Dear Editor:

I have just read the article from the Mohawk Council ofAkwesasne and I know what they are saying is true is every regard except for one aspect. When they say that they are for the humane treatment of all their people I would clearly have to disagree.

My husband is a community member and his human rights were violated by the people that swear an oath to protect him; the Akwesasne Mohawk Police. My husband could have died while be detained illegally by the Police while his livelihood was stolen - That is criminal and were is the Justice for him. The substation that they speak of at Canadian Customs is the same station were they again detained my husband after his release knowing he needed his diabetic medication, while more of his items were being taken away with the guidance of the police sergeant in charge. Was the Indian Act repealed. Also the laws that they say are there to protect First Nation People were put aside in my husbands case.

Maybe those chiefs forget that it was my husband that put up the red gate next to the toll booth that opened the door to negotiations for free passage for all First Nation People and the natural gas line that crosses the land of the Mohawks. It was also my husband that drove his truck under the heavy equipment when the south portion of the bridge was being repaved so some community members would have work on their own land. He was not a Chief at those times; disregarding his own safety for his community.

When my husband was being harassed by the Mohawk Police and it was brought to the attention of Council they ignored his pleas. The laws that were put in place to protect him were pushed aside to serve nonmembers, these nonmembers have created havoc in more then just my husbands life.

My husband has always served his community first and foremost. Yesterday his daughters marched for their father hoping that people will see that Council chooses who is entitled to their human rights and that their father was stripped of his.

They talk about being ignored by the Canadian Government well “they should not throw stones when they live in a glass house”; so to say. The community should also know that this is an election year for those chiefs and where were they three years ago when all this abuse was happening at Canadian Customs, maybe this is just an opportune time for them with their own personal agenda.

All my husband asked of Council before his illegal arrest was for “The madness to stop!”; it hasn’t.

Respectfully Yours,

Donna Benedict