From: Standard-Freeholder.com
By GREG PEERENBOOM
CORNWALL — Mohawk relations with the federal government and the City of Cornwall appear in need of mending in the wake of an accusatory letter from Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell.
Mitchell has reacted to comments by Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger and his police chief, Dan Parkinson who suggested last month that criminal activity, originating in Akwesasne, will escalate if the interim Canada Customs office is moved from the city to U.S. soil.
“These are reckless and irresponsible statements that paint Akwesasne with one brush to give the impression that our Mohawk population is a criminal community,” he said in the letter, which appears on page 5 in today’s Standard-Freeholder.
– Grand Chief Mike Mitchell
Mitchell also took aim at federal MP Guy Lauzon’s preference for placing Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) office near the U.S. port-of-entry.
“On the Canadian side, we have been completely ignored in discussions about a possible relocation of the CBSA.
“Would it not have been better if all parties concerned were at the table talking about a solution?”
Reached for comment, Kilger empathized with the grand chief, but also defended his original comments.
“I would not expect him not to stand up for his community,” Kilger said on Friday.
“But — hope that I’m wrong — if you look back at history, it leads to a grave concern that I have, that (smuggling) activity could possibly increase.”
Policing agencies claim that, since Canada Customs has moved to the foot of the Seaway bridge on Brookdale Avenue, smugglers have diverted their cross-bridge trade to ferrying it across the St. Lawrence River.
Mitchell said that other, non-natives along the seaway, are also to blame for the illicit trade.
“As a result, it is apparent that smuggling has been an ongoing activity for many native and non-natives, but it’s easy to deflect any notion of criminal wrongdoing by pointing the finger at your Mohawk neighbours,” he wrote.
Mitchell hinted the Mohawks are starting to feel retaliatory.
“It’s no secret that the recent statements have greatly alarmed Akwesasne residents and have generated discussions on possibly boycotting Cornwall – an option that we should not be forced to entertain.”
At this, Kilger declined to spar over this veiled threat, instead suggesting it was time for renewed dialogue.
“I offer to meet with Mike Mitchell and air this out face-to-face,” he said, noting that a border crossing decision will effect each community differently.
The grand chief was also conciliatory in the letter saying that “negativity” is not the answer as there is “too much at stake to risk.”
Parkinson was notified of the letter, but could not be reached.
Mitchell’s main bone to pick with Lauzon was a meeting the MP had with Kilger and New York state Congressman Bill Owens on April 9, 2010.
Representatives for Mohawks, who account for 80% of cross-border travellers, Mitchell said, were not invited.
Since then, he said reps for Akwesasne and St. Regis Tribal Mohawks, with the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, had met with U.S. Homeland Security senior officials over “border-related measures that might be of benefit to the Akwesasne community.
Mitchell added that Homeland promised more consultation would occur before a decision is made to bring the CBSA office to the U.S.
Lauzon claims he did not purposely leave out Akwesasne when he met with Owens.
He described his presence as a “stakeholder” who then forwarded the information from the meeting to the federal Ministry of Public Safety.
Lauzon stressed that the importance of the meeting’s outcome may be overblown, calling the Massena-CBSA option as not even a “recommendation” but a “consensus” of the three parties.
Lauzon said he will act on behalf of the grand chief immediately.
“I pride myself on getting back to people right away,” he said, adding the line of communication has not suffered a “breakdown.”
Mitchell also alluded to other concerns as a result of the border issue.
He understands why the contraband cigarette issue has been a high focus for the Canadian authorities: it results in a huge tax revenue loss.
The grand chief said a part of Mohawk Council’s solution is to legalize the tobacco industry, which then generate revenue that would benefit the community social fabric.
But Mitchell said Mohawks are even more worried about other smuggling activities that bring over “drugs, guns and illegal aliens, which we don’t hear much about in the media or from the government.”
