U.S.-Canada Border Crossing Closed Over Mohawk Akwesasne Protests

by Jarrett Martineau | June 11, 2009 at 12:30 pm

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In response to Mohawk Akwesasne protests against the planned arming of Canadian border agents, Canadian officials have barricaded and closed a bridge that spans the St. Lawrence river — and links Ontario and northern New York.

Canadian authorities...shut down the Seaway International Bridge into the United States at Cornwall last Monday. The bridge, which spans the St. Lawrence River, handles about 2.4 million crossings annually.

The Akwesasne protesters are angry about guards being allowed to carry guns, because they say it violates their sovereignty, and increases the likelihood of violent confrontations.

The federal public safety minister said Sunday the border crossing might be shut permanently unless Mohawk leaders accept a decision to arm border guards.

The border station sits on sovereign Mohawk Akwesasne territory and the bridge divides the Mohawk reservation in half. Members of the community are upset with the closure, as many travel across the bridge multiple times a day. The closure has effectively split families and neighbors.

Officials have closed the bridge since last weekend and currently have no plans to re-open it.

Brandon White, spokesman for the Mohawk reservation that straddles this border, says the decision to close the route split families and neighbors.

"On a typical day, they're crossing the bridge five, six times a day — you know, to go get groceries, to go to work, to drop their kids off at school," he says.

U.S. and Canadian officials have been beefing up security along the northern border since Sept. 11.

The community has held peaceful protests in response to the proposed plan to arm border agents, however, this resulted in Canada Customs allegedly feeling "threatened" and prompted them to close the bridge and the border crossing.

The vigils here have been peaceful, but on June 1, Canadian customs agents left their offices, locked the doors and closed the border — saying they felt threatened by the crowd of protesters.

Speaking on CTV television, Peter Van Loan, Canadian public safety minister, said his officers will not return without their guns.

"They'll have to accept armed border officers there," he said. "And what we're looking at is a potential long closing and, as a result, we are right now examining the long-term viability of that particular port of entry."

In response to the Canadian government's unwillingness to reconsider its decision to arm border officers, the Mohawk community has begun ferrying people across the river.

As part of their protest, they have organized a volunteer ferry service of skiffs and pontoon boats to carry Mohawks across the St. Lawrence River — effectively bypassing Canada's blockaded bridge.

Canada has not yet cracked down on the ferries, which provide exclusive transportation for Mohawk tribal members.

Other travellers must drive to the next US-Canada border crossing, almost an hour away.

Travellers have been advised to use a point of entry at Prescott, which is 60 kilometres west, or the Dundee crossing, which is 17 kilometres southeast.

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Albert Milliron

at 14:49 on June 11th, 2009

Jarrett: Boy this is a tough one. Sovereignty vs Border security. Closing a bridge seems like a legal issue as well. I'd hate to make the decision on this one. Good story and something I havent seen anywhere else.

dunkelberg

at 14:57 on June 11th, 2009

So, now we must add Native Americans to the list of people of whom we are officially afraid.

Nice.

Amy Judd

at 15:05 on June 11th, 2009

I don't understand - why would we be afraid of them? Do you mean that in a sarcastic way?

Jarrett Martineau

at 15:06 on June 11th, 2009

dunkelberg, the Canadian Customs officers are the ones planning to return with guns.

Why "must" you be "officially afraid" of anyone?

A. Tran

at 15:40 on June 11th, 2009

It's rather unfortunate that the border station sits in the middle of the Mohawk land.

I wonder why did the Canadian authority needs to arm the guards?

KMohawk (not verified)

at 17:22 on June 12th, 2009

Afraid of Native Americans, who can't be on their own reservation without having guns pointed at them? And threats of terrorism? Seriously. Since when has the Mohawk community ever made a terrorist threat? And yes, there is a smuggling issue on the rez, but does that mean we're all smugglers? Why is it that I can't be on my own land without being looked at like I'm a criminal. This whole thing is insane. We need to get to work, to make clean money, to be able to support ourselves and our families. Our children need to get to school. You "reserve" us this land, but you're going to infiltrate it with guns, and tell us we can't travel throughout it. Does that make sense to anyone?

Skweegie (not verified)

at 23:22 on June 25th, 2009

Hi, im mohawk from st regis qc.

Just a quik note, sinse the cbsa building has been closed instead of border nazis with guns, there are now children playing where once armored cars and white people occupied on our territory.

this is a peaceful protest which none of us are carrying guns. they attacked us while we asked for peace. what does that have to say about their intentions?

white people who call us terrorists because we dont want nazis camped out with guns in our backyard are rediculous. words like terorist are the reason the army wants to join in on the fun.