I spotted a low flying helicopter over Kahnawake this morning. The following letter to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of Indian Affairs came from Belgium. Kahentinetha Horn, MNN Mohawk Nation News (coming soon daily news on www.mnn.mohawknationnews.com)

"Dear friends,
Please note that KWIA, supportgroup for indigenous peoples,-Belgium, wrote below letter to:

Minister Harper pm@pm.gc.ca and Minister Prentice prentice.j@parl.gc.ca

Greetings from:

KWIA
Supportgroup for indigenous peoples
Martina Roels
Gorinchemstraat 52
B-9100 St.Niklaas
Belgium
martinaroels@skynet.be

20th March 2006

Your Honourable,

KWIA, supportgroup for indigenous peoples, is writing to register our concern regarding ongoing violations of Mohawk sovereignty and continued actions that threaten the health and safety of the residents of Akwesasne, Kahnawake, Kanehsatake and Tyendinega.

KWIA strongly urges you to put a stop to government-sponsored activities that portray these communities as being bastions of “organized crime” engaged in an illegal tobacco trade. Furthermore, we suggest your government cease operating under the assumption that Band Councils and the Assembly of First Nations, which are funded and controlled by the federal government, are the only legitimate representatives of First Nations communities.

Many studies, some commissioned by the federal government (such as the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People), have determined that the issues confronting First Nations communities include sub-standard health care, inadequate and sub-standard housing, inadequate employment opportunities, poverty, violence, racism, etc. These studies clearly attribute this set of deplorable conditions to the actions and inactions of consecutive Canadian governments.

Raiding Mohawk communities and seizing tobacco products does nothing to address the day-to-day issues confronting First Nations people. In fact, such activities actually contribute to worsening the oppressive conditions under which First Nations people live by depriving families of their livelihood as well as assaulting their dignity and violating their inherent rights.

Military and police incursions onto First Nations territories are not a solution to the long standing issues confronting these communities. Moreover such actions shame non-First Nations people, many of whom reject complicity in a centuries-old genocide project.

Your government has the option of creating a disaster that would rival the Oka Crisis, Gustafson Lake and the murder of Dudley George put together. Or you can decide to deal with First Nations communities in a way that is proactive, peaceful and respectful, for the first time in Canadian history. KWIA, supportgroup for indigenous peoples, strongly urge you opt for the latter of the two choices.

Signed,
Roels Martina
For KWIA