Richard Nephew is the chairman of the Seneca Nation Council, Cattaraugus Territory, New York.

I am writing in response to Doug George's piece of April 2 posted on Indianz.com. For the record, the rally in Syracuse on March 25, organized by the Seneca Nation was in fact an effort to bring about unity among the Six Nations in defense of our collective right to free trade and commerce and our right to a sovereign economy. 

We were there to show support to the Cayugas, who are under attack for trying to establish self sufficiency in their traditional homeland. Invitations were extended to the recognized leaders of each community, those who are active business leaders, and anyone else who wanted to stand in unity against the injustice being thrust upon our historic confederate nations.   

The questions that Doug George raises over "legitimacy" and "credibility" can only serve to erode any momentum of unity building we all need and seek as state and federal challenges mount in concerted attempts to impinge on our economies and abrogate treaty rights.

The internal finger pointing about who is a good enough Indian, who is plucked as a card-carrying member in good standing of the Confederacy is simply unhelpful to the cause.  We all need to reject and move beyond the superiority complex and sanctimony fomented by Doug George and work together as united nations. We must recognize each effort to defend the common good and shared rights of our Nations. 

For Doug George to say that the Senecas are not members of the Confederacy will only ensure ill feelings among many individual Senecas who, despite politics, profession, or economic status, still consider themselves Haudenosaunee.  It is not for Doug to decide who is in the club and who is not.

For the record, Onondaga representatives were invited to participate in the press conference, as were other leaders from throughout the Confederacy.  Many of them participated in a meeting of Nations following the hearing, and in fact, proper protocol was followed. Furthermore, five Councilors from the Seneca Nation of Indians spoke at the Syracuse rally, all of whom have legislative standing in the Seneca government and speak with a good mind for their community. 

The rocks that Doug George throws only serve to dismantle a fragile but growing unity among our Native Nations and helps strengthen New York State and the federal efforts to destroy us all.  We need a new breed of writers and voices who can offer a rationale for unity, not division, as we continue to oppose a relentless stream of external threats

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