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Letter: Subject 'these people' to the same laws
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Filed Under: First Nations | Opinion

"I may have been accused of racial profiling because of my position relative to the people of Akwesasne, the Mohawk tribe with whom we live in close proximity. But, anyone who knows me will know such accusations are far, far from the truth. In fact, I even support the notion of a Mohawk Nation. However, the native people must first demonstrate they can manage their own people and abide by the laws of other countries.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his governing cohorts, including our own Member of Parliament, Guy Lauzon, have virtually ceded the lands of Akwesasne to the Mohawk people with their ready removal of the border offices that were located in Akwesasne. Now the Akwesasne lands lie in a no-man's land ungoverned by Canada or the United States -they are an entity unto themselves.

The treaties given to the native people were not made by folk in this generation or for the people of this generation so it is time to take another look at how we need to address the issues. Guns, drugs, liquor and cigarettes top the list of smuggled items that are constantly ferried across the river illegally and this has to be stopped.

Actions such as these assist the Americans in their theory that the Canadian border is porous. The Americans are quite right because some elements in our society choose to use that porous nature of our border. Guess who they are? The people who were given rights bestowed on them by our forebears.

I do believe it is time these people were administered to in the same manner as we are. They should stop at the border control point, be subjected to the same rules and laws and should pay the same levies that we pay. We do pass through their lands but they also pass through our lands so there can be no charges applied for such passage unless everyone pays."

Get the Story:
John E. Milnes: Continuing dilemma with First Nations (The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder 9/9)

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