The federal government’s “lack of action” in a dispute with Akwesasne Mohawks over the arming of Canada’s border guards caused the “ripple effects” that led to Friday’s standoff with natives 250 kilometres away, said Ontario’s aboriginal affairs minister.
The Skyway Bridge near Deseronto, Ont. reopened late Friday afternoon after a morning of “hand-to-hand” clashes between about 40 Ontario Provincial Police officers and protesters who had blocked the bridge, about 200 km east of Toronto.
“These are some of the ripple effects we are feeling as a result of the federal government’s lack of action in entering into proper and adequate dialogue with the Mohawks of Akwesasne,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid, who added the province had urged the federal government to “enter into meaningful dialogue” to resolve the dispute. The Canada-U.S. border crossing on the Akwesasne reserve, which straddles the Ontario-Quebec-New York State border about 100 kilometres west of Montreal, has been shut since May 31. The federal border agency shut the crossing after Akwesasne leaders said they would not allow armed guards at the border post on June 1.
“The way they are going about implementing their decision (to arm border guards) is having an impact on other communities in the province and we believe it’s an impact that is unnecessary,” added Duguid.
Near the Skyway Bridge early Friday morning police arrested about 13 people for blocking the span linking the Tyendinaga Mohawk reserve with communities in Prince Edward County.
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There has to be a better way to deal with these kind of situations. Why do we allow ourselves to be led down this path again and again?
Move the border check point off the reserve. Let the Mohawks deal with it until off the reserve. Probably to simple to work.