Community's Repeated Appeals for Legitimate Policing Body and Resolution Ignored

Martin, Gabriel seem intent instead on forcing a violent confrontation in Kanehsatake.
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The portrayal of the community of Kanehsatake as lawless and opposed to policing is greatly disturbing because it is so patently and blatantly untrue. On the contrary the community and Council have been calling repeatedly for policing, with the simple and entirely reasonable qualification that it be delivered in a professional and non-partisan manner.

Community opposition to those amassed under the direction of Ed Thompson stem from concerns, not related to the issue of policing in general, but from the personal qualifications of these officers, or lack thereof. Considerable question has been raised with respect to inadequacies in weapons training, standard police training, let alone whether some of them are even police officers at all. A number of these officers are understood to be under investigation for ethical breaches or other professional misconduct. Individuals on this force from Kahnawake and Akwesasne are not wanted in their own communities and are stated to be a risk to peace and stability. One such officer, Larry Ross, was directly involved in an unplanned and botched operation that led to the paralyzing of a Kanehsatake community member five years ago, who died this week as a result of the injuries he sustained. The force's own chosen media spokesperson, Mike Stalk, was himself recently fired from the Kahnawake Peacekeepers and is currently facing charges for allegedly assaulting his former colleagues. Richard Walsh, another man personally hired by James Gabriel, was found to have 16 convictions in the last twelve years ranging from fraud to impersonating a police officer, to possession of a prohibited weapon. Despite this, Gabriel unilaterally equipped him with a police badge, uniform, restricted weapons and paid him in excess of $100,000.00 out of the community's budget.

It is difficult to imagine a community anywhere in Canada that would be prepared to allow such a questionable group of characters to set up shop on such an important and integral matter as policing, nor would it ever be expected of them. Neither should it be expected of Kanehsatake.

And indeed the community has been calling for proper policing, and would have it long ago were in not for political interference predominantly by James Gabriel that has been tacitly and, at times, actively supported by the Provincial and Federal Governments. While James Gabriel would be quick to make allegations that Kanehsatake former Chief of Police Tracy Cross "has connections to organized crime," his personal history simply does not support such false and misleading statements. Tracy Cross is one of a select few formally trained Mohawk Peacekeepers, with approximately 8 years of policing experience. He previously served for the Canadian Military and underwent two separate tours of duty. He is also an ordained Minister in the Church - hardly the qualifications of a man likely to be "soft on crime." While Tracy Cross may have refused to allow the Kanehsatake Police Force to be used as a political tool by James Gabriel, he maintained peace, stability and lawfulness in the community of Kanehsatake. A state of affairs that was corroborated by the Kahnawake Peacekeepers who were in charge of policing in Kanehsatake from January to March of this year. They found little if any criminal activity during that time and absolutely no evidence of the existence of organized crime, grow operations or a burgeoning drug trade. Their observations, like Tracy Cross before them, were that the allegations made by James Gabriel had no merit whatsoever. Quebec Public Security Minister Jacques Chagnon himself personally stated that he observed no law and order problems during his recent unannounced visit to the community.

If Mr. Gabriel is to be so irresponsible as to repeatedly reject plans for peaceful resolution and refuse any and all communication that might assist in calming tensions, the Prime Minister should seriously question his continued public support and evergrowing financial expenditure to back this man, not to mention the involvement of his own personal media consulting firm.

Paul Martin spoke of a new era in the Government's relationship with First Nations communities. Here he is presented with an opportunity to demonstrate that under his leadership resolution can be found according to the needs, wishes and best interests of those communities. He would be sadly underestimating the people of Kanehsatake if he feels he can call an election and waltz through the campaign, all the while supporting a man whom the people voted out by way of referendum over two years ago.

For more information, contact: Chief John Harding at (450) 479-8373 or (613) 827-1404