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Essay Against Jay Treaty Violations

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In the Maliseets march against Jay Treaty Violations written by Steve Cartwright, Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes, joined together in the month April of 1980 to protest at a Maine-Canadian border. Demonstrations against the attempt deportation of Raymond Sockabasin of Tobique, and other alleged violations of the 1795 Jay Treaty. The Jay Treaty stated that Indians could “freely pass and repass” the border. The protest was led by Wayne Nicholas of Tobique, and their argument was “if there is no border for Indians, then how can an Indian be deported?” The current protest in May of 1980, is caused by the brothers Raymond and Larry Sockabasin. These demonstrations are taking place near Fort Fairfield, Maine with “subsequent …show more content…

This is so because the Canadian Legislations had not been passed “to implement or sanction the provisions of the Treaty.” They state that the Treaty of Ghent simply “‘promised’ to restore the rights of Indian Nations. Article IX, in fact, says that the Crown "engages...forthwith to restore the rights" of Indians to what they were before the War of 1812” (“Border Crossing Rights…”). On the other hand, the United States took an opposite view on the situation. To quote, “American officials have tended towards an acknowledgment of the Jay Treaty rights of North American Indians.” Dan Lewerenz’s response to Marcia Yablon-Zug, Lawerenz makes the point that the 1928 Congress amended the Immigration and Naturalization …show more content…

Both of the brothers, born from Indian parents who were “recognized band members of the Tobique Indian Reserve,” were charged with, supposedly, minor criminal offenses in Canada. If the brothers had committed serious offenses, then there would not have been people there protesting. Nicolas states, “Therefore, the main issues of the national protest are, the imposed immigration laws disturbing the aboriginal rights of all North American Indians.” Apparently, the Tobique Reserve Chief George Francis (1934-2013; he served two terms as the Tobique Reserve Chief), is part of the problem of Indian rights and the deportation order. Francis is said to frequently leave for Ottawa, and when he obtains a program, he hires his relatives, and it takes a toll on the non-supporters. The reserve is in debt by $170,000.00, which means some may not wish to “antagonize the Canadian government.” Neither Francis nor the tribal council had taken a stand on the deportation. There were attempts made to “investigate and cancel the deportation order,” but nothing was successful. The story continues to Eva Saulis, the 59-year-old aunt to Larry and Raymond Sockabasin. She says she will continue to fight for they need to speak out when there is an injustice. “They call us radicals … small-minded women. That’s what George (Francis, band chief) called us. You’re not free to

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