Press-Republican

Compromise in armed-agent dispute

Survey to gauge attitude of St. Regis Mohawks

By DENISE A. RAYMO

AKWESASNE — A survey continues today on a possible conclusion in the dispute over the issuance of weapons to Canadian customs agents on St. Regis Mohawk land.

For the third evening since Nov. 9, community residents on the south side of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation will be randomly called and asked their opinions about the ongoing issue, which has raised tensions and shortened the patience of many.

The survey has two questions:

  "Do you want the Canadian Border Services Agency operation to return to the customs facility on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island)?"

  "If yes, should CBSA employees be allowed to return to carry out their duties as armed officers at the customs facility on Kawehno:ke?"

HOW IT STARTED
The dispute closed the Seaway International Bridge for six weeks this summer when agents with the Canadian Border Services Agency were pulled off the job just as the policy to issue a sidearm to all agents was about to begin.

Akwesasne Mohawks and their supporters had gathered at the customs house on Cornwall Island to protest the issuance of weapons, saying the facility is in a residential area with children nearby. They also felt some agents have harassed them and subjected them to racial profiling.

The protest prompted Canadian authorities to pull their agents out and close the customs house. That forced the American side of the bridge to close, too, and angered many business owners because of the loss of revenue and commerce.

Canada set up a temporary customs-inspection station in the City of Cornwall and reopened the bridge, but again it earned the anger of Akwesasne by requiring Cornwall Island residents returning from the United States to report to Canadian customs before going home. Those who did not report saw their vehicles seized and impounded the next time they stopped at customs.

COMPROMISE PLAN
Negotiations have been nearly fruitless until recently when the Border Service Agency opened the possibility of compromise and agreed to:

  Hire an aboriginal-liaison officer at the Port of Entry to take community complaints. The person hired would be chosen by a committee of an equal member of representatives from the Tribal Council and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and would first become a trained Border Service officer.

  Recruit First Nations people to work at the Port of Entry. Four people already in training with the Border Service are willing to relocate to Cornwall, and Canadian authorities would work with the Akwesasne Employment Resource Center on creating a recruiting program for Akwesasne residents.

  Establish a Cultural Sensitivity Training Program, three days of intensive programs set up by the Akwesasne Leadership Task Force.

STUDENTS SURVEYING
The Public Information Office of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council brought in a number of SUNY Potsdam students to conduct the survey to ensure the information is anonymous, said Aimee Benedict, the office's publications manager.

"They are calling from the Tribal Building and are making calls from a list of telephone numbers with no names," she said. "We're using college students because they won't recognize the voices of the people, and the people won't recognize their voices."

She said the Tribal Council would like to have responses from at least 200 community members; 150 surveys have already have been taken.

The final series of calls will be made from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today. The results are expected to be released within a few weeks.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com