OHSWEKEN – A delegation of women travelled to visit the Haudenosaune Confederacy to give a presentation about stopping Enbridge’s Line 9. The group shared information about an awareness campaign that they are trying to rally support around. Enbridge’s proposed Line 9 will carry heavy crude oil from the Tar Sands across Ontario. Of all the First Nations involved in officially opposing the Enbridge proposed pipeline, Six Nations of the Grand River is the only territory that has not issued an official statement opposing the development from crossing its territory.
This has raised concerns because the proposed pipeline will directly cross the Grand River waterway. The delegation is arranging to do an information session to the Six Nations community in a few weeks.
HDI was scheduled on the agenda and brought forward a proposed “Haudenosaune at Oswe:ge Tobacco Law” that was proposed by the Haudenosaune Trade Collective. HDI lawyer Aaron Detlor presented the document to the Council asking for the working draft to be approved. The law was created as an answer to Bill C-10 and seeks to create an internal governing body on Six Nations through which the Haudenosaune Confederacy can regulate tobacco.
The draft version has a number of qualifying factors for persons to apply for licenses, permitting them legal involvement in the indigenous tobacco trade on Six Nations – only Haudenosaune persons who can validate their citizenship would be approved for a license.
According to an official press release from the Haudenosaune Confederacy Chiefs Council, the working draft was approved and is now in the hands of the people for input. Although the document was not released to the general public, the Facebook group for the Haudenosaune Confederacy Chiefs Council says the proposed law can be viewed by contacting your clan mother or chief.
