The best way forward for Kanesatake
Own police force, fire hydrants are essential for the community, says Michael Kanentase Rice.
Learning of another fire in Kanesatake set my blood to boil. My heart goes out to Julie Anne David, Matthew Simon and Mike David. They have invested a lot of time, cash equity and effort to build a community sports club. Kanesatake CrossFit is popular with community and members coming from outside the community.
The pattern of arsons and suspected arsons continues in Kanesatake, and nothing will improve unless Kanesatake embraces change.
Trying to invest, develop and expand any business in Kanesatake is a risky endeavour. Since 2004, the community has not had its own police force. Before the community or any outside investor considers pouring any more money into Kanesatake, there needs to be safety and security for the people living within the community. Before one constructs a home or public building, one needs a sound foundation. Once the community has its own police force, people will have a sense of safety and security. Kahnawake and Akwesasne have their own community peacekeepers/police.
In 2009, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security hired former chief of the Kahnawake Peacekeepers, John K. Diabo, to conduct a community consultation on reviving a Mohawk police force. In the fall of 2010, Diabo gave his report at a Kanesatake community meeting, at which there was considerable support for a new Mohawk police force. It was to be composed of officers from other Mohawk communities to prevent the infighting and strife that led to the standoff at the former Kanesatake Mohawk Police station in January 2004. Diabo led the Kahnawake Peacekeepers who peacefully resolved that standoff and safely escorted the besieged KMP officers and auxiliaries out.
The pattern of arsons and suspected arsons continues.
At the time of the community consultation, Paul Sohenrise Nicholas was grand chief of Kanesatake, from 2008 to 2010. In the next term, Nicholas was defeated by Serge Otsi Simon, who continues to serve as grand chief. Serge Simon campaigned on the promise of bringing back Kanesatake Peacekeepers.
Another concern is that lack of water infrastructure, including fire hydrants, in the community. The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake did a consultation about having water infrastructure and fire hydrants installed in the community. The community rejected this idea.
Had the community had fire hydrants and a community police force, the response would be quicker, and firefighters would have access to a pressurized water system. At present, the Sûreté du Québec has to be called, then it notifies the volunteer Oka Fire Department. Critical time is lost to fight a fire and/or respond to emergencies.
If Kanesatake had its own police, water supply and fire hydrants, this would permit community members to obtain affordable home and property insurance. Kahnawake and Akwesasne have established respected fire departments and community members there have access to affordable home/property insurance. Since 2004, at least nine community buildings and structures have burned to the ground. That’s in a period of 14 years.
On March 8, five days after the suspected arson, Grand Chief Simon 2019 issued a statement about the event. Noticeably absent was any mention of bringing back a Mohawk Peacekeeper police force. The grand chief raised the topic of a banishment law made through a Community Directive Seeking Process. There is no mention of community meetings or a police force to implement these measures.
The larger questions that have to be asked of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake grand chief and council are: What efforts have been undertaken to restore the Kanesatake Peacekeepers? Why does the community reject a water supply and fire hydrants that would be to the community’s benefit, and allow them to acquire home insurance at more advantageous rates? How much more of Kanesatake has to go up in smoke before the Mohawk Council of Kahnestake takes proactive measures to benefit its community members and entrepreneurs? Michael Kanentase Rice lived in Kanesatake from 1998 to 2012, taught there for 10 years and ran the Kanesatake Canoe Club from 1999 to 2006.