The Seven Rules governing the Secretariat's engagement with external institutions. Grounded in Mohawk national law and the Crown's own instruments.
The instrument
The Rules of Engagement of the Mohawk Nation of Grand River are hereby established. They govern all formal engagements between the Secretariat and external institutions including courts, governments, Crown bodies, municipal authorities, and corporations.
The Seven Rules: (I) Sovereignty — the Nation engages as a sovereign, not as a petitioner. (II) Two Row — separate vessels, neither steers the other. (III) The Covenant — the Crown’s obligations are covenantal; the Nation engages as a covenant partner. (IV) The Record — all engagements are entered in the Register permanently. (V) Non-Prejudice — nothing done in any engagement waives any right. (VI) The Implied Contract — no external institution can establish terms by the Nation’s conduct alone. (VII) Non-Response Is a Record — silence strengthens the position it was intended to avoid.
Authority: exclusively the Crown’s own instruments — the Haldimand Pledge of 1779, the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, the Land Board confirmation of 1791, the Two Row Wampum of 1613, and the Silver Covenant Chain. No external interpretation required.
Tabling words: “The Mohawk Nation of Grand River tables its Rules of Engagement (Gazette No. 69). These Rules govern the Nation’s participation in this proceeding under Mohawk national law. This court has rules. The Nation has rules too. Both exist in this room. The Nation’s Rules are grounded in the Crown’s own instruments, beginning with the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784.”
