their crimes.

It is a reckless disregard for humanity in general and the Haudenosaunee in particular. We ask the global community to demand that the New York State Police be put on trial according to law and that we not be further victimized.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

See background story on “New York State” category: “Victory in US Court of Appeal – NYS Troopers illegally “ambushed” Iroquois in Onondaga in 1997” [Oct. 17, 2006]

poster: katenies

 

New York land?

Posted on by
New NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer is about to sign our land into “trust” to build a casino. It is illegal. We would appreciate as many of our native brothers and sisters and our friends and allies registering our opposition on his site before he signs it into “law” on Jan. 1, 2007. Thank you.
Kahentinetha Horn
To: Mr. Eliott Spitzer, Governor of New York State

December 29, 2006.

Before you became Governor of New York State, you were the Attorney General of New York State. At that time you fought against fraud, crime and corruption at all levels. We are now asking you to abide by the laws of the land.

The department of the Interiors’ Bureau of Indian Affairs has just signed off on the environmental assessment. You, Governor Eliot Spitzer, are about to sign off on January 1, 2007 to illegally change our land into “federal trust”. This is a major fraud. Now the proposed St. Regis Mohawk “Tribe’s” casino can go ahead at Monticello Raceway in New York State on our land without our consent. This violates international law. We oppose this. New York State law does not supersede the U.S. Constitution, which you would be violating. As you know, this is treason.

We the Women Title Holders of the Kanion’ke:haka/Mohawk Nation are informing you of the following objections to this project:

1) to the usurpation of our jurisdiction over “New York State” and beyond by the U.S., New York State, non-Indigenous entities, corporations, foreign federal, state, county, boards, state tribal “governance” agencies and all other “outsiders”.

2) to the illegal placing of our sovereign territory into federal trust with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, including lands known as “Monticello” and “Sullivan County” to build casinos on or to do any development.

3) to enforcing “Federal Indian law” which violates the nation-to-nation relationship worked out between our constitutions, the Kaianereh’ko:wa, and the U.S. Constitution. As you will recall, in 2005 New York State failed to fraudulently claim our lands. You know very well that the signing in Albany on Feb. 1, 2005, with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Inc., the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs Inc. and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Inc. to settle so-called land claims was fraudulent and fell. Your concurrent transactions such as taxation, casinos, developments, revenue sharing and other ploys are all illegal and scandalous.

4) to foreign government and corporate entities usurping jurisdiction over us and our unsurrendered land that is respected by Article II of the U.S. Constitution. We Indigenous people still own outright all the land and resources of Turtle Island (that you call North America). These foreign corporations cannot legally put up our land as collateral to solicit public funds for their developments on our land. This is fraud.

Only the Rotinonhsonnion:we/Longhouse People, who abide by the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Iroquois Constitution, are the legitimate voice of our nation. All land, commerce and Kanion’ke:haka Nation issues are the responsibility of the People and not that of outside corporations such as those you have set up like the “tribal” and “band” councils. Any agreements entered into under federal Indian law or state law with the St. Regis Mohawk Council Inc. or any of it’s affiliated departments for the sale, purchase or transfer of our lands under the guise of the Mohawk Nation is illegal, null and void.

The U.S. must abide by the international law principle that there can be no development on Indigenous land without consulting and getting the consent of the true Title Holders.

Our objections to this illegal assumption of jurisdiction by United States, New York State and St. Regis Mohawk Tribe have been registered in the United States Supreme Court case No. 05-165: 2005.

We require you to intervene in the theft of our jurisdiction over our Indigenous territory now called “New York State” and beyond. Do not sign this fraudulent transfer of our land into federal trust and all its attendant underhanded business deals. You vowed as the former Attorney General to stop all corruption. Now that you are the Governor you cannot now knowingly break the law.

Signed: Kahentinetha Horn /s/ ________________ Kanionkeke’ha:ka/Mohawk Nation kahentinetha2@yahoo.com, P.O. Box 418, Akwesasne (New York) 13655 1-613-575-1550

Please register your objection by going to http://www.transitionny.com, click the yellow box “participate”; click “ideas for NY”; to “please click here”. Nia:wen/thank you.

poster: Thahoketoteh