Future of border guards on table

November 10, 2009 Cornwall Standard Freeholder

CORNWALL -- Residents of the Canadian portion of Akwesasne have been polled on the possibility of Canada border guards returning to Cornwall Island, and a similar process is now unfolding on the U. S. side of Akwesasne.

Officials recently went door-to-door throughout Cornwall Island, St. Regis and Snye to collect residents' opinions on the issue of arming border guards. Specifically, residents were asked if they want the CBSA to return to the permanent port of entry on Cornwall Island, and if yes, should CBSA employees be allowed to carry firearms.

The plebiscite on the Canadian portion of Akwesasne was completed this past week, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe-- which governs the U. S. portion of Akwesasne -- is now asking its residents the same questions through a phone survey being conducted by students from the State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam. Unlike the plebiscite, the phone survey will be random, so not all residents on the U. S. portion of Akwesasne will be contacted.

Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell said the results of the community polls could be announced by the end of this week. Mitchell said he didn't want to divulge any details about the results before then as it may influence the results of the phone survey now under way.

Meanwhile, there may be a minor breakthrough in the impasse between the CBSA and Akwesasne leaders.

Akwesasne radio station CKON reported Monday that the CBSA has agreed to hire an aboriginal liaison officer to help field complaints from Akwesasne residents and to recruit First Nations people to work at the Cornwall port of entry. The CBSA has also agreed to provide cultural sensitivity training to employees at its Cornwall location, CKON reported.

The issues have been raised by Akwesasne officials during earlier negotiations on the dispute.

The Standard-Freeholder was unable to confirm the developments with Mitchell or the CBSA prior to deadline.