Good morning. She:kon, everyone.
Akwesasne is in a unique geographical setting. Today Akwesasne is the land of borders. The international border between Canada and the United States runs directly through our land. Half the community resides in Canada, in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and half the community resides in the United States, within the state of New York.
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is the governing body for the Canadian territory of Akwesasne. We represent a membership of about 13,100 people. Our members live on both sides of the international border, in the various districts of Akwesasne in Ontario, Quebec and New York. If a member wants to travel from one district to another by land, we must cross the international border. The only road from Kawehno:ke, Cornwall Island, in Ontario to Kana:takon, Saint-Régis in Quebec, crosses the international bridge that connects Canada and the United States.
Mohawks who are going to work or school, attending church, shopping, or travelling for recreational, social and cultural purposes must cross the international border and present themselves at the Canadian and American customs. It is not uncommon for members attending funerals to cross the international boundary several times. A funeral procession might leave the deceased's home on Cornwall Island, travel over the international bridge and through U.S. customs to reach the primary community church, which is located in the village on the southern shores of the St. Lawrence. After mass, they may travel back through the United States to Cornwall Island for the burial. After the burial, they may travel to the New York side of Akwesasne for a family meal before returning home in one of these three Canadian districts.
Prior to COVID, Cornwall was Canada's tenth-busiest port of entry in Ontario, with approximately two million vehicles crossing annually. About 70% of these crossings are Mohawks travelling from one district of Akwesasne to another. That equates to 1.4 million trips through Canada customs by Mohawks travelling in Akwesasne, or more than 100 trips per member each year. I am sure you can appreciate that the laws of Canada and the imposition of the international and provincial borders have serious consequences for individual Mohawks and our community as a whole.
I'll hand it over to Grand Chief Benedict.