MNN. 15 Oct 97. Kahnawake. On the CBC News on October 14th there was a report that the multinationals are taking over the prairie grain business in Alberta and Saskatchewan, citing Archer Daniels Midland and Copeland. The Progressive Conservative Government of Brian Mulroney made new regulations of the grain industry so that it would open the door for all the big corporations to step into Canada and take over the industry. Kahnawake as a site of a grain elevator is not an isolated case. The majority of the Mohawks People are opposed to the building of 4 grain elevators right next to the Kahnawake Survival School. Construction is to begin on November 11th 1997.

Grain elevators were owned by the farmers co-ops which were started in the early 30's because they found private industries trying to control the prices. So the farmers founded the co-ops.

The multinationals have targeted places where they could put their grain elevators right across Canada. Kahnawake is one they need in the East. Out west they are working around the clock to build elevators across the prairies. So with the new regulations the multinationals are once again privately owning the grain and setting the prices as they did in the 30's. The United States will come to Canada, set the prices and starve the Canadian farmers out of business. Then the multinationals will buy up the farm land and will control the buying and selling of the grain. The U.S. does not presently need to sell anymore grain to the world and will use Canada as a storage place and then sell when they decide. Canada will be a third world banana republic. In other words, the multinationals will buy up the grains, fix the prices, store the grain in Canada and then decide where and when to sell to the world and for how much! In fact, Canada is going to be a big 'reserve'. Kahnawake is perfect because it is on the seaway and there is a railway line and highway right next to it.

Said Kahn-Tineta Horn of Kahnawake, whose 11 year old daughter attends the Kahnawake Survival School, "According to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 the Minister of Indian Affairs and the Canadian Government have a fiduciary responsiblity in regards to land and monies set aside for First Nations. I have asked the Minister to intervene in favour of First Nations regarding the mismanagement of land in Kahnawake as there are grain elevators being build on a reserve without proper environmental assessments. Also there is mismanagement of funds allocated to the Kahnawake band council and I am asking the Minister to intervene and ensure that proper environmental assessments take place before any action is taken. I am urging that the Minister has been asked to have the Kahnawake band Council be subjected to a forensic audit without delay".

For more information, contact:

Mohawk Nation News
514-635-8696
Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with Native Peoples
Tel: 416-972-1573
Fax 416-972-6232
Email: casnp@pathcom.com