Akwesasne Mohawk Territory – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has enacted its Wildlife Conservation Law [19/85] to ensure the survival of our fish and wildlife species, to stock the rivers surrounding our territory, and to ensure that the ecosystems within our community are viable, clean and protected.
In accordance with the Conservation Law, our Conservation and Compliance Officers enforce the law to protect what we have worked hard to maintain – the beauty and viability of our rivers and lands.
We welcome surrounding communities to partner with Akwesasne to conserve all rivers and wildlife for future generations.
“The Mohawks of Akwesasne have made great strides over the past fifteen years in restocking our rivers with fish, and ensuring their survival,” states Kawehnoke District Chief Brian David. “We take our responsibility to the environment and to the rivers very seriously. It is nice to be an angler, but to be responsible you have to be a total fisherman. You have to think about what you’re taking out and what you are not replacing. You have to think about how your fishing day will affect the overall ecosystem of the river. It’s taken us fifteen years to stock our river, and it is our responsibility not to allow it to become depleted the way it was in the past.”
Seasonal fishing permits are issued by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Akwesasne Justice Department , and are available at local marinas and at the MCA Conservation offices in the village of Kanatakon (St. Regis). The fishing/angling licensing fee is $5 for a three-day permit or $10 for the season, which offsets some of the costs of Conservation patrols that protect our species from over-fishing, stop potential polluters from abusing one of the world’s largest freshwater bodies, and ensure that boater’s safety procedures are followed.
The MCA Conservation and Compliance Officers are mandated to enforce the Akwesasne Conservation law, which has been enacted to protect and conserve wildlife and habitat. MCA Conservation officers are also mandated to ensure that all Boaters Safety regulations are followed, for the protection of the operators and passengers of watercraft on the rivers surrounding Akwesasne. In accordance with the Akwesasne Conservation Law, a Conservation Officer has the right to confiscate the boat if found to be in violation of the law.
Throughout the years, MCA Conservation and Compliance Officers have assisted many people, including people from surrounding communities, in watercraft that have broken down – towing them back to mainland, at no charge. Officers also ensure that watercraft operators have the proper boat safety equipment, and are in compliance with operating regulations. Our Conservation Officers have cited boaters who were in possession of alcoholic beverages, as drinking and operating a boat is just as dangerous as drinking and operating a car.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne currently has plans to expand the river stocking program to include other native species, as the current program is limited to walleye. As for the enforcement of the Akwesasne Conservation Law, Grand Chief Mike K. Mitchell states that,
“the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes that Indigenous nations have the right to make their own laws, and this is exactly what the Mohawks of Akwesasne have done for themselves, in the interest of conserving and protecting our natural environment. The MCA Conservation Program will continue to conserve and protect our waters and wildlife, and ensure that generations to come will enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.”
Does this mean that you don’t have to get a Provincial fishing license if you have a MCA fishing license? Do you need both? How big an area does the MCA license cover?
My father has been towing people into shore for the past 50 years and never once brought up any amount of money for helping anybody in need on the river and thats the way it should be right.
“Grand Chief Mike K. Mitchell states that,
“the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes that Indigenous nations have the right to make their own laws, and this is exactly what the Mohawks of Akwesasne have done for themselves, in the interest of conserving and protecting our natural environment. The MCA Conservation Program will continue to conserve and protect our waters and wildlife, and ensure that generations to come will enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.””
Isn’t that what harper refused to sign into? Also, we are no longer part of the UN Security council, I think that says a lot about where harper stands on what the UN has to say… And what the UN has to say about harper…
Grimalot were not part of the UN Security Council because Stephen Harper refused to buy our way in as is usual. We could have bought a number of small countries trying to secure their votes, but we didn’t! If we can’t get in there the right way then let’s not get in there at all. Canada did the right thing!
How nice it must be to be able to opt in or out of laws / declerations to suit your desires.
Reg, Aborginals do not need an outdoor card + fishing licence, however, there is wording that would only apply to personal use and must not be out of traditional areas.
I noticed there was no mention of nets in the article!
Stan, Harper said we didn’t get a seat on the Security Council because of something Iggy said to a reporter.
Yes Furtz, Iggy made a very nasty comment about Canada “NOT DESERVING A SEAT” on the Security Council. That certainly didn’t help our cause any. It’s hardly surprising though because Iggy can’t really be considered a Canadian since he’s lived in the USA for 30 years. The Liberals imported their leader from the USA. That says it all!
I’m no Iggy fan, but every now and then he does speak the truth. The “just visiting” BS has just about worn itself out.
Relevant facts, please, Stan. Canada failed to get a seat on the Security Council in large part because:
1) Harper turned his back on Africa and its many nations
2) Harper turned his back on climate change, which is a real threat to many voting nations
3) On an earlier occasion Harper represented himself at a Tim Hortons rather than represent Canada at the United Nations
When he was rebuffed by the UN Security Council vote, he chose to blame Ignatieff– a pathetic, spoilt-baby excuse.
Hi PJR,
Good post and if you’re around Sunday afternoon it’d be nice if you could join us at Island Ink Jet in Cornwall!
Thanks for the invite, admin. Another commitment, I believe. We’ll see.
Turned his back on Africa or refused to support a country that is run by criminals. What do you noetstly think we could do to help Africa? Just look at all the other countires we try and help, Afghanistan for one.
Harper did not turn his back on climate change, what he do is refuse to become entangled with the newest craze in the industrial revolution called the green initiative.
United nations, is that not a slight contradiction to what happened at the G8 summit, People complained about the money wasted for a mettingt hat could achieve the same as result, instead we just revolted about how it was done.
Smee hope to see you Sunday at Island Ink Jet for Coffee and Munchies starting at 1 PM. Happy 2011!
All the arguments aside, didn’t harper absolutely refuse to sign on to the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? I think out of many countries, harper and Canada were one of the very few that refused to ratify that agreement.. hence why I said it shows how much the UN and their views means to harper and how much harper means to the UN by getting turfed like he should have been long ago..
But we can sit here questioning about paying 500 grand for meds to live, we can question flu shots, we can question everything, while our country as a whole is making the counterclockwise circumference down a toilet pipe..
When will all these citizens of our country see what is going on, and wake up, turf these aholes and start taking our country back for once? or is it all about oil as well?
Happy 2011, glad to see birds dropping out of the sky in places, all our hydro costs skyrocketing, I am really happy to see what is coming along so far… I smell a massive revolt soon enough, from all angles, on our government that are just as useless as ever!