Transcripts

SPEAKER 1: If they feel that that's helpful to move this thing from the very critical, life-threatening crisis that currently exists, of course, we would support that. Obviously, in moving to have some justice of the Supreme Court in Quebec enter into the negotiations, that's raising it to a higher level. And if the Mohawk people feel that's a nation-to-nation relationship, then we can only urge the continuation of that type of negotiation.

SPEAKER 2: What do you see as the American Indian movement's role in all of this, if there is a role to be defined?

SPEAKER 1: Well, there is a role. As yesterday, we had a faxed to our international political arm and diplomatic corps, which is the International Indian Treaty Council, offices in San Francisco. And of course, IITC is a non-governmental organization which functions in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland as well the sub-commission, the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples.

And as a United Nations organization, yesterday, we received a fax from the Mohawk leadership, urging the International Indian Treaty Council and the American Indian Movement to come to Quebec as observers. And I would emphasize, as observers. But obviously, aside from that which we are accepting their invitation, and in the next couple of days, I would expect that representatives of the International Indian Treaty Council and the American Indian Movement leadership will be arriving in Quebec to offer any kind of assistance in support that the Mohawks may request from us.

SPEAKER 2: Will you be part of that delegation?

SPEAKER 1: It appears that the thinking at this particular time is that Mr. Bill Means, who is the executive director of the International Indian Treaty Council, and myself, as a representative of the American Indian movement, will be traveling to Oka, the Mohawk Nation outside of Montreal, Quebec.

SPEAKER 2: Now, as far as the activity in Minneapolis goes, what's the future for that in the next few days?

SPEAKER 1: Well, obviously, we're watching real close, the developments. We have reams of fax information coming into our offices here in Minneapolis, and we're evaluating that information. We're in direct contact with the Mohawk Nation, which is of the six-nation Iroquois confederacy, the Kanehsatake branch. And we're in direct contact with them. So we're awaiting their next communication. And on the basis of that, if there's an urgent situation, of course, we'll be moving up in that direction almost immediately.