Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
Daily Briefing
June 3, 2009
10am
Yesterday at 6:30pm, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne held special meetings in the districts of Kawehnoke, Kanatakon and Tsi Snaihne to consult with community members on developments and continued efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to our community’s issues. As of 5pm on Monday, June 1st, the North Span was re-opened for Akwesasne residents due to negotiations between MCA District Chiefs and law enforcement agencies. The ability to resume crossing the North Span has helped alleviate some of the concerns of Kawehnoke residents and their access to groceries, medicines and other essential items.
Last night, community members in each of the three districts participated
in special meetings that were well attended and discussed the need to open the North Span for all traffic. MCA is still gathering the results of that
consultation. Until that time, the North Span continues to be open for
Akwesasne residents only.
In response to some media coverage on the peaceful demonstration on
Kawehnoke, the Mohawk Council would like reiterate the following
information:
The Three Nations Bridge Crossing was closed due to actions initiated by the Canadian Border Services Agency. CBSA Officers voluntary decided to leave the Canada Customs facility on Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, which resulted in policy being activated calling for the immediate closure of the bridge crossing. The South Span was closed and continues to be blocked to all traffic by the New York State Police and U.S. Customs Officers. The North Span was closed by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Cornwall Police. With the re-opening of the North Span Monday evening, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services has been stationed at the foot of the North Span to facilitate the flow of Akwesasne residents across the bridge. The restriction to local residents was a negotiated agreement that is being respected at the request of MCA’s Emergency Operations Center and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services. This is to address liability issues and keep the crossroad on Kawehnoke open and safe for local residents.
Since first being notified of the arming initiative, the Mohawk Council
of Akwesasne has expressed its opposition to CBSA Officers carrying
firearms in the community of Akwesasne. MCA indicated that it was never
consulted in which the Government of Canada is obligated to do, despite
the Canada Customs facility being located in a residential district on the
Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. It is the only land-border crossing located in the middle of a First Nations territory—out of 119 land-border crossings
managed by CBSA. It is situated at a major crossroad on Kawehnoke; which is the location of a bus stop where children gather, recreational fields and a play area, a large number of homes, a district convenience store, several small businesses and other typical features of a populated
residential area. All of which, would be placed in harm's way if CBSA
agents begin carrying firearms.
Additionally, the majority of travelers that pass through this Port of
Entry are Akwesasne residents. According to an August 2002 report
co-commissioned by Transport Canada and reaffirmed by a recent
socio-economic study, Akwesasne Mohawks account for nearly 70% of traffic that passes through the border facility. This includes Kawehnoke residents that use the border crossing several times each day on their way to work or school; to carry on daily business; to visit friends and family; or to attend the health, social, cultural or recreational facilities and events throughout Akwesasne--a community bisected in the middle by the international border.
For more than a year, an increasing number of Akwesasne community members have come forward with complaints against individual CBSA Officers. Those complaints have been filed with MCA’s Department of Justice and involve human rights violations, culminating in 2 cases being filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Those complaints remain unresolved and entail acts of racial profiling, acts of intimidation, harassment, and provocation by individual CBSA Officers that are seeking justification to carry firearms.
As well, Mohawk Security Officers share the same building with CBSA and
provide assistance to border guards when requested. They approach any
confrontations that may arise in a peaceful and respectful manner, and
their presence is comforting to the 70% of border crossers that are
Akwesasne residents. Additionally, armed officers of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services have a sub-station at this border crossing and regularly assist in maintaining the integrity and safety of everyone at this Port of Entry, including the safety of CBSA Officers.
Even before CBSA Officers voluntarily decided to leave the border
facility, this has always been and continues to be a peaceful
demonstration of our community’s opposition to the arming initiative at
the Port of Entry. It is not our intent to disrupt the flow of traffic or
to place the safety of individual’s at risk. To that extent, the Mohawk
Security Officers have been cleaning and maintaining the Customs facility
since it was vacated by CBSA Officers.
First Nations Leaders, organizations and, party leaders continue to
contact the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and offer assistance and support. NDP MP Brian Masse is urging the federal government to negotiate a resolution and insists that there’s no need to treat all border crossings be identically. He added that aboriginal communities should have "different types of arrangements" with Ottawa on many issues.
2am
In an ongoing effort to keep the community of Akwesasne and supporters in informed of developments, the Mohawk Council will continue provided updates throughout the day. The following is a reporting of today’s events:
At noon, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne submitted a formal request to Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine seeking support and assistance in opening dialogue with the Government of Canada on the arming of border guards at Akwesasne.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and the Emergency Operations Center are continuing to hold briefings throughout the day with division directors, volunteers and essential services to facilitate the delivery of services, food, medicine and goods to local residents.
At 5pm today, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council and the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs will convene an Akwesasne leadership meeting to discuss ongoing developments and determine future steps that support our community’s opposition to the arming initiative.
Travel needs are continuing to be identified and measures are being implemented to accommodate community members. MCA’s Emergency Operations Center has organized certified boat operators to safely transport essential service personnel and community members between Akwesasne three northern districts. Boater safety is being promoted and implemented for the safety of all boaters. MCA is only utilizing registered boats with certified operators.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is continuing to reach out to First Nations leaders and organizations urging them to contact their local MP requesting dialogue take place with Akwesasne leaders and Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan.
More information will be provided through our regular updates as it becomes available.
6pm
The following statement is provided by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to help clarify media coverage and convey our community’s issues:
- We are seeking an exemption from the arming initiative so that proper consultation can take place with the Mohawk community of Akwesasne. Once there is time to properly consult the good people of our community, we will then be in a position to discuss options for implementation. How can we do that when our community has been disrupted by the bridge closure?
- We are continuing to seek meaningful dialogue with the federal government, which is consistent with our efforts to peacefully resolve our community’s concerns. Akwesasne residents and supporters that have gathered on the grounds next to the Port of Entry remain peaceful and support efforts to have meaningful dialogue with the Government of Canada to address our issues.
- For more than a year, there has been a growing list of complaints filed with MCA’s Justice Department against individual CBSA Officers. There is the harassment of our youth by the few officers who are consistently named in the letters of complaints we receive. These youth, who will range from ages 16 years to 29 years, are detained without representation, isolated, and strip searched in front of two officers. We have been asking for these officers to be placed at another port, but to no avail.
- The statements being made from the Public Safety minister that having a 'liaison' is an offer currently being considered, but this isn’t the only solution that will address all of our community’s issues. We’re hopeful that more solutions will be arrived at through meaningful dialogue with the federal government.
- CBSA’s decision to close the bridge crossing is impacting Akwesasne, surrounding communities and Canada. And, properly addressing our concerns is to the benefit of everyone. People need to travel to work, to school, to conduct business, or to visit family and friends. This cannot happen as long as the South Span remains closed by U.S. officials and traffic on the North Span is restricted.
- Akwesasne takes pride in the friendships and relationships they have built with the many government agencies in Canada, local municipalities and with other First Nations across Canada. These relationships are examples of how you respectfully discuss and negotiate in the best interest of ALL people.
- Akwesasne needs support in conveying the true message of what is going on here. We need you to encourage your local MP and anyone else who may be influential to ask that the Government of Canada meet with Akwesasne leaders.
