Kahnawake Clears the Air

Chuck Barnett, Board of Supervisors for Mohawk Internet Technologies (Kahnawake Mohawk Territory) wanted to reassure online gambling operators that all is well in Mohawk land following the announcement last week that Golden Palace, an online casino operating outside the Kahnawake Territory in Quebec, was ordered to pay a hefty million dollar plus fine for running its business in the Canadian province. 

"Actually, as these events have little, if anything to do with the Jurisdiction of the Mohawks of Kahnawake, it has not been an issue for us," Mr. Barnett told Gambling911.com this weekend.  "My understanding is that these offices (Golden Palace) were located well into the City of Ville St. Laurent, a borough of Montreal.  And it was the offices of CyberWorld Group (CWG) that were raided. This entity is not licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission."

Canada's CBC reports that the Quebec provincial government has been building a case for more enforcement related to online gambling activity on the Reservation. The Mohawks argue that they are protected by traditional native rights and, to date, have issued well over 400 online gambling licenses.

Khanawake Unrest

In 1990, Canadian police officers firing tear gas and wielding night sticks battled rock-throwing demonstrators during deays of violent protests against a month long blockade of a Montreal bridge by Mohawk Indians.

The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between the Mohawk nation and the town of Oka, Quebec which began on July 11, 1990, and lasted until September 26, 1990. It resulted in three deaths, and would be the first of a number of well-publicized violent conflicts between Indigenous people and the Canadian government in the late 20th century.

About 150 youths armed with baseball bats and tire irons threw rocks and bottles at the police near the entrance to the Kahnawake reservation in Chateauguay, a southern Montreal suburb.

But Barnett believes the Mohawk people have gotten a bad rap from this incident.

"The "rock-throwing" incident was carried out by non-native civilians, in the neighboring town of Chateauguay, outside the Kahnawake/Chateauguay blockade. These events are well documented and actual footage can be viewed in the NFB Film, 'Rocks at Whiskey Trench'," Barnett clarifies.  "This incident did not involve Mohawks of Kahnawake, but pitted some residents and visiting "hooligans" in Chateauguay against Provincial Police."

And as for Kahnawake's relationship with Quebec.  "It's good," Barnett insists.

"Kahnawake has a recognized policing agreement with the Quebec Minister of Security which was established in 1999 and incorporates a standard for policing protocols between the Kahnawake Police Force and those of the neighboring communities.

"The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has a very productive relationship with the Government of Quebec, and each regularly communicate and meet to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest. A number of examples may be found in the Ten Administrative Agreements entered into between Kahnawake and Quebec in 1999 which continue to be maintained and respected to this very day. Unfortunately, this does not make for very exciting or dramatic storytelling and is an item which seems to be "misplaced" at press time in some of the local media.

Kahnawake is one of the leading jurisdictions for licensing of online gambling firms.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com

Originally published December 3, 2007 8:44 am EST