Laughed out of court

Vincent J. Curtis

24 July 23

RE: Haudenosaunee mark 100^th anniversary of Deskaheh’s attempt to speak at the League of Nations

At the end of 1918, after France, Britain, and the United States, Canada stood as the fourth military power of the west.  The performance of the Canadian Corps during the 100 day campaign caused the German war effort finally to collapse.  The respect with which Canada was held in the world in 1923 couldn’t have stood higher.  A chaotic Germany was demilitarized under the Treaty of Versailles, and lay in the grip of its hyper-inflation crisis.  The League of Nations was trying to restore order in the world out of the debris of the collapsed Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires.

To Geneva arrive a tiny group of illiterate and technically stateless aborigines to demand, effectively, that Canada be embarrassed before the world.  Adding to the air of comedy was that the Chief was not democratically elected, (an important fact in those days to the League) and by the customs of the people he claimed to represent (for laws is too strong a term) he could not compel obedience to an agreement by anyone but himself.

Aboriginal issues were an internal Canadian matter so far at the League was concerned, and dismissed the supplicants without a hearing.  There was no stomach to embarrass Canada by so much as giving this guy a hearing.  Never mind the triviality of his complaint compared to the wants and sufferings of war-ravaged Europe.

Perhaps Deskaheh;s visit to Geneva is a memorable event.  Band councils are now elected. But that some aboriginals in Canada haven’t advanced a yard politically since then, speaks volumes.

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