Natives must determine immigration policy

Page 5

Dear Editor:

An unnatural, cold, ruthlessness is entering the innermost parts of Canadian hearts as they reveal a deep reluctance to show compassion in order to save the lives of the Chinese boat people caught at sea while they were being smuggled into British Columbia. Certain imprisonment or death awaits them in Communist China if they are sent back.

How can Canadians say 'Send them back. So what if they're imprisoned or they die. That's their problem. We must stop this flow of illegal immigrants into Canada. Such desperate fear-driven people are not welcome in this country.'

As a Mohawk Indian, my people over the last 500 years have shown great compassion for fleeing refugees coming to the North American shores from all over the world. Our hearts always went out to those running from the deadly persecution in their homelands. The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor symbolizes what North America has always meant to the world elsewhere, a world too often held in the chains of bondage and totalitarian cruelty. This continent is seen as a haven, a place where freedom reigns, always welcoming those seeking asylum from persecution and death.

During negotiations of treaties that determined land-sharing arrangements between the chiefs of my ancestors, and the spokesmen for the immigrants from across the Great Salt Waters, the parties always acknowledged the God of Creation, and always mentioned Him in the written documents. God was the silent, but always present, third party in the agreements. He acted as surety for these divinely-sanctioned land-use treaties that they would remain in force into the distant future.

The blessing bestowed upon North America is because our people recognized that all blessings come down from above, from the Creator of heaven and earth through His son, Jesus Christ.

North America today is crossed by thousands of miles of modern highways that are surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful green lushness. The transportation system sees endless processions of fast moving transport trucks constantly distributing with unbelievable efficiency this continent's natural bounty. Every day, millions of tons of fruit, vegetables, cattle, meats, poultry, grains and other necessities of life flow quickly to the millions of hungry people living in huge metropolitan cities scattered across this continent.

North Americans live in a paradise. The rest of the world fights poverty, disease, pestilence, famines, death, and wars, while we in North America live in unimaginable wealth, safety and freedom. Everyone in the world, including the Chinese, wants to partake of this North American paradise.

Television gives the entire world a glimpse of North American opulence, of our material blessings, and they see legal freedoms far beyond anything they could ever hope to see in their own countries. The world marvels, asking "Why is North America so blessed in comparison to the rest of the world?"

North America is a protected place because of "Kanostathon", a Mohawk word meaning "a home with lots of corn." It is a sanctuary, a protected place, where God put His protective hands over the lands as a covering, because the people here continue to recognize God's supremacy in the divine order of things.

Mohawk Pentecostal preacher Rev. Andrew Maracle from the Tyendinaga Reserve near Belleville, Ont. began teaching this divine principle just before he died, saying that as long as we honor God, the Father, and His son, Jesus Christ, we will be blessed and protected.

Canada is peopled mostly by immigrant stock. These people came to our lands usually because of hardship in their own lands. They prospered here. Now they, as visitors, are trying to assume the position as owners and want to kick out these boat people.

The Indians of North America were given custody and stewardship over the lands by Shonkwaiatishon, whose name means "He who made us" in the Mohawk language. Jean Chretien and his cabinet must go to the Aboriginal peopes and ask them who should be allowed into North America? It is not the immigrants who should determine immigration policy for Canada.

I for one do not want to send these Chinese people back to certain death or imprisonment at the hands of these dictators running China. Let them stay.

Frank Taiotekane Horn