Standoff reveals split in tobacco trade opinion

A crowd of police officers and community members gathered on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) Tuesday evening when an attempt to arrest an individual for tobacco-related offenses was stopped by the person’s family and others who had gathered.

The individual is said to have been driving a vehicle with no plates and police said the van pulled out in front of them, initiating police action.

“Upon conducting a visual inspection, the Mohawk officer noticed a large quantity of contraband tobacco in the vehicle, an offense under the Federal Excise Act,’ said the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in a statement. “Within a short time, a large crowd had gathered demanding the release of the driver and the contraband tobacco. The crowds obstructed the arrest of the driver and seizure of the tobacco.”

According to Priscilla Thompson, a family member of the accused who submitted a letter to Indian Time regarding the incident, police were on private property.

“Members of my family did not feel that the police department had any right to come onto our land, arrest a family member and seize a vehicle and its contents,” she said.

Police, who later released the driver and the van, said charges are pending against those who obstructed justice Tuesday.

The group gathered at the site had stated Canadian tobacco laws don’t’ apply to Akwesasne, a point Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Tim Thompson disagrees with.

“Federal criminal law applies to all First Nations communities,” he said. “Last night’s incident has made clear that this issue extends beyond law enforcement and requires Mohawk leadership to work cooperatively in seeking a political solution…The voice of the community has not been heard on this issue.”

Chief of Police Lewis Mitchell said, “What is not being considered by groups in our community is the impact of contraband tobacco on the health and safety of our own community.”

Thompson, however, identified the tobacco trade as a way to make a living.

“It provides many jobs and a way to sustain numerous Akwesasne families,” she wrote. “It is important to a lot of people in this community.”

The Kanien’kehá:ka Kaianerehkowa Kanonhsesne People of the Longhouse also issued a statement calling for further meetings to discuss the tobacco trade.

“The Kanien’kehá:ka Kanonhsesne rejects the authority of the St. Regis Police and considers it treasonous for any resident of Akwesasne to attempt to assist in the enforcement of outside jurisdictions on the territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka,” they said in a statement. “The Kanien’kehá:ka Kanonhsesne support the People in resisting efforts of the ST. Regis Police to serve as instruments of the OPP, QPP and RCMP. The Kanien’kehá:ka Kanonhsesne will stand with other residents to continue to obstruct the illegitimate authority of this police force until its efforts to the enforcement of Canadian laws permanently cease.”

Grand Chief Thompson is encouraging community members to direct their concerns regarding federal law this Thursday.

“We encourage community members to voice their concerns against any federal policy on Parliament Hill as part of the National Day of Action,” he said. “We also ask Mohawk leaders to work together to achieve a peaceful resolution to this issue.”