Unity rally planned as Canada prepares to arm border guards

The community of Akwesasne will come together Friday morning on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) for a unity rally that is in part intended to send a message to Government Canada that Mohawks are against the arming of border guards.

Canada Border Services Agency officers – like those in the booths at the Cornwall Island port of entry – will begin carrying guns on June 1, 2009.

“The Canadian Customs on Kawehno:ke is the only border facility located on First Nations territory and it is situated in the middle of a residential district,” said the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in a statement last month. “Given this fact, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne continues to be adamantly opposed to the arming of custom officers.”

MCA, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, are participating in Friday’s rally, with MCA leading organization efforts. However, the event is a community-driven event.

“This is a unified effort,” said Brendan White, MCA Media Specialist.

Organizers are insisting on keeping the rally peaceful.

“It’s not intended to disrupt traffic or to shut down the bridges,” White said. “That is not the intention. It’s a public demonstration to show our community’s opposition to Canada’s plan to arm custom officers.”

MCA has actively been collecting complaints from community members regarding their treatment at the Cornwall Island Customs. A number of controversial occurrences launched MCA’s investigation.

Joyce King is responsible for collecting the complaints those complaints at MCA.

“When I see it, it’s heartbreaking, the racism that’s coming out towards our people,” she said. “There are a lot of complaints and I feel I don’t see (CBSA) addressing them.”

Allowing the same guards who are accused of harassing or discriminating against Mohawk people to now carry guns is a matter the community is whole-heartedly against.

“If they’re armed, I am going to be really afraid for Mohawk people,” King said.

MCA has reached out to numerous officials in an effort to stop Canada from moving forward with their plan. They’ve requested assistance and/or meetings from the current and former minister of public safety as well as from Prime Minister Harper.

“All of those requests have yet to receive a response,” White said.

Friday’s rally will draw attention to the danger of arming customs guards. It will also pay homage to Akwesasne’s Saiowisakeron, or Jake Ice, who died 110 years ago at the hands of non-Native police while he was attempting to protect the sovereignty of the Akwesasne people.

A statue of Saiowisakeron stands at the crossroads on Cornwall Island in front of the customs building. Friday’s rally, which is taking place on Saiowisakeron Day, will be held beneath the statue.