Mohawks put police under siege

By JONATHAN FOWLIE AND CARLY WEEKS
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

A dispute over policing in the Kanesatake Mohawk community spiralled out of
control last night as a group of protesters torched the grand chief's
house, blocked a major highway and barricaded police inside the station.

Grand Chief James Gabriel, who had brought in a new police force to take a
tougher stand on crime, fled the reserve and was in hiding last night with
his family. His new police chief said that among the issues he faced was a
serious marijuana problem in the community.

"[We're here] to restore law and order in the community," Terry
Isaac said in an interview. The Kanesatake Mohawks live about 60 kilometres
west of Montreal near the scenic town of Oka, which was at the centre of an
angry protest by natives in 1990 in a standoff against police officers and
soldiers that lasted 78 days.

Last night, demonstrators protesting against the new police leadership
barricaded the station. Mr. Isaac and more than 50 officers were unable to
leave the building. Earlier in the evening, officers trying to leave were
pelted with rocks and other debris and were forced back inside, he said.

Demonstrations began yesterday afternoon as news of the incoming force
spread throughout the community. About 30 people began demonstrating and
blocked Highway 344 with large trees. Protesters also set up a barricade
outside the police station with large trucks so officers could not drive
their cars out of the parking lot.

Just before 8 p.m., demonstrators also burned Mr. Gabriel's house, as well
as his tractor and his car. Mr. Gabriel had already begun moving his family
to a safe location and was not hurt in the attack. Before he fled, he told
the French-language service of the CBC that he is in full support of the
incoming force. "Since 2001, there has been a decline in the work of
our police officers," he said in French yesterday afternoon. "Our
intention is to put things back in order."

Tension in the Mohawk community has been growing over the sale of
contraband cigarettes, including a protest last week to confront Mr.
Gabriel about rumours he was planning to shut down about 15 sales shacks
along the highway. But Mr. Isaac and Mavis Etienne, chief of the local
police commission, said yesterday's conflict had little to do with
cigarettes. "That's not it at all," said Ms. Etienne. "The
people are protesting because we have been invaded by an outside
force." "This is definitely not about cigarettes," said Mr.
Isaac.

Along with new assistant chief Larry Ross, and police officers from 18
other native communities, Mr. Isaac arrived in Kanesatake just after 1 p.m.
yesterday. Late last night, Ms. Etienne waited at the police station with
other members of the police commission and the leaders of the old police
force to negotiate a settlement with the new force. Mr. Isaac said
yesterday the Mohawk council of Kanesatake was concerned that the old
police force was doing nothing about marijuana in the community.

A chief on the council who did not want to be named said last night that he
believed the protesters want the new police to leave so they can keep
selling drugs. Those involved with the old police force, however, expressed
outrage not only because their leaders were replaced, but also because,
they say, there had been no prior warning of the change. "We were not
even informed of this invasion of our territory by these police officers
and security guards," said Ms. Etienne. "We're astounded [the
council] would do something that ridiculous," she said.

The new force was given authority to enter the community by a band council
resolution agreed upon by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. Tracy Cross,
who was replaced as interim police chief, was also waiting to negotiate and
said he was concerned because "there is no safety or security in my
community." No officers were on the streets yesterday last night, he
said. "Right now the community safety has been jeopardized. It's crazy
here now. All roads are blocked," he said.

Karen Etienne, a local resident, said she agrees with Mr. Cross and thinks
the old force should remain. "Chiefs have no business sticking their
noses in police business," she said. "[James Gabriel] just wants
his own dictatorship on the reserve." She said Mr. Gabriel decided to
bring the officers in to improve his image for the council's June election.
"I think he just wants to manipulate and control the community. He's
the worst thing that ever happened to Kanesatake," she said.


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