The Drummer not only serves its community by keeping it up to date on news, but it acts as a repository of history and culture. As the oral traditions have died out, the paper is stepping in to fill the role of story teller, ensuring that important information is kept in circulation. It’s one thing for the children to learn about it the schools, but another altogether for it to be a daily way of life. Reminders such as those offered by The Drummer instill life and relevance into their people’s ways and past.
Visit The Drummer here and continue your education in all things Hau-de-no-sau-nee.
I have a friend from the territory who I haven’t seen for years, but it’s not a good thing to be asking about him when I go out there. He and his family have been thorns in the side of the Chief and his cronies for too long. I’m a stranger there and I don’t know who’s who on the political debate side of things. When you're just visiting the territory to buy cheap cigarettes, you stay out of those matters.
My friend works hard at being as traditional as possible, while fighting for his people in the modern world. He always consults his grandmother, who is his clan chief, on important decisions; refers to bleached flour and tea as two of the biggest poisons brought over by the Europeans, even though they have become “traditional” foods; is periodically thrown in jail for occupying places he shouldn’t; and has standing in courts across Canada to speak on native issues, even though he’s not a lawyer. (He once got a group of Mohawks off on a minor trespassing charge. They had been arrested for setting up camp on Parliament Hill. My friend argued that since the Supreme Court of Canada had recognised the land underneath the Parliament buildings as belonging to the Algonquin, and since they had permission from Algonquin elders to be there, what right did the police have to chase them away?).
People like him will bring about a better life for his people. One of their biggest heartaches is fighting the inertia that can set in when a people have been down so long. Each victory, no matter how trivial, is one more thing to be celebrated. After so many years of defeats, victories are important, if only to show that they are possible.
On sale in one of the gift shops the last time I went out there was something a little out of the ordinary. It caught my eye as being different. Spread out on a table were four plastic covered documents with signatures scrawled across them. They were autographed copies of a judgment from the Supreme Court of Canada. It was the case that gave full status rights to the Metis (mixed bloods) of Canada.
Article comments
1 - Cris Bomberry
Sago! Interesting site. One comment about the Mohawk Warrior Flag. It is not a Mohawk Warrior Flag. It is a Native Unity Flag or Warrior Flag. All nations, even outside of the Six Nations use this. It is just another one of those misrepresentations that still continues, just like the word "Indian" (I am sure glad Columbus wasn't looking for Turkey! hehe)
Also women cannot be clan chiefs, they are clan mothers who pick the chiefs.
Nia:Wen
Cris
Mohawk Bear Clan
2 - Richard Marcus
Hi Cris,
I was told by another member of the Bear Clan that the flag in question is the flag of the Mohawk people not a Warrior flag. It was at a PowWow in Kingston, Ont, and as the flags were being presented during the Grand Entry, this huge man came rolling up to the arbor. He waited until there was a pause in the action, and approached the M.C. and made this statement.
He is from a very traditional family, rare in this part of the world, and was visibly upset at hearing his flag be misrepresented as a "Warrior" flag-From that time in Kingston and all surounding Pow-Wows the flag has been flown in honour of the Mohawk peoples who live in the area.
Sorry about the caln chief thing, I worded that wrong-my mistake.
Nia:Wen
Richard