South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-31
IROQUOIS PRESSES
PROTEST TO HAGUE
Grievance of Six Nations May
Reach International Tri-
bunal in Europe.

SYRACUSE. y. 81. july Sob
Z y. sJ-Grievances Of The Cana
plan Troquois Indians. falling u set
Iement through action ~ joint
krRtration council. VII Pee aired be-
fore The Hague international tri-
buna1. provided The Canadian gov
ernmcnt accepts the offer or the
Council 81 the SIX Nations OF which
chiet Frank LOGAN Of the Onondaga
tribe. is head chief by virtue OF his
office. religious leader
The offer has been duly forward
sd 20 the Dominion authorities. Ac-
companying DO is a protes. against
the Canadian government plan 70
submit the grievances 10 "A three
headed judicial commission.
Six Nations Want Freedom.
The Drovlso that the differences
&c referred 70 The Hague carries
with it the pronouncement by the
5roquois that there must be no
question in such submission OF the
right OF the six Nations 10 full
political independence or home rule
within reservation tracts.
For over year Onondaga chief
Salns have been attending confer
snces IN various places at which
the problems Of the Indians living
on the Grand river have been dis
russed These are a branch OF the
s.. Regis who established sepa-
rate tribe within the Mohawks
when the St Regis embraced
Catholicism
All OF the Six Nations Indians are
theoretically pagans. though many
have embraced Christianity and all
reservations have Christian mis-
slons. The Indians claim their
sovereignty. holding that under the
treaties they are separate nations
end as such are entitled 10 direct
aheir own destinies through tribal
councils.
When the tribal laws run In con-
fict with the white man's law. the
Indians hold 70 the tribal DEGREES
and for years have successfully de-
tended their rights.
One OF the principal foundations
OF the Six Nations. and which has
come in conflict with Canadian law
Is the tribal law OF maternal de-
scent and women's control OF tribal
affairs. IN all the Six Nations the
mothers OF the various clans direct
all governmental affairs indirectly
On that they select the chiefs.
This custom. which has come
down since the establishment or
4he Iroquois confeGeracy, Is the
very basis OF the Six Nations gov
ernment. and is In constant con-
Fict with the white mans govern
1nent. where paternal descent Is Iol-
lowed.
The old unsettled claim OF tribal
autonomy among the Six Nations
sn their relations 10 the United
states and Canadian governments
MISC is involved in the Dominion
dispute. The Indians also demand
m accounting OF the money which
the Canadian government holds IN
trust for them The funds accumu-
lated from the sale OF lands origi-
0ally allotted 20 the redskins.
Descent a Problem.
Indians hold property only as
Tribes, and the property rights on
hoth sides OF the international line
are involved in the many compiled
Atoms which maternal descent
brings about. IN that cousins be-
come brothers and sisters. and
uncles and aunts become fathers
and mothers OF children Of sistere
ar brothers.
In this connection the fact tha'
Indians take the clan OF their
mother. and not their father~ ~
their relation 10 the tribe adds to
the complications.
THE Canadian government Is
irving TO initiate the ruthless I'M
periaIism OF congress in its treat
ment OF American Indians, ue'
clares Atty George Decker, coun'
sci for the Six Nations. American
NJ one moment make wonderful
phrases about the rights OF small ma
tions and Justice. and at the next To-
tally ignore the wrongs done tC
sroa1l groups or Indians whose trioa
existence IL threatened
Some tribes allow their rights tO
he invaded and soon inter-marrS
with whites and are dispersed. com
hitting race suicide. But the 50
Nations do not intend 10 do this