Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Continues Protest Against Arming of Canadian Customs Officers
Enniskó:wa / March 23, 2009
AKWESASNE, ONTARIO ─ In August of 2006, the Prime Minister of Canada announced the federal government’s plan to improve border security across the country, which included the arming of Canada Border Service Agency [CBSA] officers. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne supports cooperative efforts that address mutual concerns related to border security, but the arming of CBSA officers at the Kawehnoke Port of Entry will damage efforts to develop a positive working relationship. MCA has recently been notified that the Canadian Government intends to proceed with the arming initiative on June 1, 2009.
The Canadian Customs on Kawehnoke is the only border facility located on First Nations territory and it is situated in the middle of a residential district. Given this fact, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne continues to be adamantly opposed to the arming of custom officers. As a result, MCA ratified Mohawk Council Resolution [MCR] 2007/2008 - #318 as formal documentation of their decision to condemn the arming of CBSA officers and placed a ban on the carrying of firearms within the border crossing corridor, including by custom agents.
In March of 2008, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne sent a letter to the Minister of Public Safety demanding an urgent meeting to discuss what MCA views as a blatant act of aggression against the community of Akwesasne. Mohawk Council noted that there is an existing working arrangement with CBSA that enables the border facility to utilize the protection services of Mohawk Security Officers. This has provided for a safe working environment and border crossing for nearly 30 years, without the use of guns. The Public Safely Minister has not responded to MCA’s insistence that the arming of custom officers will irreparably damage this working relationship.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has sent a formal request to Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling for his direct intervention. In the meantime, eighteen (18) custom officers from the Kawehnoke Port of Entry will begin firearms training in Ottawa in preparation to carrying firearms at the border crossing on June 1, 2009.
