Mohawk reserve braces for all-out war

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Sporadic fighting on the besieged Mohawk Indian reserve located on the Canada U.S. border near Montreal, is on the verge of escalating into a full scale war, says the reserve's newspaper

publisher.

An arsenal of weapons, including Uzi assault rifles and hand grenades purchased in New York State, are being stockpiled in preparation for what could result in a bloody battle which has been

brewing for three months, Doug George said.

Embittered band factions, which are divided over gambling laws on the reserve, have been performing pre-dawn raids on casinos and restaurants in an effort to "intimidate" band members, he said.

"There's incredible tension here. It's kind of like a Gaza Strip. These guys are walking around with everything from cattle prods to machine guns," said George, publisher and editor of

Akwesasne Notes.

"It's leading up to something much bigger."

Anti and pro-gambling groups broke off talks last week that were set to quell the internal conflict that has been growing since N.Y. State troopers and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided

a reserve casino and confiscated slot machines earlier this year.

George said anti-gambling band members walked out of a Sept. 15 meeting with the pro-gambling warrior's from the Mohawk Sovereignty Security Force (MSSF) because they are opposed to

having the multi-million gambling casino on the reserve.

The next day electrical transformers for one of the casinos was destroyed by gunfire.

"There was lots of shooting and threats of violence, so the reserve was sealed off by state police," George said. "It's an awkward situation for the leadership here."

Canadian Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, who claimed to be warding off death threats, took refuge in the reserve's tribal police station during last month's confrontation involving fire

bombs and sniper shots aimed at the casinos.

Mohawk warriors have accused him of inciting band members to march on the buildings in defiance of the long standing tradition of reserve gambling. He has denied the allegations.

"We're not communicating anymore. We have to resolve this peacefully. Once someone is shot, all hell could break loose," Mitchell said.

Anti-gambling band members charge that the casinos are being run by organized crime syndicates on the American side of the border.

The Akwesasne Reserve, located 130 kilometres south of Montreal, straddles the Canada U.S. border between Cornwall, Ont. and Fort Covington, N.Y.

MSSF spokesman Art Montour said internal fighting is between traditional Indians and moderate leaders on the reserve.

He said Mitchell has convinced some militant band members to oppose a long standing Indian practice of generating reserve revenue by using the casinos to attract Canadian tourists.

"All the MSSF wants to do is protect our sovereignty and the rights of Mohawk people," he said.

"We're not just talking about gambling we're fighting outside intervention."

Kahnawake Mohawk councillor Davis Rice said he is monitoring the dispute but it appears to be abating.

Members of the Kahnawake reserve, located near Montreal, were preparing to lend support to the warring Mohawk Nation last month in the event of an escalation in the fighting.

"Everything appears calm now," he noted.