HISTORIC "GANIENKEH" - the attempted destruction of the "Indian Project"

08.10.2007

HISTORIC “GANIENKEH” – the attempted

destruction of the “Indian Project” by

Thomas Delaronde, Laureen Delaronde

and Mary Swamp

MNN. Oct. 8, 2007. According to the “Ganiekeh

Manifesto”, this territory was reclaimed by Indigenous people

across Turtle Island as well our brothers and sisters from

other parts of the world. Ganiekeh is located in Northern

New York State, in what is known as Clinton County, near

the town of Altona. It is ten minutes from the “imaginary

line” commonly called the Canada-U.S. border and twenty

minutes northwest of Plattsburgh NY.

In 1974 Mohawk people from the five Kanionkehaka

communities came together and repossessed a portion

of the 9 million acres of land that had been swindled by

the United States 200 years ago under what was known

as the “Mohawk Treaty of 1797”, was well as the “Seven

Nations of Canada Treaty” of 1796. Both are illegal. It was

the first time in modern history that the indigenous people

of Turtle Island had taken back our land and kept it.

The “Ganienkeh Indian Project” was sanctioned by the

Grand Council of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy.

It was to be a template for all future land restorations not

only by the Confederacy, but by all Indigenous people

throughout Turtle Island.

The “Ganienkeh Manifesto” which was enacted in 1974

stipulates that Ganiekeh shall be the home of the traditional

“Red Man” (Indigenous People of Turtle Island) and accorded

human and natural rights, “They shall exercise their

proven government and society according to their culture,

customs and traditions”. As well, “a cooperative economic

system shall prevail”.

Here, “They shall learn the superior morality of the ancient

ones”. This refers to the principles of respect and dignity which

is demanded between humans and creation.

It is estimated that in the past 33 years of its existence, 8,000

to 10,000 people have either lived, worked or shown their

support for Ganienkeh. Despite this stated basis for its

existence, today only 25 people currently reside in the community,

most of whom are the immediate family of Thomas Delaronde,

who has personally taken over Ganienkeh. No less than 500

families should now be residing in this community. What

happened?

If you ask any native person who has either worked or

resided in the community, they will tell you that their reason

for leaving was due to the mistreatment and at times physical

attacks on them or their families by Thomas Delaronde,

Laureen Delaronde, both formerly of Kahnawake, and recent

newcomer, Mary Swamp , formerly of Akwesasne.

There were businesses developed on the territory which have

been hijacked by Thomas Delaronde, Laureen Delaronde and

Mary Swamp. Basically nation businesses have become their

own private projects. It was stipulated in the “Manifesto” that

no private enterprises would operate in the territory. All projects

would be cooperatively owned by the Mohawk Nation. By

usurping control of the businesses, Thomas Delaronde, his

wife Loreen and Mary Swamp have used these finances to

control the residents and employees, both native and non-native.

This has become an estate-like community with a cult mentality

on the backs of our sovereignty and at the expense of native

families and our children. Even some of Thomas Delaronde’s

own children and grandchildren have either been driven out

or neglected. Some others of his close family members have

been financially and mentally coerced to carry out the atrocities

against his own people, chasing them out of the community by

force. In some cases, he provided arms to chase away or

threatened to kill his detractors on sight. This, of course,

violates the Great Law, international law and disrespects the

Iroquois Confederacy to its utmost extent.

To all Onkwehonwe and our allies, the Ganienkeh Project must

be returned to its original intent. It must not be allowed to be

the private enterprise of three individuals, Thomas Delaronde,

Laureen Delaronde and Mary Swamp. The must no longer be

allowed to act as judge, jury and executioner. Hey, these aren’t

even our institutions! They must be answerable to the charges

of violating the constitution, the manifesto, for theft of our land,

property and businesses and committing genocide against all

those who sacrificed their lives to bring this important project

into existence.

The land that Ganienkeh occupies belongs to the Mohawk

Nation. It is meant for the coming generations. The population

must be re-established under the jurisdiction and sovereignty

of the Great Law and its practices. Otherwise, this great project

will dissolve and the land will be annexed by New York State

and the U.S. government. We ask all Indigenous nations and

people to come together and not let this happen.

In order to continue its existence, the equal rights which

include the voice of the people must be heard within the

community so that the strong arm tactics, threats and

psychological abuse by Thomas Delaronde, Laureen

Delaronde and Mary Swamp will cease.

The “Turtle Island Trust”, which was an entity to act as

a “buffer” between the Ganienkeh Project and New York

State and the United States needs to be re-activated. The

current members of the trust are no longer active. They

need to be replaced by allies and supporters who will

make sure that the project continues and grows as

originally intended.

The people throughout the Confederacy who have either

taken part in the inception of Ganienkeh or saw the value

and necessity for Ganienkeh to continue should make

themselves known. We need to stop any foreign nation

or government or individuals like Thomas Delaronde,

Laureen Delaronde and Mary Swamp from interfering so

that Onkwehonwe people will continue to survive. We

urgently need to address this man-made disaster that has

befallen us through non-violent and peaceful means. The

foundation of Ganienkeh is, after all, “Peace, Power and

Righteousness”. We can make it happen.

To help and to comment, contact:

ganienkehrestoration@hotmail.com

MNN Mohawk Nation News

Background: See 'Historic “Ganienkeh” Reclamation

of 33 Years Ago' on MNN website

www.mohawknationnews.com