Haudenosaunee Confederacy Grand Council's
Stand on Elected Band Councils
Greetings from the Chiefs, Clanmothers, Faithkeepers, and people of the
Haudenosaunee Six Nations Confederacy – People of the Longhouse.
The Grand Council of Chiefs would like to take this time to remind its citizens of the
Haudenosaunee position on imposed elected Band and Tribal councils and our proposed
remedy to standardize governance within the domain of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
From the moment elected councils were imposed in our communities, its primary intent
was to abolish the strength and national character of our traditional governments and to assist
in the enfranchisement and assimilation of the Haudenosaunee into the national fabric of both
Canada and the United States. It has since been the position of the Haudenosaunee that
elected councils imposed by either Canada or the United States, exist outside the Circle
Wampum. No one person or nation can bring into the Circle another form of governance
without the full expressed acceptance of the Grand Council.
The Circle Wampum makes the line between traditional councils and elected councils
clear and distinct; the traditional councils are the original governments of the Haudenosaunee
communities/nations handling national affairs, while the elected councils are imposed systems
of the Indian Act in Canada and Federal Indian Law in the United States for the
administration of colonial policies in each community. Within recent years however, these
elected councils have begun commandeering the distinct symbols, philosophies, and national
character of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – thus misrepresenting themselves to
external agencies and the limiting [of] the significance of the Haudenosaunee as an original
Indigenous system of governance.
Whether it is reference to the Two Row Wampum, treaties, nation-to-nation relationships,
or the subtle implication that these elected councils are somehow synonymous with the
Haudenosaunee Confederacy or the Traditional Councils; this ambiguity has not perpetuated a
false impression and confusion both externally and internally that elected councils are actually
a part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Most recently, these elected councils have endeavoured into the international arena, a
domain populated by nations and states, through a formal entity called the Iroquois Caucus,
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and The United Southern and Eastern Tribes
(USET). Since 1977, the Haudenosaunee have pioneered the Indigenous presence at the
United Nations and other international venues, leading towards the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples; a presence the Iroquois Caucus, NCAI, and USET endeavours
to supplant by perpetuating itself as the legitimate voice of our communities internationally
and will act in the interest of their colonial masters Canada and the United States.
The Grand Council of Chiefs feels that it can no longer remain acquiescent on this matter
and must insist that the appropriation of the Haudenosaunee national character cease.
Furthermore, the Grand Council of Chiefs must relay to its neighbours that the Iroquois
Caucus and its tributary elected councils, along with both the NCAI and USET, do not
represent the Haudenosaunee or its member nations. While the Grand Council or Chiefs feels
that it must be firm on this matter, our council reminds elected councils of the Haudenosaunee
remedy to standardize governance in our communities under the Kaianere'k6:wa (Great Law
of Peace).
In 1991, the Haudenosaunee Chiefs outlined its prerequisites to begin meaningful dialogue
on how we can all live by the principles and laws of the kaianere'k6:wa, within the the
Longhouse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. At that time, Haudenosaunee Chiefs asked the
elected councils to respect and recognize its authority over eight political areas it historically
claims jurisdiction over. While we understand that at this time Canada and the United States
only recognize the legitimacy of elected councils, we feel this will never change so long as
our own people wilfully accept this colonial imposition. The Grand Council of Chiefs remains
steadfast to this necessary show of good faith and is prepared to begin the necessary work to
help decolonize the political structures in each of our communities.
This issue is challenging in many ways because of the personal impact this has on
individuals who have a heartfelt connection to the Haudenosaunee and wish to express it in
ways that they think is helpful. What is not realized is that by representing the Haudenosaunee
within colonial constructs it furthers the colonial agenda of Canada and United States. The
elective systems are foreign entities that are colonizing the culture by misappropriation.
Placing our teachings, laws, and symbols within the colonial construct of the elective band
council system is morphing decolonization into a meaningless apparition of cultural
revitalization and transformation.
The Kaianere'k6:wa is based upon inclusivity, peaceful co-existence, and strength through
unity bound by laws that ensure a democratic and consensual decision-making process. The
Grand Council of Chiefs makes no judgements of the moral character or sincerity of those
individuals who currently serve as elected councillors, but we do encourage them to bring
their gifts, skills, and dedication back into the canoe and take shelter beneath the Great Tree
of Peace. Bound together by the good tidings of peace and power, we can be stronger than
ever.
Dane'thoh, Chief Sidney Hill, Tadodah&l
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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