Kanerahtiio Roger Jock
My Story
Roger Jock, known by his traditional Mohawk name Kanerahtiio (Good Leaf), is a respected Mohawk Bear Clan leader and the founder and Chief of Global Affairs for the White Pine Republic. His life's work is dedicated to the re-establishment of the Iroquois Confederacy, a system of governance that predates and influenced many of the democratic principles of the United States. Jock's vision is a complete break from the legal status of a "domestic dependent nation" and a return to the true sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee people.
As a central figure in the White Pine Republic, Jock is not seeking to create a new nation, but to re-institute the ancient principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. He has frequently spoken about the historical manipulation of the confederacy's structure, which he argues was intentionally distorted by figures like George Washington to create a more pliable "holding" confederacy. The White Pine Republic's goal is to move beyond this imposed structure and re-establish the original Great Law of Peace, a constitution that binds the member nations in a peaceful and cooperative union.
Jock's legal and political actions against the State of New York are a direct extension of this mission. He has won multiple cases against the state, using each victory to dismantle the legal framework that perpetuates the "domestic dependent" status. By successfully defending the reoccupation of ancestral lands, he is not just claiming property; he is asserting the inherent legal and historical right of the Haudenosaunee to govern themselves under their own laws.
Within the community, Jock's advocacy for traditional governance has sometimes placed him at odds with the tribal council. His commitment to the Iroquois Confederacy's principles of collective stewardship and consensus-based decision-making often clashes with modern political structures. For Jock, the fight is not just for land but for the very soul of the Haudenosaunee people—a complete liberation from all forms of external control and a return to their true place as an independent, sovereign nation under the Great Law of Peace.