 Previously I completed full disclosure about my position on the Algonquin land claims and self-government process. The short story is that I do not believe in it as I know full well that the process operates through colonial polices. If you need to read my disclosure, I kindly suggest that you go to my personal website at www.lynngehl.com, look under community publications, and then look for the article I wrote published in Canadian Dimension. It is there for your perusal.
Despite full disclosure, and all the work I do to raise awareness about colonization, there is the need for me to address something. There are people offering accusing statements in my direction about the Algonquin of Ontario and their process of negotiating a land claims that terminates their rights to the land, the waterways, and the resources of the Ottawa River watershed. These comments are coming in many forms, such as that the land, waterways, and resources belong to the Mohawk, and I might add they are of a nasty tone. I struggle with this argument for many reasons such as the landscape in question is a rocky foundation and cannot sustain hearty agriculture, and I do not know of an ancient village that clearly indicates it as Mohawk. Another reason why I struggle with this argument has to do with the three - four hundred year history of Algonquin ancestors submitting petitions to have their land and life ways respected. I seek not to get caught up in the argument of who owns the land also because I know full well that no method of analysis offers objective facts and a universal truth. All we humans can do in our analysis and arguments is present our stories and therefore our personal “truths”. This is also true in terms of wampum diplomacy. Wampum diplomacy is a form of symbolic literacy that requires interpretation. To hold wampum belts up as offering fundamental law is a form of idolatry. Clearly, wampum belts do not hold a universal and time honoured truth. Offering this statement does not mean that I do not value the “truth” in wampum diplomacy. I also refuse to get caught up in the argument of who owns the land because I know full well that different people can share the same landscape and waterscapes just as a butterfly and humming bird are able to share the same flower. The idea and practice of singular land ownership came from the other side of the ocean blue. Finally, I refuse to get caught into the debate of who owns the land − the Algonquin or the Mohawk? − because I know that prior to humans occupying the land and rivers, that the trees, plants, and animal beings were here first. And for that matter, rocks and water preceded the plants and animals. These two beings, meaning rock and water, also have knowledge that they have to do. “Water it just knows what to do. The arrogance of humans to claim they are the only beings that hold knowledge,” is one of my favourite sayings. That said, if you are dissatisfied with the Algonquin of Ontario, and rightly so, I kindly suggest you place your important energy of critique, your important time, and your important effort in their direction rather than in my direction. After all, I have taken the time to demonstrate I am an ally to all people who are against the current Algonquin land claims and self-government process. Clearly, I am your ally, not your enemy. To engage in lateral violence against an obvious ally is not of good mind. Chi-Miigwetch, Lynn Gehl, Algonquin Anishinaabe-kwe
2 Comments
Karrie Oliver
4/2/2013 05:45:47 pm
as far as I have been taught no one "owns" these lands, the creator gave the people the responsibilty of taking care these lands\mother earth. This responsibility can not be traded or sold. it seems counter productive to argue if your intent is to this responsibilty. yet if you see mother as a "resource" then this argument about ownership is what it is. having the people fight about heriatary land claim while watching the lands get raped is beyond me. this is the time to reclaim this responsiblity before it is to late, joining many nations together world wide is the only way.(please excuse the spelling it is late and my auto correct is off)
Heather Majaury
4/5/2013 12:13:40 am
Over the years I have heard several voices from Mohawk people tell me that there is dispute about who "own" the Ottawa Valley. I do believe there is reason for Mohawk and Algonquin people to come together in alliance to protect the land and to discuss the historical circumstances that lead to these circumstances that are from specifically indigenous ways of re-membering and to ensure that the current land claim process is held accountable or actually reviewed to ensure it does not contravene the international declaration on the rights of indigenous people. In the rhetoric of some Mohawk people I have also sense a great deal of shadism and backlash to mixed blood people at times and I wonder how they can respect that no all indigenous nations follow the Haudenshone ways of governance although I very much respect there ways and see great benefit to many of the structures and the spirit of the way they do things to keep strong alliances within their own confederacy. Perhaps someday we will all be able to come together in space to gather what is left and find new ways to move forward that do not include the trap of engaging in lateral violence. As an aboriginal woman who did find my voice through the feminist movement initially, and believe me I do have my criticisms of feminism, I have to say I absolutely respect the Haudenshone respect for women and their knowledge of the power of women to govern. The fur trade wars and the alliance that were created with various colonial powers in the past definitely create different experiences and stories of the past that need to be respected and learned from. Perhaps there are opportunities here for real dialogue and problem solving that have as of yet not even been "dreamt" of. I also have to say that I think the Anishinaabe Clan system has much to teach as well and it is different in many ways from the Haudenshone system but people get caught negotiating through those systems of kinship and alliance all the time as well. Nothing is simple when we play the blame game instead of honouring the complexity of our shared and divergent histories and where they intersect and become the ground from which we draw the sustenance for moving forward. Sorry was inspired and felt like being philosophical about this topic as it has been a topic of concern for me for some time. Thanks for putting it out there to be discussed. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
|
copyright Lynn Gehl
www.lynngehl.com |