Mohawk Resistance at Kanehsatake
June 11, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Territory (Quebec, Canada) - The Kanehsatake Mohawk Police station was slightly damaged by an early morning fire. On June 9th, a Kanehsatake man charged in relation to the fire that destroyed Grand Chief James Gabriel's home on January 12 turned himself in after a warrant was issued. On May 28th, four Kanehsatake police cars were set on fire outside the station just before a planned meeting between Chief Steven Bonspille and Grand Chief James Gabriel.
May 3, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Territory (Quebec, Canada) - Warriors fought off 40-60 riot police at several entrances to the reserves, throwing rocks at the cops and forcing them to retreat and abandon a police car.
April 28, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Territory (Quebec, Canada) - 40 riot cops attempted to enter the Kanehsata:ke reserve but were driven back by community members. Riot police are taking up positions at all the entrances to the reserve and are threatening an invasion
Mohawks Shut Down Kanehsata:ke Police Station
April 12, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Nation (Quebec, Canada) - Community members took over and shut down the Kanehsata:ke Mohawk Police station, saying that it will remain closed, as least untill Band elections in June. Community residents are patrolling the territory to prevent police from entering Kanehsata:ke.
April 9, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Nation (Quebec, Canada) - About 20 community residents gathered at the entrance to the reserve on Highway 344 and blocked the interim Kanesatake police chief Ed Thompson, and at least six of his newly-appointed police officers, from entering the community. "They have no business up here," said one woman, "They're not welcome here because these (officers) were here on Jan. 12. We lived through that and we don't want to go through it again."
Mohawks Kick Cops Out of Kanehsata:ke
January 14, 2004, Kanehsata:ke, Mohawk Nation (Quebec, Canada) - 65 police officers were evacuated from the indigenous community of Kanesatake after being barricaded inside their station and deprived of food since Monday night, January 12. Community members had been angered by Grand Chief James Gabriel, who had brought in new police officers from outside the community, in order to "crack down on crime." On January 12, community members responded by cutting down trees to blockade a highway, burning Gabriel's home and car, and then attacking police vehicles and surrounding the police station, trapping all 65 officers inside. When police attempted to leave and shot tear gas at the community members they were pelted with bricks and burning logs. Masked Mohawk Warriors set up camp outside the station, put up the Mohawk Warrior flag and prevented food deliveries to the police. Some Mohawk Warriors told the media that there was no need for any kind of police on the reserve, since Warrior Societies have always filled the function of protecting their community.
Links