The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke has issued the following statement regarding Ontario Provincial Police actions that took place this morning on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
“The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to express its outrage and disgust regarding the actions taken this morning on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
Today’s events took place despite an imminent solution that the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs were working on with the Federal and Provincial governments.
The MCK feels strongly that today’s police actions would not have taken place had Prime Minister Trudeau not made his inflammatory statements on Friday, leaving no doubt about his planned course of action. We cannot state strongly enough our extreme disappointment in the absolute lack of good faith shown by a Prime Minister who continually expresses his government’s priority is improving its relationship with Indigenous Peoples. What has happened over the past few days has, in fact, undone progress in building relations with Indigenous Peoples.
Our Peoples have remained peaceful throughout, demonstrating their support for the Wet’suwet’en, espousing openness and dialogue over confrontation. We have remained united, steadfast and continue to remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution. While the Prime Minister has stated that resolution is in the hands of Indigenous leaders, his reckless actions have resulted in an escalation of the situation.
We implore Canada’s leadership to take a moment to reflect and proceed with caution. It has become very obvious that use of injunctions and police against Indigenous people who are simply defending their own land from unwanted development will not produce a peaceful resolve.”