Andrew Maracle, 84 years Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
CASNP. Kahnawake Mohawk Territory. 10 Feb. 99. The members,
supporters and friends of the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with the
Native Peoples (CASNP) mourn the death of one of its elders. CASNP
extends its deepest regards to his family. Andrew Maracle, at 84 years
of age, of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ontario, died on
Tuesday, February 9th 1999 after a speaking engagement. He was a
tireless activist for Indigenous rights, always showing up when least
expected, but never missing a commitment when he promised to be there.
He said he did not believe in Indian time. He brought to CASNP a lot of
wisdom, support and encouragement. "When we figured things were going
down he’d bring us back up", said Kay Murphy of CASNP. He went to
Sudbury in the summer of 1997 to pay his respects to Art Solomon,
another longtime CASNP elder and advisor who died also at 84 years of
age. Andrew Maracle has been a witness on many a court battle, the most
recent for Loran Thompson of Akwesasne over the Canada-United States
border crossing issue. He was always telling us different things we had
to remember about our history. He kept a wealth of documents that he
wanted us to use in our battle for sovereignty. One of his greatest
passions was for the preservation, use and development of the Mohawk
language. We were privileged to have him as an elder at CASNP.
Kahn-Tineta Horn, President of CASNP, knew him for most of her life. "He
was great friends with my aunt Annie Horn. He said they would drink
tea and tell old stories for hours. She was one of the most humorous
people he knew. Andrew Maracle always encouraged people like me. He
was with us in the early 1960’s when we put on the historic "Iroquois
Speak" at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. That was the first time the
public ever heard anything about the long history of Iroquois rights and
grievances. Andrew sat on the panel with Stanley Mayo and Louis Hall of
Kahnawake, John Montour of Kanesatake and myself. They are all gone
now. More recently, in 1990 he took an active part in the Mohawk Oka
Crisis. In 1995 he immediately drove up to Stoney Point-Ipperwash after
Dudley George was gunned down by the OPP. He successfuly fought against
conscription of our young native men into the United States army. He
was involved in the taxation issues in both Canada and the US. His
advocacy and vision was for all Indigenous people worldwide".
It was his tireless energy, his vast knowledge and experience, and his
struggle to impart that knowledge onto people that are his legacy. Now
it’s left to others to carry on the work of these good people who have
gone.
