Mohawk protests continue

CORNWALL, Ontario — The St. Regis Mohawk tribe has one weekend left to protest the arming of Canadian border officers, and it plans to make the most of it.

The Canadian Mohawk Council of Akwesasne planned rallies for Friday evening and noon today. This weekend is the last time the tribe will be able to protest before the guards are armed with Beretta 9mm handguns Monday.

"We remain hopeful that federal officials will see the need to have meaningful dialogue with Akwesasne leadership," tribal spokesman Brendan F. White said. "Arming Canadian customs officers is not scheduled to be complete until 2016. There is no urgent need to begin the arming on Monday."

Last week, Mohawk leadership traveled to Ottawa to attempt to meet with the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Canadian Border Services Agency president and the Public Safety minister. Only CBSA President Stephen Rigby was available.

This weekend will be the third weekend of protests at the customs station.

The first was May 1, to commemorate the 1899 death of Jake Ice, a Mohawk activist who was killed by Canadian officials. About 70 people turned out to hand out leaflets and lend support.

On May 9, about 250 people marched across the bridge connecting Cornwall Island with Massena.

After calling for assistance from the New York State Police, officials closed the international span during Friday night's protest.

"We're asking people to keep it peaceful and to exercise good judgment for their actions. We are not asking people to block the bridge; in fact, we are discouraging people from doing that," Mr. White said. "Our issue is not with the bridge corporation; it is with the customs officers."

The tribe contends that arming customs officers on Cornwall Island, which is part of the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, will interfere with its sovereignty and exacerbate an already tense situation.

There have been issues of racial profiling, and a few complaints have been filed with the Canadian Human Rights Office, according to a tribal press release. Additionally, the customs building is in a residential area and the tribe fears for residents' safety.

"No one wants to live in an armed camp," Mr. White said.

Canada began arming its border officers in 2006. To date, about 870 of 4,800 officers have been armed, according to Tracie Leblanc, spokeswoman for the CBSA.

The Mohawks will not cease their protests if the Canadian officers are armed Monday, Mr. White said.

"Right now, I guess we're in a wait-and-see mode," he said.