Mohawks leaders “disturbed” by CBSA vehicle seizures

The ongoing bridge crisis between the Akwesasne Mohawks and the Canada Border Services Agency, or Canada Customs, escalated to new highs this week and this time even Akwesasne leaders have lost faith in a fair resolution to the summer-long border dilemma.

Last week, CBSA began seizing Mohawk-owned vehicles passing through the temporary port of entry in Cornwall, accusing vehicle owners of failing to report directly to Canada Customs when coming from the U.S. Since the relocation of the CBSA port off of Cornwall Island, Mohawks have traveled freely to their own territory of Cornwall Island (Kawehno:ke) and reporting to Canada Customs only when entering Canada, or Cornwall.

CBSA began seizing vehicles at their own discretion last week charging fines of $1,000 to vehicle owners in order to have their car returned. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne did not have an exact total of vehicles seized by CBSA in previous days, but it’s estimated at close to two dozen.

CBSA’s actions caused anger and outrage in Mohawks and when word spread that Mohawk vehicles were being seized, Akwesasne leaders began gathering in Cornwall and on Kawehno:ke, requesting emergency meetings with CBSA.

“The decision of the CBSA to act in this manner at this time is deeply disturbing to the Akwesasne leadership and community,” MCA said in an emergency press release on Friday. “It is not a good faith action and is extremely detrimental to the process to seek reconciliation of past grievances. It was this very treatment of the Akwesasne community that led to the abandonment of the Kawehno:ke Port by CBSA to begin with.”

MCA urged community members to “stop going to Cornwall while political and legal solutions to CBSA’s hostile actions are addressed.” The statement was meant as a warning to vehicle owners who might be subjected to seizure, not as a request to boycott Cornwall businesses.

MCA set aside $20,000 to help community members get their vehicles out of CBSA seizure. However, one community member declined the assistance based on principle and his belief that CBSA had no right to seize his vehicle.

“The CBSA has provided no rationale for this disturbing action,” MCA said. “Akwesasronon traveling to Kawehno:ke present no threat to Canada. They are not entering Canada, but traveling only within Mohawk territory. When they do travel to Cornwall, they report at the Cornwall Port as do every other visitor to Canada.”

It is unknown how CBSA is tracking vehicles; however it is alleged that a second camera placed in the last lane at U.S. Customs has been recording license plate numbers and using speed bumps to slow travelers and record accurate information. U.S. Customs told Mohawk leaders earlier this summer that they were not sharing information with the CBSA and that the speed bumps were for safety and to prevent individuals from running the U.S. border. On Wednesday of this week, the second camera was no longer at U.S. Customs.

The CBSA vehicle seizures have been sporadic, targeting everyone from schoolteachers to police dispatchers. CBSA even seized an MCA ambulatory transport vehicle, used to transfer patients to appointments.

The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs also issued a harsh statement against CBSA’s actions this week.

“This unprovoked and insensitive act by the CBSA is another demonstration that the Government of Canada has no intention to resolve this serious issue in good faith,” their statement read. “This petty gesture of bravado will no doubt agitate the already tattered relationship between Canada and the Mohawk Nation...The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs views this intimidation tactic as a violation of not only our sovereignty, but our basic human rights as Indigenous Peoples.”

Community members returning to Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island) from other parts of Akwesasne have opted not to report to the port in Cornwall for several reasons. Some have claimed sovereignty from Canadian jurisdiction while traveling within Mohawk land; others have felt that the hour-long wait at the temporary part is not only unnecessary but unsafe as the north span bridge is reaching its age limit.

MCA said they offered a plan to CBSA to have Mohawk Security at the abandoned Kawehno:ke port help with the reporting dilemma. Mohawks could report to Mohawk Security and head home on Kawehno:ke, rather than crossing into Cornwall and waiting in a long line over the bridge only to return back to the island. MCA said other CBSA ports allow residents to phone in their arrival when the port is closed late at night.

“These possibilities have been discussed with CBSA, but they have refused to consider them,” MCA said.

Mohawk leaders were still meeting this week to discuss further plans of action and position. Until then, MCA is advising Mohawks to avoid crossing into Cornwall as they face the possibility of vehicle seizure.

UPDATE: St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief James Ransom notified community members Wednesday night that he had been in contact with CBSA officials regarding the seizures. As of Wednesday, Sept. 23 CBSA told Chief Ransom they would stop seizing vehicles that have already been flagged by them for failing to report to the Cornwall port before going to Cornwall Island. CBSA will wipe the slate clean and will resume tracking vehicles that fail to report after 24 hours. Seizures of vehicles will continue to take place on Friday, Sept 25 for vehicles that have failed to report from that day forward.