#tyendinaga

"INDIAN FOR THE "PEN"," Kingston Daily Standard. October 15, 1913. Page 2. ---- He Will Make Third Red Man Now in Confinement. ---- Joseph Brant, aged 24 years, an Indian from the Tyendinaga Reserve, was on Tuesday sentenced by Magistrate Masson, at Belleville, to three years in the Portsmouth penitentiary, after conviction of theft after midnight of a purse containing $45 and two transportation tickets worth $50 from an Italian. The money was discovered in Brant's sock, and the tickets lie somewhere between Belleville and Trenton on the Grand Trunk right-of-way.

Brant and his cousin were coming home to Tyendinaga after spending the harvest season in Saskatchewan. They got on the train No. 8, and between Belleville and Trenton got into the car, where an Italian, Giachini Villani was. They sat in along with him. Villani was asleep. Brant says he was intoxicated. When he wakened up he found his purse, tickets and a bottle of liquor gone.

There are already two Indians doing time in the big penitentiary, and according to the authorities they are model prisoners when kept busy. They take their confinement with the natural stoicism of their race and give but little trouble, performing their alloted tasks with care seldom needing correction or discipline.

“Indians Count Moons To Set History Dates Long Before Columbus,” Toronto Globe. January 27, 1932. Page 11. ---- Perhaps the ‘dark ages’ were not always quite dark. At least, the Indians on this continent had their own manner of counting time.

We have long been told by the histories that the centuries of Indian occupation of this continent were uncounted, vague, and indefinite. For example, the date of the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy, in what is now New York State, was uncertain. This confederacy has sometimes been described as the first League of Nations. Additional interest attaches for Canadians because the Six Nations, as they later became known, moved over into Canada with the Loyalists after the American Revolution and have ever since been loyal citizens.

One of the tribes was the Mohawks, and a visitor to Toronto this week was one of the prominent women of this tribe, Mrs. H. A. Brant, of the Deseronto Reserve, herself a direct descendant of Joseph Brant, Chief of the Mohawks, for years before his death in 1807. Mrs. Brant, whose maiden name was Teresa Brant, and whose father, a great-grandson of Joseph Brant, still lives on the Deseronto Reserve, married R. A. Brant, who is not related to the original chieftain.

During her visit to this part of Ontario, for the first time in her life, Mrs. Brant was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. Nelson Campbell, 214 Glennir Avenue, Forest Hill. To a party of friends, she read  a paper which traced the history of the Mohawks, in some detail, with information derived from tribal tradition rather than printed books. One of her most interesting statements was that the Iroquois Confederacy was formed in 1390. As that year was more than a century before the discovery of America by Columbus, and long before clocks, almanacs, and other means of computing time were available on this continent, Mrs. Brant was asked to explain.

‘Oh, this came down to us through tradition. Our tribe counted time by the number of moons, and the year 1390 was reached through counting back the number of moons.’

A group of local historians heard the news with surprise and delight. Selwyn P. Griffin, author of ‘Open Secrets,’ in which Iroquois lore is presented, said:

‘I should say the date of the formation of the Confederacy was about 1450, but if Mrs. Brant says 1390, I would not contradict her. She should know more about it than we should, especially in view of the traditions in her tribe. It is unlikely that any one can settle this date, and she is as likely to be correct as any one.’

“Classes Are Held at Tyendinaga Reserve.” KIngston Whig-Standard. February 9, 1932. Page 18. ---- Deseronto, Feb. 9 — E. J. Sexsmith of London, who is associated with the Indian Department under the Dominion Government, E. Moses of Grand Riverm River, an Indian who is well known among the farmers throughout the Reserves, and Mrs. Montour of Brantford arrived in Deseronto on Monday and proceeded to the Tyendinaga Reserve where the annual agricultural classes under the auspices of the Indian Department were started and will terminate tonight. 

These classes have been held annually for the past fifteen years and one of the principal objects is the betterment of agriculture among the farmers residing on the Reserve.

At the present time the membership of the Tyendinaga Reserve is 1,700 and G. M. Campbell is the representative of the Indian Department and has his office in the Post Office block. 

On Monday afternoon, the school children gathered at the Council House where the Judging of essays took place. The essays were optional and were either written or oral and the subject was "Orchards”. 

Addresses were given by the speakers representing the department and in the evening the annual banquet was held at the Council House which, despite the disagreeable weather and condition of the roads, was well attended. 

Herman Claus, president of the Mohawk Agricultural Society presided and a bountiful menu was served by the ladles of the Reserve. 

There were the usual toasts and splendid addresses and at the close many remained to enjoy a few hours dancing, excellent music being furnished by local musicians.

Considerable business was transacted at the session which was hold this afternoon and profitable addresses were given. It will be interesting to learn that there are four schools on the Tyendinaga Reserve and the total enrolment is 144.

“Two-Year Sentence For Several Thefts,” Kingston Whig-Standard. April 15, 1931. Page 7. ---- Leo Green Tried at Deseronto - Has Had Quite a Career of Crime ---- Deseronto, April 15 - Considerable interest was evinced at the trial of Leo Green, which took place before Police Magistrate Bedford on Monday afternoon. As the result of his escapades, Green was sentenced on a number of charges, and will be confined in Portsmouth penitentiary for the next two years.

The first charge read was that of shooting and attempted bodily injury to one Arthur O’Rae. O’Rae may be thankful that he was not seriously wounded as the bullet cut through one of the trouser legs. The prisoner received two years on this charge.

Green was next charged with breaking into the store of Laurel Clement in the evening of April 3rd or the morning of April 4th, and stealing goods to the value of $75.00. He elected to be tried by the police magistrate and on pleading guilty was given two years, the sentence to run concurrently with the former sentence.

A charge of breaking into Tunnecliffe’s jewellery store and stealing goods to the value of $50.00 was read and on pleading guilty received two years, the sentence to run concurrently.

A similar charge, that of breaking into G. H. Harold’s store and stealing goods to the value of $35.0 was read, and to the charge the prisoner pleaded guilty. For this he received two years the sentence to run concurrently.

On the charge of entering T. L. McCullough’s drug store, with intent of theft, the case was dismissed, the prisoner pleading not guilty.

On the charge of theft of a black buffalo robe and a blanket the property of John Brady of Newburgh, the prisoner pleaded not guilty. These articles were taken from a car, standing in front of the parish hall, and were found with numerous articles which was stolen by Green, in a shack. The date of the theft was registered as November 20th.

Two witnesses were called, provincial Officer Hammer and Vincent Brady, both whom recognize the stolen articles. The prisoner was asked to go in the witness box, but refused and he was found guilty and given two years, the sensation to run concurrently with the former sentences.

B. C. Donnan, county crown attorney, appeared for the crown, and the prisoner was not represneted.

After the sentences had been imposed, the magistrate gave the prisoner a severe castigation, remarking that the accused had on three or four different occasions been in the Industrial School, and also pointing to the fact that he had escaped from that institution. The magistrate advised Green that when his term at Portsmouth penitentiary had expired, he try to live a better life. The magistrate pointed to the fact that the prisoner was a young man, that he was evidently bent on crime, and that he must atone for the offences which he had committed. The prisoner was taken to the Belleville jail, and will soon leave for Portsmouth to serve his sentence.

“5 Years to Indian,” Border Cities Star. October 26, 1931. Page 14. ---- BELLEVILLE, Ont., Oct. 26. - Convicted of theft, Nelson Jaynes, Indian of the Tyendinaga Reservation, was sentenced to five years in Portsmouth Penitentiary by Magistrate Mike Saturday. Haynes recently telephoned police from a backwoods camp, after he had escaped with clothing and money from a fellow-Indian on the reserve, to tell them where to find him.

As RCMP drop charges on Wet’suwet’en, OPP advance colonial agenda by charging over 20 Mohawks for standing up against genocide

Kanenhariyo was arrested and “tricked” by Napanee OPP who imposed “no protest” conditions; 9-10 more arrests of Mohawk Warriors are anticipated in coming days; the first court date for all the Warriors is in Napanee on August 11, 2020.

TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY – On Thursday July 9th, the OPP arrested Kanenhariyo, a vocal supporter of the Wet’suwet’en and the main Mohawk liaison with the police during the Tyendinaga rail shutdown in February of 2020. Kanenhariyo, like 20 other Mohawk Warriors who have already been charged, is facing three charges: “Mischief 430(3) CCC,”  “Disobey Court Order 127 CCC,” and “Enter Land Where Line Work Situation 26.1” under the Railway Safety Act. 

OPP Detective Karin Richer, who arrested Kanenhariyo, informed him that the OPP was looking to charge another “9 or 10” people that they hadn’t yet reached because of Covid-19. All of those charged are to attend court together at the Ontario Superior Court at 41 Dundas St. West, in Napanee, at 9:30am.