Unity flag

It's known as the Unity Flag

People are being played by mainstream media - it's not a Mohawk Warriors flag,
it's a Unity flag.
Read and please inform yourself.

The flag (image above) which is falsely labelled by the mainstream media, activists, and even some Natives as the Mohawk Warriors flag, is the Unity flag. It represents the coming together of all peoples of the Original Nations of Great Turtle Island, North America, A'nowara'ko:wa.

The flag itself was inspired by Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall who designed it. See the original artwork (third sketch down on the left).

Louis Karoniaktajeh Hall also created a painting of "The Indian Flag -- Designed for all Indian Nations. Single feather means 'all of one mind'. Deganawida wanted all Indians to be under the Great Law of Peace (Kaiahereh'ko:wa). Equality for all Indian Nations."

You will note the "Warrior" wears one single feather, and has long hair. Long hair was not worn traditionally by Mohawks. Nor do Mohawks wear a single feather. The short-haired version, which also shows a man with a single feather, doesn't depict a Mohawk either. It depicts an Indigenous man, and represents Unity, that's why it's known as the Unity flag.

The long-haired version of the Unity flag, sometimes called the Mi'kmaq Warrior flag, was first carried by the Mi'kmaq L'nuk peoples at Burnt Church.

According to Iroquoian tradition and traditions of some other Original nations, all adult males are warriors. That's not exclusive to a gender either, since women also can choose / be chosen to be warriors. That word, "Warrior" is a very bad translation of the word Rotihskenhrakehte which means "men who carry the bones on their backs" (according to some sources), it also means "those who carry the peace". It could be interpreted as those who bear the burden put on men from time immemorial to protect the women, the children, the elders, to protect and defend the land and the Original peoples from those who would do harm; it is a responsibility and commitment to generations past and future generations "the coming faces". It also signifies a committment to maintaining peace which includes peaceful relationship with others.

It's also the duty of the men of the community. We don't have a military, we don't have soldiers, we don't have paid mercenaries, we don't hire security guards: we have the men of our community, of our communities, of our nations: our brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, husbands, our sons, nephews, and grandsons who are charged with this. The original homeland security are our relations.

A:nen

credit for image of painting google cache of kahnawakelonghouse.com

tags: aboriginal, burnt church, caledonia, cayuga, community, defenders, equality, flag, great law of peace, great turtle island, haudenosaunee, iroquois, louis karoniaktajeh hall, indian, iroquois, l'nuk, mi'kmaq, mohawk, mohawk warriors, native, oka, one mind, oneida, onondaga, original nation, peace, protectors, responsibility, seneca, tuscarora, unity, warrior, warrior flag

Tiny url for this blog post: http://tinyurl.com/3wujkl2

The Origin of the Iroquois Nations

The Origin of the Iroquois Nations
Iroquois Native American Lore

About 1390, today's State of New York became the stronghold of five powerful Indian tribes. They were later joined by another great tribe, the Tuscaroras from the south. Eventually the Iroquois, Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas joined together to form the great Iroquois Nation. In 1715, the Tuscaroras were accepted into the Iroquois Nation.

The Five Nations

Long, long ago, one of the Spirits of the Sky World came down and looked at the earth. As he travelled over it, he found it beautiful, and so he created people to live on it. Before returning to the sky, he gave them names, called the people all together, and spoke his parting words:

"To the Mohawks, I give corn," he said. "To the patient Oneidas, I give the nuts and the fruit of many trees. To the industrious Senecas, I give beans. To the friendly Cayugas, I give the roots of plants to be eaten. To the wise and eloquent Onondagas, I give grapes and squashes to eat and tobacco to smoke at the camp fires."

Many other things he told the new people. Then he wrapped himself in a bright cloud and went like a swift arrow to the Sun. There his return caused his Brother Sky Spirits to rejoice.

The Six Nations

Long, long ago, in the great past, there were no people on the earth. All of it was covered by deep water. Birds, flying, filled the air, and many huge monsters possessed the waters.

One day the birds saw a beautiful woman falling from the sky. Immediately the huge ducks held a council.

"How can we prevent her from falling into the water?" they asked. After some discussion, they decided to spread out their wings and thus break the force of her fall. Each duck spread out its wings until it touched the wings of other ducks. So the beautiful woman reached them safely.

Then the monsters of the deep held a council, to decide how they could protect the beautiful being from the terror of the waters. One after another, the monsters decided that they were not able to protect her, that only Giant Tortoise was big enough to bear her weight. He volunteered, and she was gently placed upon his back. Giant Tortoise magically increased in size and soon became a large island.

After a time, the Celestial Woman gave birth to twin boys. One of them was the Spirit of Good. He made all the good things on the earth and caused the corn, the fruits, and the tobacco to grow. The other twin was the Spirit of Evil. He created the weeds and also the worms and the bugs and all the other creatures that do evil to the good animals and birds.

All the time, Giant Tortoise continued to stretch himself. And so the world became larger and larger. Sometimes Giant Tortoise moved himself in such a way as to make the earth quake.

After many, many years had passed by, the Sky-Holder, whom Indians called Ta-rhu-hia-wah-ku, decided to create some people. He wanted them to surpass all others in beauty, strength, and bravery. So from the bosom of the island where they had been living on moles, the Sky-Holder brought forth six pairs of people.

The first pair were left near a great river, now called the Mohawk. So they are called the Mohawk Indians. The second pair were told to move their home beside a large stone. Their descendants have been called the Oneidas. Many of them lived on the south side of Oneida Lake and others in the valleys of Oneida Creek. A third pair were left on a high hill and have always been called the Onondagas.

The fourth pair became the parents of the Cayugas, and the fifth pair the parents of the Senecas. Both were placed in some part of what is now known as the State of New York. But the Tuscaroras were taken up the Roanoke River into what is now known as North Carolina. There the Sky-Holder made his home while he taught these people and their descendants many useful arts and crafts.

The Tuscaroras claim that his presence with them made them superior to the other Iroquois nations. But each of the other five will tell you, "Ours was the favoured tribe with whom Sky-Holder made his home while he was on the earth."

The Onondagas say, "We have the council fire. That means that we are the chosen people."

As the years passed by, the numerous Iroquois families became scattered over the state, and also in what is now Pennsylvania, the Middle West and southeastern Canada. Some lived in areas where bear was their principal game. So these people were called the Bear Clan. Others lived where beavers were plentiful. So they were called the Beaver Clan. For similar reasons, the Deer, Wolf, Snipe and Tortoise clans received their names.

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Archived: Sat Aug 26, 2006 5:52 am

NZ reverses opposition to UN DRIP

History is made!
New Zealand reverses opposition to U.N. Declaration on Indigenous Rights, U.S. reviewing stance
Kenneth Deer
Exclusive to Turtle Island News

UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK, N.Y.-The government of New Zealand announced its support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Monday at the opening ceremonies of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

New Zealand was one of the four governments that voted against the Declaration on September 13, 2007, along with Canada, Australia and the United States. This is good news for all Indigenous Peoples around the world as the Declaration becomes more and more entrenched in the UN system and supported by more states. Now that it changed its vote, and with Australia already endorsing the Declaration, that leaves Canada and the United States. Canada has announced in the recent Throne Speech that it intends to endorse the Declaration but when that will happen is not clear. The next possible date would be June 21st on Canada's National Aboriginal Day. That would leave the United States as the only country in the UN that has not endorsed the Declaration.

Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 11:54 AM
Turtle Island News
http://www.theturtleislandnews.com/

The Great Good Way

KAIANEREH'KO:WA

Ayonwatha Wampum Belt

THE GREAT GOOD WAY
known to the European invaders & settlers as
"The Iroquois Constitution" ~ "The Great Law of Peace"

This translation of Kaianereh'ko:wa should only be read
as a guide to understanding what it is about.

Part 1

The Great Binding Law
Rights, Duties and Qualifications of Lords
Election of Pine Tree Chiefs
Names, Duties and Rights of War Chiefs

Part 2

Clans and Consanguinity
Official Symbolism
Laws of Adoption
Laws of Emigration
Rights of Foreign Nations

Part 3

Rights and Powers of War
Treason or Secession of a Nation
Rights of the People of the Five Nations
Religious Ceremonies Protected
The Installation Song
Protection of the House
Funeral Addresses

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MNN on UN DRIP

UN "Rip-Off" Declaration of Indigenous Rights

MNN. July 4, 2006. Who do they think they're kidding? This is a rip-off of Indigenous people! Nothing less is acceptable to us Rotino'shon:ni / Iroquois than full acceptance into the UN as a nation equal to all the others. Otherwise, it's just a lot of "hot air" to stop us from getting in.

We are still under forced "colonial rule".

Who do we complain to when the UN violates us? We know we are being set up to be undermined even more. The UN is controlled by the multinational corporations. It looks like they're setting up a "World Indigenous Affairs" to control us, our lands and our resources. Conspicuously missing from this declaration is any acknowledgement of the fact that many of the United Nations members are still occupying territory stolen from Indigenous People through the oppressive colonial processes, which are still going on [and not being stopped by the UN]. Otherwise, they'd get off our land and go home. Why on earth does the UN need to say that Indigenous people have a right to be "citizens" of the states that's oppressing them and ripping them off? That's because the UN refuses to admit that they have recognized a whole lot of colonial states that have taken over Indigenous people's countries.

We still don't have any say, except maybe in an advisory capacity, with no way to enforce any violations. We can say "shame, shame on you" which doesn't bother the the thick-skinned insensitive parasites called colonizers. We have to accept submission to a colonial state in order to be heard. Control over us will be so far away that we can't even see it. They hope no one else will either. They won't respect our title to Turtle Island. It's just another layer of bureaucracy for us to plow through so we can have the edifying experience of being snubbed once more. [they'll have their feet on a clean empty desk and tell us, "That's not my department. You'll have to go across the globe to talk to so and so"].

The bottom line is we have to be compliant or we'll be ignored. What we're getting here is a watered down version of all our rights that are supposed to be in all the other UN conventions that are already being ignored. We have news for you, we are people too! Are the Rotino'shon:ni / Iroquois in fact being set back? We should declare that we do not go along with this counterfeit they call a "Declaration of Indigneous Human Rights". We want Canada and the U.S. to live up to the original relationship with us which is nation-to-nation. We don't want to become citizens of their states. It's a puff of smoke and a hall of mirrors, reflecting the same old colonial game.

Let's explain some of what the "Plain language" version of the Draft Declaration put out by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission really says.

It deals with self-determination, culture and language, education, health, housing, employment, land and resources, environment and development, intellectual and cultural property, indigenous law and treaties and agreements with governments.

We're seeing that there will be no nation-to-nation relationship which is the only way that the issues can be resolved. This is the only way there's a chance they can understand our ways of thinking.

The "plain language" version is intended to help indigenous communities, organisations and the general public understand the Draft Declaration.

It is actually insulting to our intelligence. It seems to assume that none of us are smart enough to understand this baffle gab. For indigenous people who are rooted to the soil, it's astounding to think that we have any more rights just because they say we have a right to a "country". This suggests we can be displaced.

The preamble lists some of the reasons, which led the United Nations to develop a declaration on indigenous peoples' rights. They want recognition of their rights as distinct peoples, including the right to self-determination, and the right to control development of their societies.

Do we need them to give us this "human right"? No! It's as human as the will to live. Self-determination is part of nature. It's the reason why the thistle seed grows into a thistle. It's the reason why a chicken egg hatches a chicken and not a lizard. Do they expect with this declaration that a lamb will grow into a jackass?

Rejection of the view that some peoples are better than others as racist and wrong.

We never thought or accepted that anyone was better than us. Oppression is a state of mine and it was enforced at gunpoint, with swords, cutlasses, ropes, chains, instruments of torture, laws, theft and economic monopolies.

Colonisation - indigenous peoples have been deprived of their human rights and freedoms and this has led to their colonisation and the taking of their land.

We still have title to our land but we're occupied. Colonization is a hoax enforced at gun point. We don't need fancy words. They just need to stop stepping on our feet and get off our land.

Respect - Recognition of the urgent need to respect the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly their rights to their land and resources.

No guarantee here. By the way, did they remember to mention they've taken everything and they don't think the resources are ours? If they really wanted to respect our resources, they'd give us our places at the table with all the other nations and conglomerations of lost souls.

Indigenous Organisations - indigenous peoples are getting together to end discrimination and oppression.

Now here is a real contradiction. If all people are equal, how could it make on jot of difference what the chosen few who get to speak at the UN dictate? The UN cannot end oppression and discrimination from above. It is their very concept of hierarchy that creates oppression. If they want to end their violations of human rights, they have to start behaving respectfully, give up all they've stolen from us and stop dictating to us. Invite us to help them to overcome their illnesses and delusions. It's like a drug addiction. There's no point in writing fine declarations of intent. You either kick the drug or you don't. The first step to overcoming addictions is to acknowledge that you have a problem. We don't see any acknowledgement here.

Environment - respect for indigenous peoples' knowledge can contribute to fair and lasting development and better management of the environment.

"Fair and lasting developing"! What do they mean by this? Last time we looked, their concept of development meant destroying the environment as we know it. If they're serious about respecting Indigenous people, they should set up a plan to restore the environment to the state it was in when they vandalized and stole it. Hey! Has anyone noticed the glaring omission in this document? There is not one word of remorse or apology for colonialism and there isn't even an announcement that it's over.

Fundamental Rights

Article 1: Human Rights - Indigenous peoples have the right to all the human rights and freedoms recognized in international law.

Who's going to enforce this and how? Here's another conspicuous absence. The colonial states that belong to the UN have proved themselves to be notoriously negligent in the past when it comes to restraining its citizens from violating our rights. Their response has generally been to legalize the violations that were committed. In fact, they are still claiming sovereignty over us on the basis of theft and murder by their citizens.

Article 2: Equality - Indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples. They must be free from discrimination.

Statements like this actually serve to validate and reinforce the old way of looking at things. Instead of acting on the ideals they profess and inviting us to the table as equals, they just announce that we should be treated as equals and leave us shut out in the cold. What's the big deal? Are they afraid that if they sit beside us to eat an apple, that somehow they wont be fed?

Article 3: Self-determination - Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination.

This is a gross attempt to usurp the power of nature. All people are born as they were conceived. All have a right to be, whether or not anyone cares to pronounce on the matter. No one can give anyone else the right to self-determination. It is an innate instinct that asserts itself even before birth and continues when we take our first breath. The pine seed produces a pine tree. A human produces a human. Do they think that any palaver at the UN is going to change that?

This means they can choose their political status and the way they want to develop.

Here's a piece of two-face hypocrisy. We Mohawks have chosen our status as nations equal to others. Our confederacy applied for membership in the League of Nations in 1923 and also for membership in the United Nations. But we haven't even been allowed to present our case. How does this qualify as "free choice of our political status"? As a matter of fact, we are being attacked over this very issue at Six Nations right now.

Article 4: Distinct Characteristics - Indigenous peoples have the right to keep and develop their distinct characteristics and systems of law. How can we do this when the colonists have illegally forced their system of subjugation over us and our land?"

We want our original jurisdiction over our land, ourselves, our resources and so on which we never gave up according to international law.

They also have the right, if they want, to take part in the life of the rest of the country.

Yeah. It's always been that way. We've heard of this before. It's called "assimilation" or "civilization" depending on which generation is saying it. What about our right to be left alone with our possessions? This has not been respected. To become Canadians! Is this held out as a privilege, to become a sell-out colonist? We constantly rejected this and they still don't get it. Canadians don't want to be Americans!

Article 5: Citizenship - Every indigenous person has the right to be a citizen of a country.

Just a minute! That's what we're fighting against. We are citizens of our own nations. Yet we are still being forced to become citizens of foreign colonial societies. A "Citizen" is a "freeman of a city". Why would we want to live in cities when we are rooted in the land of our ancestors?

There is much disagreement over what self-determination means. Indigenous peoples base their claims to self-determination on the fact that they were the first peoples in their territories.

What's wrong with that? Self-determination means the right of indigenous peoples to choose their political status and to make decision about their own development. Determined by who? No, we base self-determination on our essential belongingness to nature. We have the same right to self-determination as an oak tree to a newt. And we don't intend to start laying dinasaur eggs

Some governments reject the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination or try to limit its scope. They are fearful of independence movements and the possibility of national disintegration.

Why should colonists continue their oppressions and theft of everything of ours in their sight? Well, the one thing they forget is that if a nation is a nation, they remain a nation, no matter what! A pine forest will not become a flock of geese. (Though at this point this declaration seems about to produce a bucket of vomit).

Indigenous representatives at the UN consider this view to be racist and discriminatory. The UN Charter and the main human rights instruments state self-determination as a right of all peoples.

Aw, shut up!

Article 6: existence - Indigenous peoples have the right to live in freedom, peace and security.

Even if we're in one of your colonial jails for defending these very freedoms as so many of us are? Can we reclaim our stolen possessions? Is that possible? Or is that another jail term for us?

They must be free from genocide and other acts of violence.

How will this stop Canada from attacking us for justly reclaiming our land, from listening to our phone conversation and interfering with our emails just for telling it like it is?

Governments shall prevent the taking of their land and resources.

Like Canada helping DeBeers Diamonds and other resource development companies to steal from and destroy Northern communities like Kashechewan. The Crees are being removed from their land and being brutalized for not going along with DeBeers and Canada's theft from their traditional territory. They have been removed from their communities by coercion.

Writing about this piece of trash called the Draft Declaration of Indigenous Rights is getting boring. Everyone gets the general idea that the United Nations wants to maintain colonialism, does not want to stop the genocide by respecting our constitutional jurisdiction over our land, does not want to respect our title and rights over all our land and resources, will not stop states from forcing their laws and taxation of our labor and goods on us and our land. Our people will continue to be killed, jailed and vilified for standing up for our inherent powers to our sovereignty, lands and resources.

In other words, they will not recognize our nations as equal to any other in the world and will not make the colonists deal with us on a nation-to-nation basis. Yes, they will let us do our songs, chants, dances and wear our "customs" for their entertainment. Our cultural property, Turtle Island, will continue to be occupied and environmentally devastated by the colonizers.

This is a whitewash to help the corporate takeover of the world. It's a distraction and a red herring. What they're really doing is depriving more and more people and putting us into subordinate positions. It's stopping people from noticing what's really going on. They've created a delusion so no one will notice that we are one of the last little problems that need to be "cleaned up" and put in our place.

The bottom line is that real legality is not coercive. It means that everybody has to be on the same page. This is a document meant to work under the coercive laws of the colonizers. If there was a real intention to decolonize and to treat us as equal human beings, it would not take this form. We would be told about the "big" meetings that are happening and would be invited to sit at the table as equal nations of the world.

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
kahentinetha AT mohawknationnews.com

via: Native News North
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Archived: Sun Jul 9, 2006 5:58 pm

AFN: Draft DRIP Moves Forward

ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS

Transmitted by CNW Group on : June 29, 2006 16:08
Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Moves Forward
Despite Canadian Government Interference

OTTAWA, June 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations in Canada are welcoming the historic decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to back the adoption of the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

However, these organizations also expressed their deep frustration and disappointment with the Canadian government's efforts to stall this much-needed and long overdue human rights instrument. Canada called the vote as a pre-emptive move against the Declaration's passage, but in the end Canada was one of only two countries to vote against the Declaration.

Instead, the Council voted to bring the proposed Declaration forward for possible adoption by the UN General Assembly later this year. The vote was 30 in favour and 2 against (with 12 abstentions and 3 absent).

"Canada's opposition to the Declaration has soured the first meeting of the Human Rights Council," says Beverly Jacobs, President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. "The Council was created in the hope that states would set aside domestic considerations and work impartially to advance the human rights of all. It's a bitter disappointment that Canada would mar the very first session by openly pursuing a dubious domestic agenda."

The Canadian government was an active participant in the Working Group that drafted the current text and, in recent years, had a played a critical role in building state support for the principles of the draft Declaration. The current government has tried to explain its sudden opposition by claiming that some provisions of the Declaration are incompatible with Canadian law. It has not provided any substantiation of this claim. Canada had failed also in an earlier attempt to bring forward a counter-resolution to have the decision on the Declaration delayed so it could be re-opened for further negotiation. All of these moves damage Canada's international reputation as a leader in Indigenous and human rights.

Indigenous peoples' organizations that have participated in the Working Group point out that not only is the Declaration a non-binding, aspirational statement that would not override any domestic laws, it also contains specific assurances, introduced by Canada, that its provisions must be interpreted in a fair and balanced manner that respects basic principles of human rights, democratic society and good government.

"We are outraged that Canada would demonstrate such bad faith in opposing a text that it helped write," says Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada "It is even more astounding that Canada would then try to persuade other states that another round of negotiations is needed. It was fortunate - though embarrassing for all Canadians - that Canada quickly found itself isolated on a Council that was prepared to move forward with a principled defence of Indigenous peoples' human rights."

Strong international support for the Declaration is an important step forward in countering the widespread racism and discrimination that threatens the survival and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide. The draft Declaration clearly affirms that Indigenous peoples must not be arbitrarily denied the right of self-determination, which is recognized in international law as a universal right of all peoples. The Declaration also affirms diverse rights regarding lands, territories and resources that are essential to the cultural identities of Indigenous peoples and the fulfillment of their basic human rights.

"This is an historic day for Indigenous peoples around the globe," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine. "We are grateful that the Council has recognized the importance and urgency of moving ahead with human rights protections for Indigenous peoples. It is very unfortunate that in trying to stand in the way of the Declaration, Canada has done so much harm to its credibility and influence on a Council that it worked so hard to create."

The Declaration has been under development for more than two decades. The current proposal, which emerged from an 11-year-long Working Group process, has been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People and by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It has also been supported by a wide range of states worldwide, including states such as Norway and Denmark which, like Canada, have a history of negotiation and treaty-making with Indigenous peoples.

Source: Native News North
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Archived: Fri Jun 30, 2006 6:43 pm

UN overrides Canada over native rights

UN overrides Canada over native rights

Associated Press
Published: Thursday, June 29, 2006

GENEVA -- The new UN Human Rights Council on Thursday overrode Canadian and Russian objections and passed a declaration to protect the rights of native peoples around the world, including an assertion that they have a possible right to restitution for land and resources taken from them.

By 30-2 vote, the body approved the declaration that said indigenous people should be free from discrimination and that they have a right "to consider themselves different and to be respected as such." A dozen countries abstained and three were absent.

A coalition of indigenous people who had been campaigning heavily in favour of passage had complained that Canada, a former supporter of the declaration, had switched sides after the Conservative party ousted the Liberals earlier this year.

They said Canada thus joined the United States, Australia and New Zealand -- all countries with significant native populations -- in opposing the declaration. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand, however, have no vote because they are not members of the 47-nation council, which began its first session last week.

The council replaced the widely discredited 53-country UN Human Rights Commission.

© Associated Press 2006

Source 

Archived: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:57 pm