MOHAWK COUNCIL OF AKWESASNE WANTS SUBSTANTIVE TALKS WITH CBSA TO BEGIN

AKWESASNE MOHAWK TERRITORY, — When CBSA closed the crossing through Cornwall Island on May 31, 2009, the Mohawks and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) agreed to form a Task Force on how to find long term solutions to the problems surrounding border crossing at Akwesasne. Then, when the CBSA moved its Port of Entry to the city of Cornwall it created other problems that severely impacted the daily life conditions and economies of the people of Akwesasne, Cornwall and surrounding communities.

When the CBSA was recently called to task, regarding how long this problem was taking, they issued media releases saying that they had been meeting with the Mohawks all along.  Unfortunately for the Mohawks and the Public, this is not the case.

On April 22, 2010, The Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Mike Mitchell, issued a statement to notify the public that there had NOT been any substantive discussions or meetings of the Task Force Group that is composed of Akwesasne leadership and high level officials of the Canada Border Services Agency since the fall of 2009.

As recently as June 2, 2010, CBSA has made public statements that, “the parties are working cooperatively and in a positive manner” on the implementation of four joint commitments: the establishment of an aboriginal liaison position, the introduction of aboriginal awareness training for border services officers; and the review and implementation of a new monitoring process and the hiring of aboriginal employees.

On this matter the MCA wishes to make the following clarification:

These four issues came about from a complaint filed by the MCA to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2006 that forced CBSA to sit down and mediate a solution. Although an MOU was drafted to finalize what had been agreed upon, it was never acted upon. MCA agreed to assign technicians to complete the task. MCA does not consider this process a form of negotiations and wish to remind CBSA that these obligations are already four years old and should have already been acted upon. We want to stress that these are not the major issues facing the Task Force and we need to resume the talks that addressed the real issues of contention. We cannot resolve the bigger picture if high level officials of CBSA don’t sit down to negotiate.

The Mohawk Council has repeatedly requested meetings with the CBSA management to discuss important issues at leadership Task Force meetings so that important day to day issues can be addressed. In addition to that, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has also been seeking a meeting with senior federal officials to discuss a creative, reasonable, feasible proposal for an interim solution which would re-establish near-normal crossing conditions so that Akwesasne and Cornwall’s economic recovery can begin.

The MCA would like to re-iterate the following:

The MCA would like to clarify that this year there has only been one informal meeting with CBSA Executive Vice-President Luc Portelance. Aside from that one meeting in January with a senior CBSA official, there were a few meetings between technicians to discuss administrative matters about the Temporary Port of Entry in Cornwall.

Following the January meeting, the MCA had agreed to put a hold on legal proceedings against the CBSA in the spirit of good faith. This was to allow both sides to continue discussions aimed at resolving our differences. Unfortunately, there have been no formal negotiations of any kind between the CBSA and the MCA since then.

The MCA has asked the CBSA for more meetings, but has not received any commitments from Ottawa that would result in real dialogue leading to practical solutions. With the one-year anniversary of the CBSA’s decision to move their facility off Kawehnoke, we would have expected that more progress would have occurred by now. Problems cannot be solved if people don’t sit down to discuss potential solutions.

The MCA remains committed and available to be consulted on all options regarding the long-term location of Canada Customs. We look forward to contributing toward a proposal that is satisfactory to the Mohawks of Akwesasne and to our neighbouring communities.

What do you think Canada?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON - Today marks the one year anniversary of the Seaway International Bridge Crisis.   On May 31st, at approximately 11:PM Canada Border & Security Agents left their posts at the behest of the Harper Government leading to a 42 day bridge closure.

Fast forward to today, the 1st Anniversary and there is the temporary customs base at the foot of Brookdale avenue in Cornwall Ontario.   There still are no CBSA Guns on the island.

Residents of the Akwesasne still have to report to the temporary station when entering Canada via the US and the Harper Government has yet to actually negotiate a resolution insisting on CBSA officials discussing issues with the MCA (Mohawk Council of Akwesasne)

The tent on the lot next to the old CBSA station now has a building on it as well as a tent.

There’s been one change of Grand Chief, to Mike Mitchell, and Minister Peter Van Loan has been replaced by Vic Toews.

While Liberal and NDP critics have visited the bridge, our MP, Guy Lauzon, as well as either minister or Mr. Harper himself, have not officially visited or reviewed the site.

A Federal election however is coming up and I doubt Mr. Harper will let Mr. Lauzon, his head of caucus, swing in the wind.   Then again his last head of caucus was Rahim Jaffer and we also saw his loyalty to Helena Guergis so weirder things have happened….

Illegal cigarette sales, while impacted initially have stabilized with a bag of cigarettes retailing for about $20 in the area with no shortage of supply.  Area businesses have been hit hard by the year long bridge closure as well.

So what if anything has been accomplished?   There’s also another underlying storm in that CBSA union officials essentially want CBSA guards to be paid equivalent to police officers if they’re armed.  Something the government isn’t that excited about.

So area residents what do you think of this year long mess? You can post your comments below.

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AKWESASNE ~ THE DANCE THAT’S SWEEPING THE NATIONS!
The Ronathahonni Cultural Centre to Hold 6^th Annual Smoke Dance Competition- May 22, 2010 @ the Akwesasne Mohawk School on Cornwall Island/Kawehnoke.

AKWESASNE - On Saturday, May 22^th, 2010 The Ronathahonni Cultural Centre will be hosting this year’s Smoke Dance Competition in the gymnasium of the Akwesasne Mohawk School on Kawehnoke. Registration will take place from 9:00AM  to 10:00AM. Competition to start promptly at 10:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM.

The Smoke Dance has been around for quite some time now, but is still considered a relatively new dance that has taken off on the pow-wow trail. What was once a dance for only men, has become a platform for our talented women to strut their stuff as well! This high energy, fast tempo dance is both thrilling and exhilarating for both dancer and spectator. You don’t want to miss this!

Prizes and gifts will be awarded for the following Smoke Dance categories:

Tiny Tots  Up to Age 5
Boys/Girls   Ages 6 ~ 11
Teen Boys/Girls Ages 12 ~ 17
Men/Women   Ages 18 ~ 44
Golden Age  Ages 45 and over

* Must have at least 4 dancers in each category

The RCC welcomes everyone to come out and enjoy a day of Smoke Dance Competition, Fun and Entertainment. Food and Craft vendors are welcome. There will be no charge for food/craft vendors but must provide your own tables. For more information, to pre-register or to book your table, please contact the RCC @ 613/932/9452.

FREE ADMISSION FOR SPECTATORS ~ $20 ENTRY FEE FOR DANCERS

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Cornwall ON -- A fire consumed an old CIL building on the former Domtar Inc. site in Cornwall Ontario resulted in the closure of the Seaway International Bridge early this evening.  5 Vehicles and 20 personnel were dispatched to the fire.

An ongoing investigation will initiate to determine the cause and nature of the blaze.

(Photos and information courtesy of Don Smith)

After much of the structure had burned, city firefighters turned two water cannons on the blaze which drew a large crowd.

We’re seeing a bunch of clips of the fire on You Tube such as this one:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAZBsYRykvE

One of our readers suggested that the fire was connected to a UFO sighting and submitted their You Tube Clip.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLxSdoQM3v8

We’ll update this story as more news comes across our desk.  If you have a hot news tip, photo or video email it to us at info@cornwallfreenews.com.  If we use your info we’ll give you full story/photo credit.

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Cornwall ON - Moneysense Magazine just came out with a list of the best cities to live in.   Cornwall Ontario finished at 92, but like any list of this nature you have to examine the criteria to better handle the information.

Cornwall is a beautiful city on the banks of a river that is in transition.  Long an industrial town of mills and factories it’s rapidly changing into a community evolving and sprouting in many areas.

Cleaner and Greener Growth – Many of the new industries evolving in Cornwall are cleaner.   We have call centres opening as well as distribution centres because of our work force; much of which is bilingual.  The city of Cornwall has an edge in utility costs thanks to long term agreements and use of cheaper Quebec electricity.

Location – Very few communities can touch the ease of access to Cornwall; especially for industry.    It’s situated on Highway 401, the main artery of traffic from Montreal to Toronto.   Via Rail services the city, and Ottawa is less than 90 minutes away as well.   The waterway and bridge to the US and nearby Massena offer a versatility rarely seen.

Like many “factory towns” the cost of housing was artificially low.   While rapidly catching up with nearby cities the value is still quite amazing which is why many retirees are flocking to Cornwall after selling their homes in nearby communities like Ottawa.  You can sell a $500K home in Ottawa and replace it easily in Cornwall for under $250K which adds to your nest egg with no noticeable loss in quality of life.

If anything there are a lot of benefits to living in Cornwall Ontario.     Going home for lunch.  How many people in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa have long commutes?  In Cornwall you generally can get anywhere in less than 10 minutes.   Traffic jams just don’t exist thanks to good traffic planning.

Shopping.   With the local shopping scene and shopping centres to those close by there’s plenty to see and do so that living in Cornwall really is living widely with all the area has to offer.

Moneysense uses several metrics that really don’t impact large parts of the population.  University for example.   While Cornwall currently doesn’t host a University there are many close by yet in the Moneysense calculations that makes Cornwall not as good as other cities.

Medical Care; now this is where Cornwall shines on the list (we’re number 38); chiefly because it’s close to Montreal and we get a lot of spill over doctors and professionals from there.  Add in how the community pulled together to help fund the new Hospital and you can see why Cornwall rates so high when it comes to medical support.   Yes it’s behind Kingston,but  Kingston has a Medical teaching hospital.

Crime.   Some have complained about high taxes in Cornwall(they actually are less than cities like Ottawa), but one of the big expenses has been in our highly skilled and acclaimed local police force.   It’s led to lower crime metrics from over all crime to severe crime.

Average income for Cornwall is also skewed as we have a large group of retirees in the area.   While a mecca for those who want to enjoy their golden years people generally don’t earn as much at that time of life.

Cornwall Ontario also has a key metric in that if you ever want to own your own home you’ll pay it off faster living here.  According to Moneysense it takes 2.69 years of average income to own a home vs 4+ years in many other communities.   The overall cost of living in Cornwall make up for some of lower average income numbers.

Family life.   Lower crime; cleaner air, better medical services and amazing recreational facilities like the Aquatic Centre and the new Arena Complex being built lead to a great place to raise a family.   Cornwall also has some great sports programs such as our Minor League Football program and a rapidly increasing Soccer infrastructure.  You can bike for miles along the waterfront with lots of cross country skiing available in the winter as well.

Cornwall Ontario also has a great Transit System that’s getting greener by innovative uses of small more environmentally friendlier buses.

Culture.  Cornwall is vibrant.  It’s a true Canadian mix with a lively French Culture mixed in with all sorts of Ethnic groups.   Cornwall also neighbors the First Nations community of Akwesasne.

For more information about Cornwall visit www.choosecornwall.ca – to see the entire list from Moneysense click HERE.

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And if you’re looking to relocate to Cornwall you can give Joe Gunn a ring and let his 25 years of experience help you find exactly what you’re looking for in this hot and expanding market!

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A Personal Journey: The Akwesasne Casino War, the Oka Crisis and the Canada Border Services Agency by Beverly Pyke

Akwesasne - Protesting community issues has been a family tradition and my family has been a promotor of education for as many years as I can remember.

My father protested the New York state education department in the late 60′s. The community boycotted the Salmon River Central School District. Native students are allocated monies to pay for their education from the state and the aboriginal population was not allowed to have a say in the direction that this funding would take. By keeping the students out of school and due to the lack of funding for those days that they weren’t in school, the school district allowed the community to have representation. My father was one of two people to become the first native representatives.

He was part of the education committee and he became the first President of the Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center. He developed a relationship with St. Lawrence University that continues to this day.

My parents had 12 children of whom there are 8 of us still alive. All of the children that survived to adulthood had at least a high school education. Many of us have more than that. We have professionals in the family and still believe that struggles should be fought with words rather than guns.

My family has given the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for our rights and beliefs. My brother Mathew was shot in the back on May 1, 1990 as he was exiting a vehicle in the district of Snye to assist a family that had been shot at all evening.

The ambulance was not allowed into the area and he was driven to Fort Covington in the back of a pickup truck. The ambulance from Fort Covington drove him to the hospital in Malone. He later succombed to the injuries that he received.

The funeral for Mathew was held in Kanatakon after a two night wake at the family residence. His body was carried to the church by the men. They alternated as they carried him for approximately one mile. At the border to Kanatakon all of the vehicles were searched by the Surete de Quebec. they were looking for weapons.

The tactical force searched the church before we got there and no one was allowed into the church until the funeral procession arrived. People were lining the streets before and after the funeral procession and taking videos and pictures.

My family was beaten, fire bombs thrown at our family residence,and shots fired at our homes because we did not agree with casinos and we were considered anti’s. It did not end with Mathew’s death, harassment continued long after his death. People would yell slurs at us as we were trying to get our lives back together. Yes, we have given the ultimate sacrifice by giving a life for the benefit of the community. No one has ever been charged with Mathew’s murder.

My parents have the answer now that they are both deceased.

After Mathew’s death, I returned to work in Kahnawake where I was a teacher at the Kahnawake Survival School. On July 11, 1990 the Oka Crisis began.

My daughter and niece had to be smuggled out of Kahnawake and taken to Plattsburgh so that they could be picked up by my family. They spent the rest of the summer with my parents.

With one of my friends I went to the front lines to see what support I could be. I was still suffering from my brother’s death and when I heard the men loading their guns, I realized that I could not support the fight at the front lines. I went home and rented videos to people that wanted to leave the struggle for a few hours as all of the media outlets were focused on the crisis.

I stayed as long as I could before I could no longer deal with the situation in Kahnawake.

This is the background that I come from and I will use words rather than guns to continue native struggles. My family has paid many times over for change in the community.

With this life experience I came to Kawehnoke last spring. On May 1, 2009 I watched as they were setting up for the protest against the arming of CBSA agents on Kawehnoke. It was the 19th anniversary of my brother Mathew`s death. We have a family get together in the Adirondacks to remember our brother and other deceased members of the family. I left the island and pondered the situation that would be coming in the following days. How long was it going to last and what would the results be.

I attended the protest over the bridge and watched from our van. I was still leary and could not committ to the struggle at that time. I had many thoughts running through my head and wondered what was going to happen. Is someone going to die in this struggle or can it be handled with clear minds.

I was there the night that CBSA walked away from the Port of Entry on May 31, 2009. It was with shock that I saw the officers leave their post. We decided to return to Cornwall that night. We weren`t prepared for an overnight stay.

The next day we walked over the bridge and went to the protest site. Once we went there and made the decision to be there, there was no looking back. It was not a decision to attain readily but with much serious thought and soul searching. Was I ready to make the sacrifice needed to support the cause. The answer so far has been yes.

We have been assisting members of the community when we are asked to help with issues at the current port of entry. A rapport has developed with some supervisors and some of the agents at the port. It has not always been easy, they have had their screaming matches and now have a respect for each other.

We have been working with different agencies and people to try to resolve the issues relating to the arming of the border guards.

My partner has seen the highs and lows that I have had since 1990. I have suffered from post tramatic stress from my brother Mathew`s death and I lived through the Oka Crisis.

One of the images I have is riding through the country with one of my brother`s and saw a farm tractor on the side of the road. I didn`t see a tractor, I saw an armored personnel carrier! That was from the army being in Akwesasne and Kahnawake during 1990.

I personally don`t want to see the army in any native community again.

My motivation and that of my partner should not be questioned, we are there to see a peaceful resolution to the question of the arming of the border guards.

The anniversary of the beginning of the physical presence of onkwehonwen on Kawhnoke at the 4 corners is fast approaching. May 1, 2009 is the day that it began. May 31, 2009 is the date that CBSA walked out. We are still waiting for a peaceful resolution.

Beverly Pyke is a member of the Akwesasne Peoples Fire and a retired teacher who taught special needs students in a high school setting in Kahnawake for a number of years. She is a mother, grandmother and the eldest of the Pyke children.

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Cornwall ON - It should be an interesting round at City Council Monday night.    Councilor Mark MacDonald is curious why there were any negotiations with Akwesasne about the Cornwall Waterfront while the Akwesasne Liason Committee of the city has never had a single meeting?   A committee he supposedly sits on.

The waterfront is a huge opportunity for the area, but because of land claims Akwesasne is a stake holder.    While the claims remain unclear and so far uncontested in court, at one point when Transport Canada attempted to initiate a sale  of the lands there were chats with Akwesasne directly from the Federal government.

Councilor Denis Thibault has initiated actions to create an agency to oversee development of the waterfront area of Cornwall; much of which is currently owned by the Federal Government of Canada.

Mr. MacDonald was categoric that no deals can be made regarding the waterfront without Akwesasne being a partner; something echoed recently in my discussion with a representative of the MCA.

What do you think?  Feel free to post your comment below and I encourage people to attend City Council.  It’s free.  It’s reality TV, and you can really see how your tax dollars get spent and how the city is run.   The next meeting is Monday April 26th at 7PM in City Hall.

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Cornwall ON - The Tobacco Wars are heating up as Giant Phillip Morris enters the fray.  The Owner of brands such as Marlboro is funding advertisements against Native Cigarettes which already are under fire as they are smuggled into Canada as well as areas in the US and impacting the model of high taxation to pay for the medical costs of the victims of smoking.

LINK

At first glance, the ad’s Web site – collectthetaxny.com – may give the impression that the “we” referred to is a citizens’ group, but the “paid for by” attribution and site reveal that Collect the Tax New York is supported by Altria Client Services, Philip Morris’ parent company, and the New York Association of Convenience Stores – the arch enemies of Indian country cigarette retailers with whom the convenience stores compete.

Native-manufactured cigarettes have a cost advantage over Philip Morris products. Currently, Marlboros cost $65 a carton while Native-manufactured Niagara brand cigarettes cost $32 a carton.

While in Akwesasne recently the price of a bag of Native Cigarettes was $17 and the street price here in Cornwall Ontario is now about $20 from a low of $6 prior to the Seaway International Bridge Crisis.

Akwesasne is one of the biggest producers of legal and illegal native cigarettes which are transported all over the US and Canada.

We are going to be doing a four part series on the cigarette industry and its impact locally here in Cornwall Ontario and outside of our region.

You may send inquiries to info@cornwallfreenews or reach us at 613.361.1755.

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Warriors proud to announce first Head Coach

The Akwesasne Warriors are proud to announce the signing of the first Head Coach in franchise history Joe Phillips. “We have been interviewing several candidates to find the right man for the job, someone who’s diligent, poised with conviction and ready to make a difference in the world of Single “A” Professional hockey. We can’t wait to hit the ice in October for training camp with Phillips at the wheel”, states Owner Basem Awwad.

Joe Phillips will be beginning his first season as the Head Coach for the Akwesasne Warriors of the Federal Hockey Leagues inaugural season. Before accepting this position with Akwesasne, Joe spent four seasons as a coach with the Varsity Massena Central- NYS Division I team. Joe also held the position of assistant coach and Head coach for the Akwesasne Wolves junior B hockey team. Mr. Phillips is a well accomplished coach in the Box lacrosse world, having coached several teams ranging from High School, College, Junior and Senior A.  Joe Phillips graduated and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY.  He later received his master’s degree at SUNY Potsdam, NY.

Be on the lookout as the Akwesasne Warriors are holding an open tryout in Ottawa between April 30^th and May 2^nd at the Ray Friel Arena.  To register for the tryout fill out the registration form on the website and email it to bawwad@akwesasnewarriors.com . Available NOW are Season Ticket Packages online at www.akwesasnewarriors.com . You can also reserve your ticket packages directly through our head office 613-851-7394

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AKWESASNE WILL HOST CAREER FAIR 2010
1,100 Students and Exhibitors to Attend on April 23rd

Akwesasne Mohawk Territory - On Friday, April 23^rd, the Iohahi:io Akwesasne Adult Education and Training Center will be hosting Career Fair 2010 at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena on Cornwall Island (Kawehnoke) from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It is a highly anticipated and well-attended event for neighboring school districts, with this year marking the 10^th Career Fair that has consistently been held every other year.

“This year’s Career Fair is a much-needed event that comes at a critical time for schools and individuals looking for a rewarding career,” said Vincenette Cook, Program Manager for the Iohahi:io Akwesasne Adult Education and Training Center. She noted, “As the local economies continue to struggle, we are providing opportunities for those looking for meaningful employment and students looking to find a positive direction in life.”

Career Fair 2010 is scheduled to be an interactive and rewarding experience for all who take part in the morning event. It is anticipated to be as successful as previous events, with nearly 75 exhibitors and more than 1,100 students and individuals seeking a professional career planning to attend.

Exhibitors will include professional and trades representatives from a wide range of career fields and colleges, universities and other private and public training and educational organizations. Individuals will be able to choose from fields like law enforcement, education, health, community services and programs, and an assortment of other career areas.

Representatives will be available to share their knowledge about a particular field with career-minded individuals. Students and other visitors will be able to learn more about a career’s education and/or training requirements for employment.

Schools that attended previous fairs were the General Vanier Intermediate School, Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational, Salmon River Central School, Massena Central School, as well as students from the Madrid-Waddington and Lisbon School Districts.

The planning committee is extending an invitation for the public to attend, including those seeking employment or planning to continue their education.

Door prize drawings and refreshments will be available for all attendees throughout the event.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call 613-575-2754 and speak with Vincenette Cook.

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