The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government, the legitimate, sovereign government of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois people, has issued a formal cease and desist order to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA), demanding an immediate halt to their misrepresentation of governance authority.
From a legal standpoint, the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government’s authority is grounded in the Great Law of Peace and the time-honored Two Row/Path Belt wampum Treaty. These foundational legal frameworks, which predate any colonial structures, establish the principles of non-interference and peaceful coexistence between sovereign nations. The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government stands firmly on this legal foundation, which has been upheld through centuries of international treaties and conventions.
In stark contrast, the SRMT and MCA operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a non-governmental organization (NGO), respectively. They are not sovereign governments but rather administrative bodies created under external, colonial frameworks. Their mandates are confined to the programs they administer and do not extend to the full scope of sovereign governance. For clarification they are trustees established under colonial regimes and possess only a limited trusteeship without any jurisdiction.
The SRMT’s tribal council operates under the framework of a 501 C3 Non-profit organization from an external government without jurisdiction. The Ierahkwa/Iroquois community at Akwesasne rejected both, the IRA in 1935 by referendum, and the current “Tribal Council” structure. Likewise, the MCA is a creation of Canada’s Indian Act band council system – a municipal-style administration elected under Canadian law. These councils were designed by outside governments in an attempt to manage the internal affairs of Territories/Reservations and do not embody the full sovereign authority of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois Nation. Their legal mandates are strictly confined to their own organizations (NGO/501 C3) defined by those foreign codes, without jurisdiction. They emphasize that neither SRMT nor MCA was established by the Great Law or by the collective will of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois, but by outside colonial legislation. They function solely as local trustees – not as their national government. This distinction is critical, especially in light of the recent decision by the United States administration to pull all funding for B.I.A. programming, departments and organizations, a move that directly impacts the operational capacity of entities like the SRMT and MCA.
The cease and desist order explicitly demands that the SRMT and MCA immediately stop all representations of governance or authority over the Sovereign Independent Nation of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois people. Any continued claims of broader jurisdictional or national representation will be regarded as a direct violation of our people’s sovereign authority and a contravention of established legal principles.
The Ierahkwa ne Kanienke Government is preparing to release documentation and evidence concerning the unlawful imposition and illegal external recognition of the SRMT’s governing body in the 20th century. Preliminary findings indicate that the current SRMT structure was established without proper consent of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois/Rotinonhshonni/Mohawk people, through actions initiated by U.S. officials – notably Mr. Louis R. Bruce, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Commissioner (1969–1972). In 1971, during Commissioner Bruce’s tenure, the U.S. government’s illegal extended federal recognition to an elected Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal council (www.wampumchronicles.com) despite the community’s prior referendum and rejection of the IRA model. This move, conducted under the guise of “acknowledging a federal relationship,” directly affected their freedom of commerce, circumvented their traditional decision-making protocols, disregarded congressional rejection, and ignored the pre-existing Ierahkwa/Iroquois/Rotinonhshonni/Mohawk governance at Akwesasne. They characterize this action as an illegal interference in our sovereignty – essentially, a unilateral instatement of a colonial governance system in violation of the Two Row Wampum’s principle of non-interference. `The forthcoming documentation will detail how the SRMT’s recognition was achieved and why under both their law and Congress, it lacks legitimacy. They serve the notice so that the SRMT and MCA are aware that the historical record will be set straight. They urge to reflect on the origins and limitations of the SRMT and MCA unauthorized policies and illegal representations, as the exposure of these facts will reinforce the necessity of the corrective actions.
As the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government emphasizes that their government’s legitimacy comes from the people and their ancient laws, not from external funding. The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government remains committed to upholding its sacred duty to protect the freedoms, liberties, and self-governance of all people. They will take all necessary legal measures to ensure that their sovereignty is respected and that the misrepresentations by the SRMT and MCA cease immediately.
About the Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government: The Ierahkwa Ne Kanienke Government is the traditional, sovereign government of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois people, with its authority derived from the Great Law of Peace. It is dedicated to the preservation of the language, culture, and traditions of the Ierahkwa/Iroquois people and the protection of their inherent right to self-determination.
To read the official statement, click Here.
