JUNE 16 UPDATE FROM AKWESASNE: MINISTER"S COMMENTS INACCURATE

Subject: FW: JUNE 16 UPDATE FROM AKWESASNE: MINISTER"S COMMENTS INACCURATE

> Subject: JUNE 16 UPDATE FROM AKWESASNE: MINISTER"S COMMENTS INACCURATE > Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:52:35 -0400 > From: kanentiio@aol.com > > For immediate release: > Ohiari:ha / June 16, 2009 > > For more information: > Brendan F. White > Communications Officer, > Mohawk Council of Akwesasne > Cell: (613) 551-3287 > Email: bwhite@akwesasne.ca > > MOHAWKS OF AKWESASNE ISSUE RESPONSE TO > PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER INTERVIEW > > AKWESASNE, ONTARIO — Yesterday’s radio interview with Canadian Public > Safety Minister Peter Van Loan on Cornwall’s AM1220 was simply a chance > for the minister to deflect blame away from the Federal government over > the situation at Akwesasne, and to continue to mislead the public in > believing there have been efforts at the federal level to resolve the > situation. > Instead of addressing the great financial impacts being felt by > Cornwall businesses, Minister Van Loan simply restated his stance that > CBSA will not send their officers back to work unarmed, and he > continued to insist that Mohawk Council of Akwesasne was consulted on > the issue of arming the customs officers, despite the Grand Chief’s > announcement last week disputing this claim. The Mohawk Council of > Akwesasne maintains that the federal government of Canada must consult > on a government to government level with the Mohawks, and that the > Canada Border Services Agency does not have the authority to consult, > or negotiate, on behalf of the government of Canada. > In response to the question of arriving at a solution to the issue, the > Minister referred Cornwall business owners to the Mohawk protes > ters for > answers, suggesting that suffering Cornwall businesses had Mohawks to > blame for the bridge closure, instead of addressing the issue at hand, > which is the arming of customs officers who have demonstrated a pattern > of racial profiling and abuse of authority. > In response to the question of why the customs officers cannot go back > to work, unarmed, while the issue is discussed and negotiated, Van Loan > said simply that the CBSA will not send their officers back to work > unarmed - clearly dodging the real question of why Canada is not > working toward a resolution. This is an arbitrary policy decision, and > the Minister’s response in the interview was illogical and evasive.. > The customs officers were not armed on May 31st, and both the CBSA port > and Akwesasne community members were safe. > Minister Van Loan clearly wants the CBSA to speak for Canada instead of > dealing directly with the Mohawk governments. To date, there have been > no attempts by the Minister’s office to meet with the Mohawk Council of > Akwesasne. > The Mohawks of Akwesasne continue to encourage supporters to help urge > the Minister of Public Safety to engage the Akwesasne leadership in > meaningful and respectful discussion toward a peaceful resolution. > Minister Van Loan’s office can be contacted by phone at (613)996-7752, > by fax at (613)992-8351, or by email at VanLoP@parl.gc.ca > To listen to the interview, visit www.am1220.ca. > --30--

Akwesanse Update

A Report from the International Bridge Closure at Akwesasne > > ©by Doug George-Kanentiio > > > It is quiet on the Mohawk Nation Territory at Akwesasne. On June 1 > agents of the Canadian Customs walked away from their posts at the > facility located on the Kawehnoke (Cornwall Island) section of > Akwesasne. The Americans responded by closing their facility across the > St. Lawrence River to any north bound traffic. The Mohawks reacted by > securing the building and its grounds. A camp was set up next to the > customs complex and a flotilla of boats set in motion to carry the > Mohawks across the river. Although there were tensions the first few > days the situation is stable, peaceful. > > The Canadian Customs officials ordered their workers off the job > because of a dispute over arming their officers. The Mohawk Council of > Akwesasne, supported by the Mohawk Nation Council, informed Canada the > Mohawk people were opposed to the arming of the agents and said a June > deadline for binging the Canadian weapons to Mohawk territory would not > be acknowledged. There were no threats, no acts of violence and no > plans by any legitimate Mohawk council to disrupt traffic or confront > the Customs personnel. > > But the Customs officials maintained there was a real danger to its > staff and pulled them out of Akwesasne. The response by the Mohawk > people, after the initial surprise at this radical action, was to > organize an encampment, protect > the facility and engage in negotiations > to resolve this problem. Canada Customs officials have shown a > reluctance to go to Akwesasne and meet with the people, electing to > believe discounted reports of threats to their security. The Mohawk > Nation Council has lent its diplomatic and spiritual skills, effecting > a remarkable unity among the often factionalized Akwesasne people. > Those at the camp are disciplined and determined; they will not > compromise on the arming issue since it means the likelihood the > weapons will be used against Natives. > > As of June 16 there have been no serious discussions from the Canadian > authorities. The Mohawks have sent delegations to Ottawa without > success. Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence-or more properly the > Kaniatarowanenneh (Big River)-is being crisscrossed by boats ferrying > people to their homes and businesses. Plans are now in the works to > find an alternative to driving across the bridges, the traffic of which > has become a real headache because of the increased US security > measures at the border. > > The Mohawks are aware that both Canada and the US are on high alert and > ready to use their massive police/military powers against the community > if given cause. Accurate, non-inflammatory information coming directly > from the Mohawk Nation is necessary before any individual or group > becomes involved. The Mohawk Nation may be called at 518-358-3381 or > via e-mail: Mohawkna@westelcom.com. This situation > may well last for much of the summer.