Council seeks Trump’s attention 

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) is drafting a letter it hopes will land on the desk of the Oval Office.

Addressed to newly installed US president Donald Trump, the letter will be given to the US consul general in Montreal, Robert Sanders, who will hopefully get it in influential hands. The idea is to outline that Kahnawake Mohawks are distinct from Canada and that Kahnawake’s rights need to be respected.

“I think a lot of it is in response to these talks about a ‘51st state,’” MCK grand chief Cody Diabo said, referring to Trump’s bellicose remarks over the past several weeks suggesting that Canada could be swallowed up by the United States.

The text will particularly focus on issues that could be affected by Trump’s immigration policies.

“The letter would be drafted in a way that reinforces that idea that whatever issues you have with Canada about that imaginary line, that’s between you two. Don’t drag in First Nations, especially Mohawks,” said Diabo, who proposed the letter to Council as a way to assert Kahnawake’s interests.

“If we don’t get a response then we just continue business as usual. If we get a response, maybe it might lead to something,” he added.

According to the grand chief, Kahnawake had issues during Trump’s previous administration, from 2017-2021, when the president’s policies frustrated Kanien’kehá:ka border-crossing rights.

“There have been some people, they go to the States for ironworking, and they’re being told they need a green card,” he said.

Council is also seeking to present Kahnawake as an ideal business partner in the letter to the self-professed dealmaker.

“It touches a little on maybe having some discussions on some economic opportunities for both Kahnawake and the United States,” Diabo said, noting that Quebec’s strengthening of French-language laws has caused issues for businesses.

The letter is also expected to touch on trade. Trump has threatened to implement 25 percent tariffs, essentially an import tax, effective February 1 on goods coming into the United States from Canada, with Canada threatening to respond with punishing tariffs of its own.

“That’s not about us, so First Nations businesses shouldn’t be affected by that,” said Diabo. “Whatever you do with Canada is your business - don’t drag us into that."

The grand chief said the MCK is also looking at directing statements to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in the near future.

“They’re talking about this Team Canada approach, which First Nations are not being included on,” Diabo said, noting that while Trudeau has met with the likes of Assembly of First Nations (AFN) national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Kahnawake’s input has not been sought.

This while Trudeau, the grand chief said, is turning to First Nations for help in standing up to the United States.

“Only now because you’re facing down the barrel of somebody that’s bigger than you, now you want us to band with you again?” said Diabo.

“More than 200 years ago they asked for our help, and we’ve seen what that’s resulted in: loss of our land, attempted genocide," said Diabo, adding that if Canada wants support, the government needs to “pay up first this time,” otherwise he’s inclined to let settlers “squabble amongst themselves like they’ve always done.”

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