[news] Mohawks block highway near Oka, Que., reserve over band dispute

[ron]

From: mick <mick at nefac.net>

If anyone has further news, analysis, or background on this I'd be 
interested in reading it. I''ll be maintaining a log on 
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=000649 of 
related articles. It's also a discussion board so feel free to chime in 
with your $0.02.

Cheers,
Mick

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Mohawks block highway near Oka, Que., reserve over band dispute

KAHNESATAKE, Que. (CP) - Demonstrators burned the band chief's house, 
torched a car, and blocked a highway Monday night to protest the 
dismissal of the Mohawk community's police chief and a renewed effort to 
fight contraband cigarette sales.

Grand Chief James Gabriel, had reportedly received threats after seeking 
a tougher stand on crime on the reserve, particularly the sale of 
contraband cigarettes.

Some of the protesters said the protest was sparked by news that the 
RCMP was preparing to raid the reserve to shut down the cigarette sales 
points, which have grown to 27 along a three- kilometre stretch of 
highway near the reserve. There were only three such places two years ago.

Gabriel left the community shortly before his house and car were 
destroyed by fire. No one was in the house at the time of the fire and 
there were no injuries. Fire trucks were not able to get around 
barricades to fight the blaze.

The protest followed a decision by Gabriel and the band council to 
replace the police chief and hire extra officers to combat the 
burgeoning contraband cigarette traffic on the reserve. The protesters 
claim the sales bring much-needed money into the reserve economy.

Earlier in the day, Gabriel said that the reserve's police, called 
Peacekeepers, had been ineffective in combating contraband on the reserve.

"Since 2001, there has been a decline in the work of our police," 
Gabriel said. "They haven't done any raids for two years, they haven't 
moved. We want to bring back order."

Several people were seen going to Gabriel's house with clubs and it was 
reportedly ransacked before being burned.

About 30 people also felled trees to block a highway near the reserve. 
One of the large pine trees lay in the exact spot where Mohawks 
overturned Quebec provincial police cars and used them as barriers 
during the 178-day land claims crisis at the reserve that was only 
resolved after Canadian troops were brought in.

Another group hovered outside the headquarters of the Peacekeepers.

The group, which gathered around a bonfire in the chill, kept a number 
of the Peacekeepers from leaving the building and the cars parked behind 
a fence. A small pile of baseball bats, boards and golf clubs lay nearby.

About 40 Peacekeepers were in the station, most of them reportedly 
invited by Gabriel from other aboriginal reserves to help in dealing 
with the cigarette trade.

At one point in the evening, the mob stood facing the police officers at 
the fence surrounding the headquarters and taunted them. Some of the 
Peacekeepers told the protesters they had to go out and patrol and 
members of the crowd replied that only local Peacekeepers would be 
allowed on the road.

Quebec provincial police did not immediately intervene and were not 
asked to help out, said Const. Chantal Mackels of the provincial force.

She said provincial police stationed a lone cruiser on the highway to 
reroute traffic and prevent drivers from running into the downed trees. 
Provincial police do not have jurisdiction on the reserve.

The band council concluded a deal with Ottawa in November to crack down 
on contraband cigarettes on the reserve.

Those who favour the trade said they had been told recently that the 
RCMP was preparing to move in.

The newly appointed police chief started Monday.

Sonia Gagner, a member of the seven-person police commission, said the 
decision to hire the new police officers was done unilaterally without 
the commission's knowledge.

"It wasn't (a decision by) the community or by the commission," she 
said. "We're there to work for the people of the community and as 
liaisons between the leaders and the people of the community.

"Our job is to keep the peace. . . . but we haven't been able to do that 
tonight."

Reports said several cars - including some belonging to the 
Peacekeepers, were damaged in the protest.

The reserve, near Oka, Que., gained national headlines during the 1990 
Oka land claims standoff that saw one police officer killed when police 
stormed barricades erected to prevent expansion of a nearby golf course 
onto land the Mohawks considered sacred.