FIRST ANNUAL KANEHSATAKE
SPIRITUAL GATHERING AND TRADITIONAL POW WOW
JULY 11-12-13-14, 1991
AT THE PINES, KANEHSATAKE
MOHAWK TERRITORY, QUEBEC, CANADA
I became caught up in an action that gained global exposure
primarily because it was such an attractive news item. Guns,
warriors in masks, barricades, police, national leaders posturing
and finally the army and tanks, choppers and razor wire. I've
grown up in Kanehsatake and this had been coming for years.
Natives, in communities across the country, who try to hold on to
the traditional ways and ceremonies, are brought up to believe
that they are the custodians of the land and hold a special
spiritual bond to the land. These people have been under attack
for centuries, suffering a slow genocidal onslaught. The people,
who were at the protest in Kanehsatake, who were shot at, and who
stayed in the community until the end, embody those traditional
teachings. As I've said before the whole affair became a
commodity, a propaganda coup, and the real issue became clouded:
This "incident" was an attempt to keep the land safe for future
generations and that we acted on the belief that without the land,
our culture, our ways, our very spirit would soon die.
On July 11th through to the 14th, 1991 there will be a
spiritual gathering and traditional Pow Wow in Kanehsatake. After
the brutality of one year ago, where people were deeply hurt
physically, mentally and spiritually, healing is needed. This
gathering is a call to our friends and supporters, brothers and
sisters from all communities and cultures, to help us heal
ourselves. In sharing gifts of music, dance, fresh air and
friends, we hope to bring people together to share and learn about
each other. There are many linkages, cross-culturally,
highlighting the ways we are all bound together. The gathering
offers a positive way to deal with the scars of a year ago and to
regenerate the spirit and strength of people.
The cross cultural spiritual gathering fulfils a promise to
ourselves. We would all be together again, in the pines, in the
summer of 1991, to do the Mohawk Round Dance or, as it is often
called, the Friendship Dance. The summer of 1990 should have
taught Canadians one thing: there is an awakening in this
country. There is no reason any longer not to understand. All
one has to do is listen. The traditions of cultures are gifts to
the future. The Pow Wow offers the chance for people to meet face
to face, to teach and learn, to communicate our messages. We all
share a spiritual connection with Mother Earth and the Creator.
Our voices are small and few be we speak clearly from one end of
the continent to the other. You are invited to come and share in
this gifting and participate in the healing.
Joe David,
Kanehsatake, 13 June 1991
For more information please phone: (514)479-8321 or (514)479-6375.