Obviously this situation will affect human health at Akwesasne, which is being studied by a medical team from Mt. . We are called Rattlesnakes because we have that character, and this is what Gov. That morning, May 22, 1979, Loran Thompson and his friend Joe Swamp found a group of youths cutting down trees on his late father's property; the woodcutters were members of the federally funded Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) engaged in a "boundary-delineation project" for a proposed fence around the Akwesasne Project" for a proposed fence around the Akwesasne Reservation, and they had already cut a swath 80 feet long and 200 feet wide by the time he arrived. Arrest made in death of Akwesasne man, extradition sought from U.S. Update on investigation into Akwesasne man's death, Akwesasne man dies from gunshot on Sunday, tap here to see other videos from our team. Raymond Harding, lawyer, lieutenant colonel in the New York National Guard and special consultant to Gov. We are very fortunate that we received much cooperation from the community, he said. It sends a strong message that crime against people and property will not be tolerated.. By whatever name, this herd of people came well armed; there were even women there with bats and clubs. "They fail to tell you that theirs was the first offense -- hell, we don't even know for sure that that was Loran's property, and anyway, I was born and raised here. For non-emergency calls or for general information, use the appropriate Akwesasne Mohawk Police number below: Crime Stoppers: 613-575-2255Non-emergency Phone: 613-575-2340Franklin County Fire Department: 518-483-1211, 2022 Akwesasne Mohawk Police Freedom of Information Privacy Policy Website Feedback Locations Contact Us, PO Box 90, Akwesasne, Quebec H0M 1A0, Phone. "Akwesasne used to be a fishing place, but all these locks and power dams cut off all the anadromous fish, and raised the water levels, which ruined the trapping and fish spawning grounds and waterfowl nesting in the marshes -- there is no hunting and fishing anymore. Children must be registered for these events by Friday, March 10th. He said the incident was terrifying. He was remanded to Franklin County Jail without bail, and subsequently has faced a court hearing on that charge in New York state court on Aug. 21. A First Nations community TV station and production company. AMPS, OPP & Other Agencies Conduct Criminal Code Search Warrant January 19, 2023 At approximately 2:25AM the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police are executed a criminal code search warrant at a private residence on International Rd, on Kawehnoke. The warrant is a required step by the AMPS in order to be able to get an extradition order for Lazore to face charges in a Canadian court. A shining moment for Akwesasne: Young Mohawk man discusses the reality of indigenous youth life with U.S. President Barack Obama the Gen-I National Native Youth Network Ambassador shares his story. One individual was arrested by OPP Emergency Response Team members in Cornwall and a fourth person turned themself into the police. Kingston During this period the department has grown to where it now employs twenty-four officers, six radio communication dispatchers, and one Administrative Assistant. "Harding likes to throw around big words that you have to have three years of college to understand," John Mohawk says. Central/Emergency Dispatch: 613-575-2000Akwesasne Crimestoppers: 613-575-2255, With a good mind it is our responsibility to protect and exercise our inherent rights while creating sustainable partnerships and building a strong community for future generations., Akwesasne Land Where the Partridge Drums On Aug. 2, after Washington had failed to act on the agreement, Ryan prevailed upon Judge Plumadore to sign arrest warrants, and announced that he would also prosecute certain unnamed participants in the occupation of the community building two months before. There are plenty of Akwesasne artists that you can purchase from online. "For a year, we've been trying to damp things down, and avoid shooting. Address: I didn't agree because I didn't want to see people killed, but I could see why they were just sick and tired of this damned thing, of a reservation without law and order. When police responded to investigate, they found drops of blood leading into the residence, which assisted police in determining that the man suffered his injuries elsewhere. They make it seem like they're surrounded, they put out land mines, they have AK47s that must have come from communist countries somewhere. Mission: To provide law enforcement services to the Mohawks of Akwesasne. Before long, the emplaced traditionals were as well armed as the Christian Indians who wished to throw them out, and a December meeting with Harding did nothing to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile Tribal Council Head Chief Rudy Hart had "deputized" 40 supporters and threatened to arm them if the state police did not execute their warrants, while the state police announced that they would not serve the warrants until the strong emotions on the reservation had calmed down a little. ", He points at the GM foundry. A volatile, swift-speaking man, well-informed on all Indian matters, Mohawk is the editor of Akwesasne Notes, the best known Indian newspaper in America since its inception in 1968. Regis Akwesasne Police Department. It is alleged on February 23rd, 2022, the woman failed to attend Bombay Man arrested on Sex Offense Charges On November 25, State Police arrested Joseph A. Waite, 52 of Bombay, NY for Criminal Sex Act 2nd, Forcible Touching, and Endangering the welfare of a child. SHOPLIFTING Cornwall, ON William King, 56, of Cornwall was arrested on November 22nd, 2022 and charged with theft under $5000. Kana:takon (St. Regis), Quebec. Thompson informed them that he was not subject to New York State law while on Mohawk territory, which is not a part of Franklin County; it was therefore his duty as a leader of the Mohawk Nation to refuse arrest. Taken under heavy police escort to Malone, N.Y., this man, whose person, property and household had suffered the damage, was arraigned as a criminal and spent the night in jail. The police headquarters was located in the village of St. Regis, Quebec. They asked if they could live here, and our ancestors welcomed them and fed them, brought them back to health, and we said, 'This earth is very large and there is plenty, and you are welcome to be here and share with us.' To answer calls for service from community members expeditiously and professionally. On Aug. 13, an estimated 21 Indians were named in sealed indictments (which made the defendants subject to arrest without their knowledge) and those who suspected that they might be on the list began to gather with their families in a defensive camp centered around the house of Loran Thompson. Francis Boots had said that he might leave Cornwall Island, where the fluoride contamination from Reynolds and Alcoa is most serious of all. Our media focuses on sharing stories and community current events from within our region, the Eastern Door! Different rinks are open and available throughout the week the School Board says all are welcome at any of the open locations free of charge. New York State itself is an interested third party whose efforts to circumvent the traditional Indians and their claims to sovereignty over vast areas of the state have been the source of trouble for 200 years. From the river bank, Jake Swamp pointed at the Reynolds Plant upstream, the long plumes of smoke from the stacks blowing down on the northwest wind across Cornwall Island. AMPS did not confirm at that time whether the person of interest in the death was the same person taken into custody by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police. Dont fret. And they admitted that a lot of people were juiced up -- it was Schneeman and alcohol. Suspect wanted in taxi cab robbery -- Mohawk Police issue warrant. They want to put us under state jurisdiction, right down to the county level, and the feds are standing by to back them up. Homeland Security Investigations were also involved in the investigation. In addition, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police strive to honor and respect all living things and to acquire the highest level of professionalism and accountability in servicing the community members of Akwesasne and surrounding areas. Officers seized ammunition, a laptop and cell phones and arrested two individuals. Over there on Cornwall Island, which is downwind from Reynolds, skin lesions and nervous disorders began to occur simultaneously with the fluoride pollution, but because the companies are on the U.S. side, and the people are Indians, the Canadian government takes no interest.". Their continued presence there serves to keep peace, in the best sense of the word.". Toward midnight, I fell asleep on Loran Thompson's sofa, awakening about 5:30 next morning to the sound of chants and drums -- the sunrise tobacco-burning ceremony in the Council House that takes place every day. Social media is a great tool to share information; it can be prone to fuel rumour and misinformation. Since any such fence delimiting the reservation symbolically weakened Mohawk claims to their ancient territories, the traditionals were very much against it. Located in Akwesasne and Kahnawake. Massive reinforcements arrived quickly and Thompson was subdued and seized in a brief skirmish with 12 policemen in front of his frightened children; a 73-year-old neighbor, Mary Tebo, knocked down by one of the police, had to be hospitalized. But the rattlesnake is a very peaceful creature, raising its offspring on its own homeland; if its territory is large enough, it will run away. The AMP is the police force on the Canadian side of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation . What would happen if they had to deal with a united, sovereign Mohawk nation? A middle-aged Indian with rifle, cartridge belt and a paper bag of food walked through the compound, headed for one of the outlying bunkers. "Alien law" was represented by the criminal court system in the person of Franklin County District Attorney Joseph Ryan, who had referred in court to the Mohawk traditionals who disarmed the police as "a bunch of animals," and who seemed strangely eager to prosecute the case, despite its trivial circumstances. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service along with the Ontario Provincial Police weapons enforcement unit led the execution of the search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation. The police headquarters was located in the village of St.Regis, Quebec. Packaging materials and a weigh scale were also seized as a result of the investigation. HomeStoreAboutContactAdvertise. Chance H. Thompson, 36, was arrested on warrants charging him with first-degree rape and second-degree criminal mischief, both felonies; third-degree fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and third-degree aggravated . When they refused, the chiefs informed them and their supporters that the matter was now in the hands of the Mohawk people, who rushed and disarmed them after several minutes' fighting, then took over the building. The taxi cab was later found abandoned at a residence in the east end of Cornwall Island, Akwesasne, Ontario. The award is open in two categories, grades 7-9 and 10-12. SRMT Environment Division Responds to ALCOA East Fire, Haudenosaunee Nationals receive 100K from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Indigenous fashion designer and artist Niio Perkins creates space for traditional practices and meanings in a contemporary industry, Pow Wows cancelled? THREE MEN WANTED FOR HOME INVASION ATTACK, (Press Release:Mohawk Council of Akwesasne). Sinai Hospital in New York; the need for this study is one of the few things that tribal and traditionals can agree on. "I used to wonder why white people got so paranoid about our land claims; then a white person explained that they expect to be treated as other whites would treat them; they would be asked to leave the land and go back to England, France and Sweden. The day after Thompson's arrest, the Akwesasne police were informed by the Mohawk Nation Council that in attacking and arresting Loran Thompson they had attacked the laws and sovereignty of the Hodenausaunee (Six Nations), and that their presence on Mohawk territory as agents of a foreign government could no longer be tolerated: they had 24 hours to resign and disband for the good of their people. 101 Tewesateni Road . Boots turned off eventually on a dirt road that led to a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence. In 1971, the Band Council passed a Band Council Resolution to call the police Service St. AKWESASNE The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service has issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for a 33-year-old man who is a suspect in the Aug. 11 homicide of Jeffrey Allen Lazore-Arquette, who in custody in New York state. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) has laid numerous charges after executing a warrant in the Akwesasne Mohawk First Nation. The elected "chiefs" and their supporters were incensed by the ouster of their police and the occupation of Tribal Council headquarters, which they saw as a breakdown of law and order; refusing to negotiate, they insisted that the state carry out its laws. The St.Regis Band Council passed a Resolution forming the St.Regis Akwesasne Police. Copyright 2023. Harding told me that "the Indians think Ray Harding is a prick, but they trust his word: 'Ray-Harding-he-talk-truth,'" he said, giving me his idea of Indian speech. The arrests came as part of an ongoing investigation which follows a September 7, 2022 seizure of more than 40 firearms from a vehicle on Highway 401 near Prescott. John Mohawk agrees. Harding seemed to be acknowledging that although its very jurisdiction here was in dispute, the state preferred to let a little blood than to reason with a county district attorney or to deter the tribals from carrying out their own ideas of justice; and that this vigilante group would not be disarmed by the state troopers, merely replaced by them. John Mohawk nodded. "Since last August, we've had a hot line set up, to clarify incidents and keep them in perspective, try to avoid shooting, and that morning, calls started coming through that if the state police didn't stop the electeds, shooting was going to start. The Mohawk chiefs instructed Swamp and Thompson not to appear for their arraignment on July 5, or otherwise recognize the court's authority; as Chief Tom Porter told the court, "One of our chiefs will not be taken by another nation to be judged.". ", "We're all ironworkers here," Jake Swamp said. Gregory O. David Jr., 32, of Akwesasne was arrested and charged with Possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of property obtained by crime, and breach of probation. Lazore and Laffin were held in police custody pending bail hearings scheduled in Cornwall court on Thursday, while Poirier and O'Byrne were released from police custody to appear in Cornwall court on March 14. Drinking coffee in the early sun, Jake Swamp told me that this land has been a hunting and fishing area of the Ganeinkehaga -- the "People of the Flint" -- for many hundreds of years; even in 1779, the soldiers of Gen. Sullivan had noted that fish were so plentiful that in places the bottoms of the clean, clear streams could not be seen. IMPAIRED Cornwall, ON Kandy Pierce, 29, of Akwesasne was arrested on January 6th, 2023 and charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle. Tribal law enforcement has been serving the southern portion of Akwesasne for nearly twenty years. Lloyd's counsin, Brian Cole, is a security "warrior" in the defense bunkers of the traditional camp. Much more serious, a matter that should have been settled by the Indians themselves had been turned over to "foreign" jurisdiction; the Tribal Council had subjected a traditional chief of the Mohawk Nation to illegal, forcible arrest on sovereign Mohawk territory, and to the criminal justice system of New York, which took quick advantage of this chance to affirm a finding by the Franklin County Court that the Mohawk Nation no longer existed, that these people were simply "St. Regis Mohawk Indians" whose lands and persons were subject to state laws. The Intel Officer is responsible or tracking all in-coming data as well as disbursing information to other agencies. We don't really want to go to the United Nations, the World Court, but we are forced to do so in order to survive. Arrest warrants have been authorized by the Provincial Court of Valleyfield, Quebec for the arrests of the three men: Corby Jock 31, and Johnny Adams, 30, both of Akwesasne, and Mitchell Jocko, 37, of Cornwall, Ontario. 101 Tewesateni Road The Standard-Freeholder confirmed with court officials in New York that Lazore remains in custody. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The day after Thompson's arrest, the Akwesasne police were informed by the Mohawk Nation Council that in attacking and arresting Loran Thompson they had attacked the laws and sovereignty of the . One suspect, 20-year-old Dennis Benedict-Sylvester of Akwesasne, has already been arrested for the incident, and police have issued a warrant for 22-year-old Noah Paul King of Akwesasne. King is wanted for robbery, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, kidnapping . The St.Regis Police started with a compliment of approximately 12 officers in 1970-1971. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Akwesasne Mohawk Police are asking for the assistance of the public. The patrol division maintains peace in the community, the protection of lives, and the preservation of property. You can also report by calling Akwesasne Crime Stoppers at 613-575-2255. According to the AMPpress release, one of the men fled on foot. The Intelligence Analyst Officer is supervised by the Detective Division. On Friday, March 5, 2021, the Joint Investigation Team of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service executed a controlled drugs and substances act search warrant at a residence in the district of Kahwehno:ke (Cornwall Island), Akwesasne, Ontario. It is our duty to take care of it. Email: info@akwesasne.ca The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service was formed in 1970. A stolen vehicle was recovered by Ontario Provincial Police in the Central Hasting area, after the owner of the truck called the police and gave them the direction the thief was travelling. Hugh Carey on military matters and Indian affairs, declared that "the court mandate will be enforced . It was confirmed that the man had been attacked and beaten inside his home; he was able to fight off his attackers and escape to this location. The four all face the following charges: - Possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking As a result, the vehicle was recovered and the 37-year-old driver from Kingston was arrested and charged. The time has come where we have made a judgment to minimize, to mitigate loss of life, the letting of blood; it is more responsible, it is in the long run less painful, for the state to execute those warrants rather than to stand by and let others do it. We drove over the Seaway International Bridge and through the U.S. and Canadian customs. That day, as it turned out, hundreds of armed tribals ("the Concerned Citizens of St. Regis") erected a barricade at the head of Racquette Point Road, threatened to storm the well-armed camp of the traditionals with the stated purpose of protecting "the tax-paying and law-abiding citizens of the reservation, and to show support for the state and local police.". Meanwhile, they sealed off all the roads leading to the encampment, placing it effectively in a state of siege like the one at Wounded Knee six years before. This sensible solution did not satisfy Ryan, who declared he would press the resisting arrest charge against Thompson, even if the theft charge were withdrawn; perhaps his intransigence had been encouraged, or perhaps he harbored an unusual vindictiveness toward the Mohawks, who get their land, so he complained, "courtesy of the U.S. government -- the same government they blame for their troubles.". On June 13, I telephoned Chief Lyons to find out how I might reach the besieged camp. Akwesasne in the house! The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS) will be out patrolling school zones across the northern portion of Akwesasne in to remind drivers school is back in session. MCA says stay in your bubble. 73 Sweetgrass Lane. Our media focuses on sharing stories and community current events from within our region, the Eastern Door! The arrests came as part of an ongoing investigation which follows a September 7, 2022 seizure of more than 40 firearms from a vehicle on Highway 401 near Prescott. On Saturday, a young Mohawk named Francis Boots met me at Massena, N.Y., the site of Alcoa and Reynolds Metals Co., a General Motors foundry, the Moses-Saunders power dam, an international bridge and two locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, all of tem located on the original Mohawk land claim, which has never been invalidated by the courts. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service has jurisdiction and authority in both Quebec and Ontario. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service was formed in 1970. Chief Tom Porter said, "There were over 1,000 people; relatives came here from as far as 400 miles away! (Updated) Akwesasne, NY- Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police have confirmed that on July 12, 2016, shortly after arrest warrants for Kimberly A. Moffit, 45, and Melissa S. Dunkelburg, 33, former teachers at the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe- Early Childhood Development Program, both women turned themselves in to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police. "It's not against the law," said Lt. Hunt, "to walk around with a gun on New York State roads. Site by, Individual Residential Alternatives (IRA), Office of Emergency Management and Safety, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), St. Lawrence River Area of Concern at Massena/Akwesasne, Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Program (A/CDP), Let's Get Healthy - Diabetes Center for Excellence, Mental Health - Kanikonri:ihne (Good Mind Counseling), Home Improvement Supplement Program (HIP), Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Sex Offender Registry. The flying ash and fluoride from the Reynolds plant has ruined the dairy farming; the cattle's teeth grind down, they starve, they live four years and everybody here is being poisoned. So you use the akwesasne mohawk police. Administration / Office: Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Police Officers: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Phone: 518-358-9200. Our attachment to this place where our great-great-grandfathers lie buried is very strong, but our children's future and wellbeing is at stake. For non-emergencies or for general information, please contact AMPS at 613-575-2340. The land wasn't given to us as a commodity but entrusted to us; we are its custodians, you might say, so that our children will have a place to put their little feet upon this earth. Officers seized ammunition, a laptop, and cellphones. "After 1492, immigrants came here who were in a very bad way. In 1973, the St. Regis Akwesasne Police Officers were accepted into the Ontario Police College. When the police made no effort to disarm or disperse the crowd, despite its disruption of highway traffic, the besieged traditionals had to assume that New York State supported the proposed assault. Akwesasne Police issue warrants for three men connected to home invasion. "Even if they were bluffing, they could have gotten a lot of people killed; we weren't panicked that day, we were just outraged that it was so out of control. ", Loran Thompson said, "Maybe they were just trying to bluff us, and it didn't work. Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Chiefs among crowd greeting PM Trudeau at special assembly hundreds of chiefs and other First Nations delegates attend the annual Assembly of First Nations. Phone: (518) 358-2272 Fax: (518) 358-3203, Saint Regis Mohawk Health Service Akwesasne, Quebec, H0M 1A0 When the second warning was ignored, chiefs from all of the Six Nations convened for an emergency meeting. Check out our Facebook page for updates and sales! On the afternoon of the chainsaw confiscation, Akwesasne Police Chief Harris Cole and the YACC supervisor agreed that a meeting to settle the matter would be held a few days later, by which time Chief Thompson could have consulted with Chiefs Swamp and Porter and other members of the Mohawk Nation Council. A frantic telephone campaign directed at Gov. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police are investigating the kidnapping, assault and robbery of a Cornwall taxi cab driver. The ultimatums, threats and preparations did not really subside until late next day. One suspect, 20-year-old Dennis Benedict-Sylvester of Akwesasne,has already been arrested for the incident, and police have issued a warrant for 22-year-oldNoah Paul King of Akwesasne. King is wanted for robbery, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, kidnapping, mischief under $5000 and theft under $5000. He did not have to say who those "other people" were. The "others" referred to by Harding were the acculturated Indians organized and armed by the elected chiefs in support of the Akwesasne police. From Monday, March 13th to Friday, March 17th, the Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Centre has a variety of activities planned for local kids and families. Central/Emergency Dispatch: 613-575-2000. At dark, we went into Loran Thompson's house on the river bluff, where we were joined in a little while by Chiefs Thompson, Porter, Swamp and others. As the siege continued through the winter, a number of tribal Indians felt increasingly uncomfortable about those relatives and former friends, and increasingly they resented the elected chiefs. Like every family on the reservation, the Benedict clan is painfully split by the whole controversy. More than 40 firearms were seized from a vehicle stopped by police on Highway 401 near Prescott. "We believe that the state police helped them to organize, that Maj. Schneeman suggested to them that state troopers would back them up, and that the state police would be backed up by the National Guard, if necessary. 2023 Cornwall Standard-Freeholder, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. "He'll take you over," he said, indicating a young Indian in an outboard skiff at the river landing below. Facebook Twitter ReddIt According to police officials, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of November 9th, 2015, after the driver picked up thetwo males at La Maison Tavern in Cornwall, Ontario. With a good mind it is our responsibility to protect and exercise our inherent rights while creating sustainable partnerships and building a strong community for future generations., Akwesasne Land Where the Partridge Drums : (518) 358-9531Canada: (613) 575-2063info@indiantime.net, Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation In 1971, the Band Council passed a Band Council Resolution to call the police Service "St. Regis Akwesasne Police Department". Dont fret. 'Yeah,' I said, 'I think I better confiscate your equipment.' Within a few weeks the state police had withdrawn their large force from the perimeter of the Thompson property, but because District Attorney Ryan had insisted upon sealed indictments, those who thought they might be prosecuted did not leave the camp. By Kaniehtonkie. On the far shore, the General Motors foundry sat like an unnatural gray city near the bank; beyond, above the Seaway Bridge, rose the high stacks of Reynolds and Alcoa. "Because of the power that he has. Thompson, identified in the local papers as a tool thief, was also charged with resisting arrest. "My cousin carries a 30-ought-six with heat-tempered bullets that supposedly can pierce a bulletproof vest. The types of light bulbs that residents can keep out of landfill is expanding. He was WARRANTS, BREACH OF PROBATION Cornwall, ON Clarissa Square, 29, of Cornwall was arrested on July 28th, 2022, and charged with five counts of breach of probation and one count of failing to attend WARRANTS Cornwall, ON Martika Smoke Thompson, 32, of Cornwall, was arrested on July 22nd, 2022, on the strength of outstanding warrants.