[Witness spoke in Mohawk]
[English]
I am Chief Jessica Lazare of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake.
[Witness spoke in Mohawk]
[English]
I'm happy to be here. I'm here to present our position on your proposed bill.
We cannot overemphasize how integral hunting and harvesting are to our identity. Today I will present examples of how this bill will affect our ability to express that. There are potential repercussions for our right to carry out a deeply rooted cultural practice that is already restricted within the existing framework. I will also call out the lack of consultation with indigenous communities and the effects of this deficiency in creating your bill.
Harvesting is deeply woven into the Kanien’kehá:ka Mohawk culture and the fabric of who we are. As onkwehonwe, meaning “original people”, we have inherent practices that we've been engaging in since time immemorial. These practices are deeply ingrained in our ceremonies. They stem from inherent roles and responsibilities that are integrated into who we are from a generational and family level, from birth.
Six years ago, my son was named in a naming ceremony—