Brock Press

Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: News

The government announced the closure of the US-Canada border near Cornwall late on May 31 in response to planned protests by members of the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation.
On June 1, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was scheduled to begin arming border guards with handguns at the Cornwall US-Canada border crossing.
Rather than increasing security in the area, the issue caused conflict with Mohawk citizens within the area, having planned protests for that day when the changes were scheduled to come into effect.
In avoidance of such protest, CBSA guards left their posts in the First Nation that overlaps Ontario, Quebec and New York borders.
After negotiations with Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Officials about the plan to start the arming of border guards, guards voluntarily decided to abandon their posts before midnight of June 1 "for their own safety", Grand Chief Tim Thompson said in a statement to the media.
The issue of armed guards at the border has been a continuing dispute between the federal government and Mohawks, since the promise was made by the Conservative Party during last election.
A petition sponsored by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne gives insight into the issue at hand: "The arming of Canada Customs Agents in a residential area on Akwesasne Mohawk Territory will escalate an already tense situation. It will also place the safety of surrounding residents and all border travelers in jeopardy".
The agency began arming border guards in 2007, and the officers within the reserve were scheduled to start carrying 9 mm handguns on June 1.
The Mohawks within the reserve have opposed this action on the terms that it would infringe their sovereignty and encourage the occurrence of violent confrontations.
Early, on May 31, Mohawk citizens were advised to protest by way of peaceful means of confrontation against Canadian border guards.
Although the border crossing was closed, June 1 brought more than 200 members of the Mohawk community to the location to hold peaceful demonstrations concerning the matter.
Protestors intend on continuing demonstrations until concessions are considered by the federal government. The government, in turn, is prepared to keep the border crossing closed until the Mohawk community backs down on the issue and removes demonstrations.
Members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Council express concerns regarding issues that go beyond the mere arming of border guards, and that stem from a history of being treated unfairly by border guards themselves.

Continued...

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