FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TSI’KANATA:HERE, — Mohawk University, a learning organization dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of the Mohawk Nation of Grand River, is proud to unveil two transformative initiatives designed to empower our community and foster collaboration with all parties involved.

Drivers Program

The Mohawk University Drivers Program represents a significant step forward in securing the rights of the Mohawk Nation of Grand River and ensuring the exclusive use and enjoyment of our ancestral lands, under operation of the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784. This program is not merely about services but, rather, the affirmation of our sovereignty and the preservation of our heritage.

Through the Drivers Program, we aim to equip Mohawk individuals with the tools and knowledge ...

Introduction

Land acknowledgments have surged in popularity in recent years as a way for organizations and individuals to recognize and honor the traditional indigenous territories upon which they reside. These acknowledgments can take various forms, from verbal statements to written declarations, and they aim to provide an honest and historically accurate representation of a place's indigenous heritage. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly noble practice lies a complex web of historical negationism, erasure, and potential harm. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of land acknowledgments, exploring their origins, intentions, and the controversies that surround them.

Understanding the Historical Context

To comprehend the significance of land acknowledgments, it is crucial to grasp the historical context in which ...

The legal doctrine of "Laches" concerns negligence in fulfilling a duty or taking advantage of an opportunity. Specifically, it refers to an undue delay in asserting a legal right or privilege. This defense is often raised by defendants in civil disputes to argue that the claimant has waited too long to assert their rights and therefore, should not be entitled to pursue an equitable claim.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was enacted to address the issue of "Misprision of Treason," which served as a punishment for colonial officials and judges who assumed jurisdiction prematurely. The proclamation aimed to prevent the deceptive acquisition of Indian land without their consent. Prematurely assuming jurisdiction is akin to prematurely assuming innocence.

The concept of an ...

Deep in the heart of the Grand River, a unique community thrives in a land that remains untouched by Canadian sovereignty. The Mohawks, possessing total autonomy and exclusive use of their acquired territory, continue to assert their separate legal position. Despite their distinct status, the Canadian government erroneously assumes the Mohawks are citizens and residents of Ontario. In this article, we explore the historical significance of the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, the legal basis for Mohawk possession, and the challenges they face in maintaining their self-governance.

The Haldimand Proclamation and Mohawk Autonomy

The Haldimand Proclamation, issued in 1784, granted the Mohawk people a gift of deed and assured them status quo ante bellum. This historic pledge, reaffirmed by Canada in ...

In a world where it's easy to lose your identity, Benjamin Doolittle UE was able to find evidence that he was the legal heir of the lands acquired by a special treaty known as the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784. In honorable style and gracefulness, he talks about the importance of knowing his history and how it shapes him as an individual.

The Haldimand Proclamation (1784) establishes the legal legitimacy of Mohawk people and those living on the grand river lands; these lands were set apart prior to the creation of the province of Ontario, Canada. This proclamation was created following a ratified pledge with the British government signed in 1779. The treaty granted "status quo ante bellum" control of large ...

As more and more businesses invade treaty lands, the Mohawk nation of Grand River are been forced to take matters into their own hands. The reason? The encroaching businesses are violating the terms of the treaty that was supposed to protect the rights of Kanien’kehá:ka people forever—but it hasn’t worked out that way in practice. Instead, Kanien’kehá:ka people find themselves struggling to defend their rights and preserve their way of life from ruthless developers who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

The business of exploitation

The business of exploiting someone else's riparian rights is a lucrative one. After all, riparian boundary disputes are often complex and expensive to litigate. And, if a business can get away with ...

Following the American Revolution, many Loyalists fled north of the American border to avoid persecution from the Rebels and the new American government, including many Mohawk people who had fought on the side of the British Crown. To secure Mohawk support Haldimand signed the ratified Pledge of 1779 assuring that Mohawks would be restored to the state they were in before the war broke out. In order to entice them further north, Lieutenant Governor Frederick Haldimand signed an official proclamation known as the Haldimand Proclamation that was used to acquire the Grand River and valley lands for these Mohawk people and "their posterity to enjoy forever".

In the aftermath of war, loss, and change, many Loyalists found themselves displaced. Between ...

In 1493, the year after Columbus made his great or at least so-called discovery, the Roman Catholic Church proclaimed the natural law governing questions of legal rights between natives and newcomers. Because, at that time, the church was universal in Europe the declaration of natural law determining international law.

The declaration took the form of formal legislation, a papal bull entitled Inter Cetera. It enacted that aboriginal people were not humans with souls but rather animals without souls and, for this reason, without rights either of jurisdiction or property in the lands of the new world.

Controversy raged in European legal circles. Not all Europeans had the same attitude of rapaciousness and racism. There was another faction, that saw the ...

There has been an increasing number of Ontario homeowners who have bought property on the Haldimand Tract not knowing there are risks involved with doing so. The land, known to the Canadian government as Haldimand Tract, was granted by the British crown to the Mohawk posterity in 1784. Since then, it has been inhabited by both Indians and non-Indians alike who have used the land to fulfill their needs and desires such as farming, logging, and hunting.

As an open advocate for Grand River and Treaty rights, I am often asked by Ontarians whether they should buy property on the Haldimand Tract. The answer is not always simple, as there are a number of potential risks that Ontario homeowners should be ...

The Six Nations Council (SNC) issued a press release claiming that they are the sole real party in interest to land in Haldimand Tract.

While the Six Nations Council may have some rights to the land, the Grand Back Project, a group of Mohawks who live in the area says that those rights are not valid because there is no official documentation proving that the SNC has any rights to the land.

The Mohawk posterity has been fighting for the recognition of their rights to the land for years, and they are not going to give up without a fight.

Recently Brantford proposed a lands transfer tax share concept that would see a portion of lands transfer tax diverted to ...