[Marxism] Kahentinetha Horn: The Onkwehonwe Democratic Agenda

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A powerful statement by indigenous people of North America who are trying to
develop a genuine revolutionary perspective for that region.  I have my
questions on some points (I believe another Mexico is possible and may be
taking shape, for instance, and also my individual experience leads me to
suspect that "consensus" in the current social context may be sort of a
soggy,  let's-all-just-get-along version of "political homogeneity."
Fred Feldman

Socialist Voice
Number 119, March 28, 2007                                
Kahentinetha Horn: The Onkwehonwe Democratic Agenda

Kahentinetha Horn is a longtime indigenous rights activist from the Mohawk
Nation. She was involved in the 1962 Conference on Indian Poverty in
Washington D.C., the blocking of the International Bridge at Akwesasne in
1968, and other indigenous rights campaigns.

In the summer of 1990, she was behind the Canadian Army razor wires that
surrounded the Mohawk compound in Kanehsatake. This was the historic Mohawk
land rights struggle that became known as the "Oka Crisis." After almost 20
years of service, Kahentinetha was fired by the Department of Indian Affairs
for her involvement there.

More recently Kahentinetha has been involved with the Kahnawake Elders
Council, and was active at the Six Nations Land reclamation near Caledonia,
Ontario, publishing and distributing almost daily accounts of the
developments there.

Kahentinetha Horn is an editor for Mohawk Nation News, a daily news service
that she founded during the Oka crisis. Recently, Mohawk Nation News came
online. It features articles on Mohawk struggles and other issues affecting
indigenous people across turtle island and beyond. Check out the site at
www.mohawknationnews.com.

An earlier version of this article was published on Mohawk Nation News on
February 26th 2007.


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The Onkwehonwe Democratic Agenda
By Kahentinetha Horn

We've been complaining about the top-down bureaucratic agenda of the
colonizers. Do we have something to replace it? Yes we do. It's called the
"Kaianerehkowa/Great Law of Peace" [the constitution of the Six Nations
Iroquois Confederacy].

Our philosophy can be used to build a society based on peace, power and
righteousness. These words have meanings that are deeply rooted in our
culture and completely different from the kinds of expectations they raise
among the colonized. Our understanding of these concepts has nothing in
common with the command and obedience model of predatory capitalism or the
exploitation of ordinary people for the power and profit of a few. The new
(colonial) world order is opposite to our way of life based on the
principles of fully informed consent and consensus in all our relationships.

Stephen Lendman, in CounterCurrent.org, describes how Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela has "constructed socialism from below", built "from the base" in
the communities." He has found a way to rebuild Venezuelan society. He wants
a coalition of smaller parties whose power comes from the communities.

Chavez thinks this is the way democracy should work. A lot of ordinary
people agree.

There are presently 16,000 regional federations of Communal Councils
organized across the country that deal with local issues. Each represent 200
to 400 families. That number is expected to grow to 21,000 councils by the
end of 2007. This new state is driven by the same basic philosophy of
egalitarian human respect that underlies the Kaianerehkowa.

A decentralized government will distribute billions of dollars to these
Councils. If the people so chose, billions can be put into a "National
Development Fund." Yellow journalism has been attacking this thinking. They
put fear into people's minds, calling it "nationalization", which is a dirty
word to capitalists and colonialists. Capitalism is a one way road for the
privileged few. Development of democratic programs look threatening to those
who are at the top of the old hierarchal heap.

As we assert our sovereignty, we have lots to think about. What can we
Onkwehonwe do with all our land and resources and all the squatters who are
here? The land belongs to us and our future generations. It always will. All
our resource revenues can be used to compensate the colonists fairly. The
rest can be put towards rebuilding a safe and healthy environment.

U.S., Canada and Mexico will, of course, become irrelevant. These cancerous
organizations don't belong. They are trying to kill the hosts. That's us.
Then they'll kill everybody else! Where will that leave them?

The old hierarchies will cling to their delusional powers. They will keep
their guns pointed at us and try to invent more lethal weapons. We'll have
to bring out the feathers and start tickling them so they can let down their
defenses and so they can grab a shovel and take part. If they don't, we
might have to ask them to leave. Their hysterical megalomania is getting
them involved in serious violations of international accords. If they're not
careful, they could be declared persona non grata worldwide.

With all the money from our land and resources, we could buy out the big
corporations so that we have the major shares, say 40%, as Chavez is doing.
The rest can be joint ventures with us. In other words, we want all these
companies under the control of the people. The colonists can have shares
after we take everything out of private control.

The people must control the energy sector, including oil production. Private
investors can still play a role. But it will be based on joint ventures that
include the people as decision makers, not just consumers.

The money should be put back into our hands, out of the hands of private
for-profit bankers. We would invest it into worthwhile projects that restore
and protect the land so that the coming generations can be healthy, happy
and prosperous. The days of genocide and exploitation are over. We must
benefit from our resource revenues and other businesses that provide
essential services like public utilities. Clean drinking water and fresh air
to breathe would be top priorities.

It goes without saying that Indian Affairs terrorism has to go. There is no
excuse for that organization to exist. Its very existence is founded on a
misinterpretation of the BNA Act, the constitution of Canada. Britain could
only give Canada the authority to negotiate with us. There is no authority
under the BNA Act, under international law, or under any treaty to make laws
for us.

We have to dismantle the "Tower of Terror" in Hull. Communal power at the
grass roots will be the order of the day. Kaianerehkowa can make this happen
and can be the start of a real egalitarian and humanistic society.

All social structures will have to be reorganized. Selections of local
officials, the economy, finance, banking, transportation, security, public
safety and policies related to energy are part of this. There is no need for
a top heavy governmental structure when everyone takes responsibility at all
levels.

The current colonial bureaucracy will have to be dismantled. Corruption and
greed are major problems. They are products of hierarchy. They will
naturally disappear when egalitarian democratic structures are put in place.

The changes needed aren't such a big deal. As long as existing
representatives are carrying out the will of the people, they may remain in
their positions.

All procedures and decision-making must be public and the work of all
administrative officials will be subject to constant review. They have to
look out for the people and their directions, instead of looking up to the
artificial bosses. They can be removed from office if they do not follow the
people's directions or heed our warnings. All must be given the experience
of being a representative so that we can all learn how to help the people.
It is important for everyone to learn how difficult it is to serve.

Social justice and economic independence must be based on equitable
distribution of national wealth. Education is most important. The habit of
censorship has to end. Racism must be eliminated from all school curricula.
All students need to learn our points of view on history. They have to know
what really happened to us. They have to know that this land belongs to us
and our future generations. Science and technology has to benefit all of the
people. So must health, the environment, biodiversity, industry, quality of
life and security. We have to take up our responsibility and take charge of
our own lives.

Social issues can and must be resolved through consensus. We will have to
rethink the need for a judiciary. We cannot give anyone power to harm civil
or human rights of our people or even of our opponents. Resources must be
taken care of, not exploited. The products of the land must be distributed
fairly. No one will become desperate enough to want to sell their soul to
the devil.

Our young people have a job to do. They can be part of the first wave of
reeducation. Every person has a responsibility throughout their lives to
educate the people they meet and the coming generations.

Our way is to manage our own relations with all other countries. The
colonial states are squatting on our land. They do not represent us.

The people they brought here do not need to fear us. We will not expropriate
private property. Right of occupancy can be given to people. The land will
always belong as it always has to the future generations of the Onkwehonwe.

We are hoping that the last days of the colonial system are at hand.
Democracy and colonialism cannot coexist. Colonialism is a military or
civilian "dictatorship" derived from a combination of isolation, overarching
greed and an attempt to pull local and global forces together to control all
the people and the resources of the world.

Savage capitalism is in its death throes. It is fighting to stay alive.
Because of this, it's becoming more and more vicious. It is important for
everyone to stay grounded at this time. We are all working for each other
and for the future generations.

The colonial nations are on the tipping edge of fascism. They combine
elements of corporatism, patriotism, nationalism and the delusion of an
Almighty-directed mission. It requires an iron-fisted militarist agenda with
thugs like "Homeland Security" illegally spying on everyone. In this system
everything is for sale to the few who can pay.

Colonialism is out of date, illegal and so yesterday. No longer will the
armies oppress and kill for the key resources, markets and cheap labor where
"might makes right" and any difference of opinion will not be tolerated.

Our youth are precious to us. The Los Angeles Times did a story about "A
wildly successful Venezuelan program that makes musical instruments and
training available, free of charge, to all children." This gives children
something constructive to do. Unlike the U.S. model that Canada copies, the
kids are exercising their minds instead of exercising their thumbs playing
video games.

Instead of a make-work program for police and social workers who try to slot
kids into a system of jail and imprisonment, Chavez created a musical
education program called "El Sistema." 500,000 children from all strata of
society get training at more than 120 centers around the country. More than
200 youth orchestras have been created. Training in music is known to
develop math skills in the young to prepare them later for professional
training. There's no problem keeping guns out of the kids' hands. They're
too busy making music. That Chavez knows what he is doing.

Instead of punishing youth, we inspire them. As the author, Paul Cummins,
put it, "We reap what we sow, and we don't harvest what we don't plant."

The Chavez approach is actually much less expensive than the multi-billion
dollar state-sponsored iron-fisted prison system and militarist Homeland
Security "thuggery."

Another savage effect of the capitalist hierarchy is homelessness. One-way
wealth distribution siphons everything upwards except for a few crumbs that
are handed to the middle class while nothing goes to the millions on the
bottom who are the most in need. They all hope we will just go away. We
won't. Neither will our needs. We come from a participatory tradition which
can eliminate the greedy fantasies of colonialism.

Many who come from repressive societies are unable to see a bottom-up model
of relationships. We have shown that we always resisted enslavement.

Free expression is part of an open democratic society. No more secrecy or
lies. No more corporate media support for capitalists and colonial states.
No more thought-control police to mock our efforts at free expression which
is vital to a healthy transition from tyranny to democracy. The "thought
police" don't want us to say what is on our minds. They don't want us to
think. We can and will do it because the Kaianerehkowa mandates it. People
in the far south of the border are trying to get back on the natural path
that has always been there, for us and for everyone. This can be done
without a war and without global interference.
 
  



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