Community members deliver notice to U.S. Border Patrol

A group of Akwesasne community members traveled by boat to the U.S. Border Patrol’s Massena headquarters last week and delivered a notice to them that they are no longer welcome in Akwesasne by land, air or sea.

The incident was sparked by controversy surrounding the April 12 river tragedy during which two Akwesasronon were chased in their boat first by RCMP officials, and then later by the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard vessel crashed into the Akwesasronon boat and both men were severely hurt with life-altering injuries.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and Mohawk Nation Council met following the incident and determined that an investigation was warranted. The Akwesasronon boat was not found to be in possession of anything illegal, according to MCA, and it was reported that the RCMP had initially tried to stop the boat because it had no headlights.

Kanietakeron (Larry Thompson), representing the Bear Clan, was accompanied by several other members of the community to the Border Patrol headquarters where he read a letter to two agents.

He stated, “This letter is to reiterate the command served upon your agency and agents on Monday, April 12, that Customs and Border Protection violated the peace and are not to return to our territory by land, water and air.”

One agent promised to pass on the message to his superior immediately.

Kanietakeron said to the men, “What happened the other night is not going to be tolerated. Two men were seriously injured as you well know. The bottom line is that if you disrespect this letter, this command, by the Supreme Law, the first law of the land, and go into our territory, whether by land, or by water or by air, we cannot guarantee your safety.”

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police are leading the investigation and the U.S. Coast Guard has agreed to stay away from Akwesasne pending the outcome of that investigation.

The incident is not the first police chase tragedy to occur in recent Akwesasne history. Two Mohawk police officers are currently on trial for their role in a 2008 police chase on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) that ended in a crash with the suspect being killed along with an innocent elderly couple crossing through the island’s main intersection. The Ontario Provincial Police conducted an investigation and determined that charges of criminal negligence causing death were appropriate for the officer who chased the suspect, as well as for the supervising sergeant. In that incident, it was determined that the suspect’s vehicle was loaded with untaxed tobacco.