AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is informing the community that trespassing action against representatives of the “Akwesasne People’s Fire” and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne have been discontinued. The plaintiff – the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited – agreed to discontinue the action following the outcome of MCA’s recent plebiscite concerning the international corridor buildings.
The FBCL had filed suit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against the Akwesasne People’s Fire representatives in order to force them to relocate. The group had erected buildings in the international corridor on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) following the 2009 controversy with the Canada Border Services Agency. The FBCL objected to these buildings and pursued legal action. MCA joined as a defendant to ensure the protection of the inherent & jurisdictional rights of the Mohawks of Akwesasne. The FBCL recently agreed to discontinue the case if MCA would agree the buildings should be demolished or removed.
A plebiscite conducted by MCA this past April asked community members if they supported the removal of the Akwesasne People’s Fire buildings along with the abandoned CBSA buildings. Voters overwhelmingly opted for removal.
MCA was notified of the discontinuance on June 11, 2014. Future dates for these proceedings are cancelled.
189 people voting in a plebiscite is not a consensus. The judge agreed to a consensus of the community. Why does everyone think 189 votes is enough. It was not enough for Indian Affairs and it should not have been enough for the judge but now there will be no ruling on that because the FIBC discontinued their suite. End of story Long live the Peoples Fire!
Spiritbear….189 votes in the plebiscite shows that the same type of apathy exists everywhere when it comes to elections, plebiscites, etc. People don’t care any more about what happens.