Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

In December of 2010 I made a presentation to the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs followed by one to the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in April of last year.  I spoke at length about the need to establish a Mohawk Nation Department of Motor Vehicles as a natural, logical and badly needed extension of our status as a indigenous nation.

Both councils listened with interest as I explained how this can be done and why other entities, such as Canada and the US, had no choice but to acknowledge our inherent right to do this.  Other native nations in the middle part of Anowarakowa had done so, been challenged by individual states only to have the courts recognize their authority to regulate motor vehicles and issue drivers licenses.

Why not the Mohawks?

I told the leadership that the rules and regulations had been drafted and were ready to go.  The design of the license plates had been done as has the driver licenses, both of which exceed New York and Ontario identification standards. And the plates are as striking as plates can be with wampum colors and reflective numbers.

I said the Mohawk Nation DMV could be up and running within weeks as the computer registration program was complete.  It remained for the councils to tender the money to get started.

I put forth to both councils the following questions:

Why are the 3000 or so vehicles operated by the residents of Akwesasne paying Ontario, Quebec and New York registration fees?

Why are the thousands of Mohawks paying for driver licenses from these external agencies with many of our people compelled to “lie” as to where they live on Akwesasne territory?

Why are we enriching alien insurance agencies who too often gouge Mohawks simply because of where we live?

Why are we meekly asking these agencies, who care nothing about the Mohawk people, for permission to drive on our territory?

Why are the tribal and MCA police placed in the contradictory position of enforcing alien traffic laws when we have every right to establish our own?

Why can’t we establish our own vehicle inspection requirements and issue our own insurance?

Why can’t we keep the millions of dollars in vehicle and drivers fees here where we can employ our own people?

The financial logic is obvious. Take 3,000 or so vehicles and multiply that number by $100 (the average registration cost in Ontario and New York); that amounts to $300,000 per year. Now do the same for driver’s licenses and add another $300,000. Add another $300,000 for annual vehicle inspection fees. Now add an average of $1,000 per year for insurance for a total of $3,000,000.

The total of $3,900,000 is an excellent reason why this has to be done. And throw in extras for large trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, four wheelers, snowmobiles and trailers. That would bring the annual revenues far in excess of $4,000,000.

Now add to this the thousands of drivers and vehicles from Kanesatake, Kahnawake, Wahta, Tyendinaga, Ohsweken and Ganienkeh who can be a part of this according to our plans. Now that the leadership has, according to the Mohawk Nation Council, had the time to “sleep” on this plan it is time to put it into place. The plates are ready, the driver’s licenses are ready, the rules are ready, the computer programs set to go.

With an initial investment of $100,000, which is what I requested from the MCA and the Nation, the Mohawk DMV can be ready to go within 6 very short weeks.

But, as one of the Mohawk Nation leaders said, they would like to hear from the people. Fair enough. Call the MCA or the Nation Council and let them know what you think about this plan.  Look at the license plates from the other Native nations. And ask yourself if the Cherokees, our cousins, can do this why not us? And imagine the pride in having your own Mohawk Nation tags, all shiny white and glowing purple, on your favorite ride.