Guards abandon Customs on Cornwall Island amid gun debate

Canadian border guards abandoned the Canada Border Services Agency Port of Entry on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) Sunday night just before midnight when new regulations were to go into effect permitting them to carry guns. Mohawk protestors had been occupying an area adjacent to the Customs building since May 1, 2009, peacefully protesting guns at Canada’s only port of entry on a First Nations territory.

Although the protests had been non-violent throughout the month, the CBSA guards volunteered to leave the premises Sunday as hundreds of protestors gathered at the crossroads near the Customs building, with signs among them proclaiming their arguments that “Guns Kill.” At 11:45 p.m. Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Timothy Thompson approached the crowd and stated that the guards had vacated the premises and headed south, into the United States. As a result, the Three Nations Bridge corridor was shut down to any incoming traffic to Cornwall Island. Akwesasne Mohawk Police and Cornwall Community Police blocked traffic at the foot of the northern bridge span in Cornwall, and New York State Police and U.S. Border Patrol blocked traffic on the U.S. side in Rooseveltown, near the U.S. Port of Entry. Traffic was allowed to leave Cornwall Island either north or south, but no traffic was allowed onto the island.

Following news that the Customs had been abandoned, an eerie calm swept over the crowd and without any traffic coming onto the island, the scene was quiet.

“This is great, you see the unity of Akwesasne,” said Josh Sargent. “This is really positive. This is our territory and we’re showing it.”

In the weeks and months leading up to June 1, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs had offered their support to MCA and people representing all different groups in Akwesasne came together at the tent and remain there. Representatives from both longhouses, MCA and the SRMT have unified in a battle that is about more than just guns.

“A lot of people are feeling that this should be bigger than just the guns,” said Barbara Tarbell. “Maybe now is the time to push them right off the territory.”

Beginning in 2006, MCA was alerted to an increase in alleged incidents of harassment at the CBSA Cornwall Island port. MCA began formerly collecting those complaints at that time. The complaints range from alleged provoking and intimidation tactics by Customs guards, to issues over the enforcement of taxation on tax exempt Mohawks. MCA has made numerous requests to CBSA and Government Canada to meet regarding the complaints and their requests have gone unmet. MCA and other supporters of the gun issue feel strongly that adding weapons to an already tense situation is not the answer. They are asking CBSA to look at alternatives to arming their guards at the Akwesasne port.

Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan has denied that request however. On June 1, he told media that Akwesasne will not be an exception to the arming regulation and that the Customs on Cornwall Island will remain closed until Mohawks agree to allow armed guards there.

“A decision was taken to close that crossing,” said Van Loan. “That will remain the case until such time as the local Mohawk band indicates they are willing to accept the border officers being armed as is government policy.”

Grand Chief Thompson told a large group of reporters on Kawehno:ke Monday afternoon that Mohawks will not give in.

“We are here for the long haul!” he exclaimed to a swarm of media.

He also denied reports that the Customs agents had left because of threats made by Mohawks, which has been widely reported in Canadian media.

“There were no threats made to them,” he stated.

Thompson reiterated the Mohawks’ position against guns at the Cornwall Island port, and reminded reporters that MCA has submitted numerous complaints of harassment to Government Canada and the Human Rights Commission.

“Our community has been squeezed to the limit,” he said. “We know that there are hot heads in this (Customs) compound…we have filed complaints to no avail.”

In addition to the issue of arming guards already accused of instigating confrontations with Mohawks, protestors also argue that guns should not be permitted in a residential area. A few feet from the Customs building is a recreation park where children practice lacrosse. Just across the road is the island’s main convenience store, and homes are a stone’s throw away.

Further, Mohawks argue that they were never consulted regarding the guns. As the port is located on Mohawk territory, protestors believe the decision to arm should rest in their hands and they’ve sent that message to CBSA for the past year.

“This is the only one (Customs port) on Indian land and it doesn’t sound like they want to listen to us at all,” said Corey Tarbell. “I think everyone’s just feeling a lot of frustration (against CBSA). The guns are just another issue.”

While some protestors want to take it as far as to push CBSA entirely off the territory, Corey Tarbell said he would be satisfied if they just agreed not to arm the Cornwall Island guards.

Some individuals however feel that this is the time to take action, not the time to negotiate.

“The problem with negotiating is that they’ve already broken every single negotiation we’ve ever made with them,” Sargent said.

On Sunday evening MCA Chief Administrative Officer Sheree Bonaparte and Grand Chief Thompson addressed the crowd at the tent and reminded them of what was to come with the closure of the bridges. School would likely be cancelled (and was for three days), and boats would be needed for transportation and supplies.

“Some people are thinking this could last for days,” Bonaparte said.

While she expressed a hope that the issue would be resolved by noon on Monday, it was not.

On Monday afternoon, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Chief Jerry Swamp told the crowd that he negotiated with officials to allow Akwesasne traffic to cross and back and forth from Cornwall to Cornwall Island. However, neither Akwesasne traffic nor any other traffic is allowed from the U.S. onto Cornwall Island unless CBSA agrees to place a Customs guard at the U.S. port of entry in Rooseveltown.

As of Wednesday, the bridges remained in their partially closed state and Cornwall Island residents continued to struggle with plans for school and work. Boat traffic increased throughout the first few days on the St. Lawrence River and many boaters spent hours transporting Akwesasne residents back and forth between the mainland and Cornwall Island. By Wednesday afternoon, a barge was up and running ferrying vehicles from the mainland to the island.

Grand Chief Thompson, who has continued to give regular briefings at the tent, said the CBSA’s vice president had agreed to meet with MCA to discuss the opposition to arming. A meeting is to be scheduled within the next few days.