Three steps?
In the Iroquois Nation that we belong to, there is a law called the great law of peace, and that law of peace is thousands of years old for us. It established us, the five and then six nations, to have some kind of unified governance. It means as much to us now, today, as it did then: law and order, justice.
But under the Indian Act, I learned one word in my first six months in office as grand chief, and that was “ultra vires”--you can't do this, you can't do that, you don't have the authority, the law already exists. In the meantime, the community is asking for something to protect them. So let's walk a few steps and learn what our ancient laws meant to provide for peace and stability, and what your law has meant, so that we can agree to take a few steps towards that concept.
Good relations are another thing. Do away with pointing fingers at Akwesasne and Kahnawake and the other communities, saying they're a haven for criminality. You know it's not true. People do use us, but we need to stand together and say that people are using our community, and that's only a handful. Let's talk about the large majority and what their aspirations are.
If we both speak out for the same principle, going in the same direction, we can wipe that situation out and promote good relations, educating not only the Mohawks but Canadians about that concept.
Those are the three steps, for me.