OHSWEKEN – With the Wampum laid at 10:40 a.m., the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) officially started.
On Saturday, Chief Allan McNaughton told the other chiefs that almost $23 000 worth of honorariums had been donated back to the HCCC and he wanted to discuss how that money could be used within the council. McNaughton also had a cheque on him for $3 050 from the sales of a locally made DVD to add to the total of the returned honorariums.
The chiefs decided to allot the funds, which total almost $26 000, as follows:
One thousand dollars is to be given to a longhouse and the rest is to be spent on the Great Law Reading.
McNaughton also spoke on a presentation that took place back at Dundurn Castle in April — the event known as “Remembering the Pledge of the Crown” — gave an opportunity for the public to reflect on and commemorate the end of the War of 1812. At the event, McNaughton was given two replica Wampum belts and a string of peace beads from students in a Hamilton elementary school. McNaughton brought the very well made replicas with him to council, and he asked the chiefs what should be done with them.
“The belts were given to us, and represent an agreement to open our ears, and dry our tears,” said McNaughton.
The replicas were shown to everyone at council that morning and the chiefs decided that the belts should be given to the clans to use at future councils.
Leroy “Jock” Hill, council secretary, read a letter from a young man of the Cayuga Wolf clan from Oklahoma, asking for permission from the chiefs to live on Six Nations permanently and be given the same rights, benefits and protections that all members of the community receive.
The young man wishes to learn Cayuga and also to eventually receive a Social Insurance Number. He is currently staying with a family on fifth line.
“You feel like you know more about yourself when you know your language,” said Hill, on his behalf.
The chiefs deliberated and found that the young Cayuga Wolf is free to continue living in his current accommodations for up to one year. Throughout the next year he is under probation, where he will do his best to learn the ways of the community and the Cayuga language. Chiefs asked him to come back in one year when the decision of his permanent residency will be made.
Aaron Detlor, lawyer for the Haudenosaunee Development Institute, had just begun to discuss the company’s monthly report when the chiefs requested that the focus of the discussion be brought to the McClung housing project.
More than a dozen members from the Men’s Fire team were at council to ask for the chiefs’ advice, blessing and support in how they might be able to stop the development. Many attempts have been made to come to an amicable resolution, yet the development is still underway with no signs of slowing down.
“It’s time to move forward together,” said Bill Monture, of Men’s Fire.
Council decided that they could not give support to Men’s Fire, but that they will also not hinder or intervene in their mission to slow or stop the development.
Council made it known to the public that they are opposed to the McClung development in an official statement released on Jan. 11, stating that there has been no consultation with the Haudenosaunee and Haudenosaunee land rights continue to remain unresolved.
Due to this, HCCC is “unanimously opposed to the said proposal” and shall remain so until their rights and concerns are respectfully addressed.
