Eastern Door Volume 4 Number 49

Volume 4 Number 49

January 19, 1996

Changes to Dental Services are Somewhat Painful
By: Tom Dearhouse

Changes to the Non-insured Health Benefits Dental Program effective January 1, 1996 may affect how and when a dentist works on the teeth of a Native person.

These changes are nation-wide and come through Health Canada, Medical Services Branch (MSB). Dr. H.J. Nadeau, Regional Dentist Officer, of the downtown Montreal office explained the changes:

"There will be some procedures that will need prior approval (from MSB) to get the work done. There are three categories. Major specialist exams, Periodontal surgery and general anesthesia. Also, there are limits to how frequent some things (exams) can be done."

"It may become complicated because the dentists have to count items that weren't counted before."

For example, a new frequency limit has been implemented for a recall (checkup exam), it is one visit per year. It used to be two visits per year.

For root canal therapy, the new limit is one permanent tooth per three years, it used to be two every five years.

For polishing, the new limit is one visit per year as opposed to the old limit of two visits per year.

For fillings, what is allowed is one filling every five years for the same surface on the same tooth, which before was never counted or limited.

To get a crown on a tooth, what is allowed is one permanent tooth every three years, as opposed to two teeth every five years.

Dentures are also affected. Once per arch every eight years when it used to be once every five years.

When asked if it was a matter of saving money, Dr. Nadeau said it played a factor but not a major one.

Dr. Stanley Ruckenstein, who has a clinic in St. Constant and an estimated Kahnawake clientele of 30 percent plus, proved to be helpful in giving an overall picture of the situation.

He has a concern over a checkup exam being only once a year.

"The changes bring it (dental services) under a closer system, which may not be fair to the patient...it's a closer control, but I won't see any of my patients suffer."

Dr. Ruckenstein plans to absorb the cost of seeing patients twice a year for check-ups, if need be.

He stated that in the post, "some dentists never really informed their patients" about their work and billing. The best thing a patient can do is "ask questions" of the dentist, to be well informed of what is allowed.

For more detailed information contact the Health Canada Medical Services office at (514) 283-1582.

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NYC Drug Bust Tied to Kahnawake Local
By: Kenneth Deer

In a series of raids in Quebec and New York state, 12 people have been arrested on drug related charges, one from Kahnawake, Jay Roger Jacobs, 27, was arrested on January 6 and charged along with another man with conspiracy to export and distribute cocaine. Jacobs is still being held, his bail requirements not having been met.

Jacobs was arrested in the lobby of the Howard Johnson's Hotel on 251 West 34th street of New York. He was found with $60,000 in his possession. He was accompanied by a Douglas Mclean, 61, who was also arrested with $40,000 in his possession.

The arrest of Jacobs is part of a larger operation that began with the arrest of four people, three Quebecers and one New Yorker on January 5 in New York. Raphael Esposito, his son Domonic Esposito, Raynald St. Jean, all of the Montreal area and Jose Fernando Garcia-Cardona were charged with possession and distribution of cocaine.

Seventy-five kilos of cocaine were found in their possession at the Tuckahoe Motor Inn, 307 Tuckahoe Road, Yonkers.

The four had their phones tapped since September of 1995 by the Surete du Quebec. This led to other conspirators. As a result, eight other raids took place on the next day. Six in the Montreal area and two in New York. It is these phone taps that lead to the arrest of McLean and Jacobs.

Others arrested were Michel Anunziata, 51, Emmanuel Raguza, 56, Calude Riendeau, 42, Steve Sbikowski, 56 and two women Louise Beauchamps, 30 and Sylviane Hochsin, 41.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report is summarized as follows:

Since approximately September 1995, the Quebec Provincial Police have been investigating Steve Sbikowski and others for narcotics trafficking. Among other things, that investigation has involved the court authorized interception of one land line telephone in Canada and two cellular telephones possessed by Steve Sbikowski. The interception of the telephones possessed by Sbikowski commenced in Canada on or about November 10, 1995.
Beginning on January 4, 1996, certain of the conversations occurring over those telephones concerned two narcotics transactions which were to take place in New York on January 5, 1996. Four individuals, some of whom are referred to herein, were arrested on January 5, 1996 and charged in a complaint dated January 6, 1996 with participation in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine. All information contained herein relating to conversations intercepted over Canadian wiretaps is based on summaries of telephone calls and voice identifications provided by members of the Quebec Provincial Police.
On January 4, 1996 at approximately 6:26 p.m., a telephone conversation between DOUGLAS MCLEAN, the defendant, and Sbikowski was intercepted over Sbikowski's telephone.
On January 4, 1996, at approximately 7:24 p.m., a telephone conversation between JAY JACOBS, the defendant, and Sbikowski was intercepted over Sbikowski's telephone.
At approximately 10:14 p.m. on that same day, a telephone conversation between JACOBS and Sbikowski was intercepted.
At approximately 11:23 p.m. on January 4, 1996, a telephone conversation between St. Jean and Sbikowski was intercepted. During the conversation, Sbikowski told St. Jean, in substance and in part, to remember that there were two deals that were going to happen. Sbikowski further stated, in substance and in part, "the old group with the five" (the first deal with the five kilograms of cocaine) is official.
On January 5, 1996, at approximately 7:25 a.m., a telephone conversation between St. Jean and Sbikowski, Sbikowski said to St. When in substance and in part that he has to go the "the guy's" (MCLEAN's) hotel. Sbikowski further stated that St. Jean should go there as soon as possible, because if you don't we will lose the deal. After that, Sbikowski said, you will meet the "big guy" (Raffaele Ferdinando Esposite).
At about 12 noon on January 5, 1996, agents observed MCLEAN exit the Washington Square Hotel with St. Jean. Both MCLEAN and St. Jean were then seen entering a white Nissan (the "Nissan"), which was driven by an individual later identified as Jose Fernando Garcia-Cardona.
Shortly thereafter, at approximately 1:22 p.m. on January 5, 1996, in a telephone conversation between MCLEAN and Sbikowski, MCLEAN told sbikowski, in substance and in part, that the first deal was finished and that St. Jean was going back to the hotel. MCCLEAN further stated that he was going to be at (phone number), room 315, until tomorrow evening. Independent investigation revealed that the Howard Johnson's Hotel, 251 West 34th Street, New York, New York (the "Howard Johnson's"), is the subscriber to telephone number.
On January 6, 1996 at approximately 10:30 a.m., a DEA agent entered the lobby of the Howard Johnson's and spoke with the Security Manager of the hotel, who informed him that MCLEAN had registered in room 315 and that a person had registered with him and was staying in room 316. The Security Manager further stated that someone had called the front desk and asked to have any calls for room 315 forwarded to room 316, because both parties would be there together. Subsequently, at approximately 10:40 a.m., agents of the DEA observed MCLEAN and a person later identified as JACOBS approach the front desk of the hotel. MCLEAN was carrying two shopping bags and one beige canvas luggage bag and JACOBS was carrying two black duffel bags and one black luggage bag with wheels. Agents approaches MCLEAN and JACOBS, identified themselves, and asked for permission to look in the bags. Both MCLEAN and JACOBS consented. The search of one of the black duffel bags that JACOBS was carrying revealed approximately $60,000 in United States currency. MCLEAN and JACOBS were then placed under arrest.
Following his arrest and after being advised of his rights, MCLEAN stated, in substance and in part, that he was in New York just to visit the city and that he travels to New York to visit four or five times a year. A search of the beige canvas luggage bag that MCLEAN had been carrying revealed approximately $40,000 in United States currency.
Following his arrest and after being advised of his rights, JACOBS stated, in substance and in part, that he was going to use the $60,000 to buy a Range Rover. JACOBS subsequently stated that he had lied about intending to buy a car. JACOBS stated that he and MCLEAN were in New York to deliver the approximately $100,000 that agents had found on them to an individual who was know only to MCLEAN. JACOBS stated that they money was to be used to pay for narcotics, but that on this particular trip, as far as he knew, he and MCLEAN were not picking up any narcotics.
Sbikowski was arrested by the Quebec Provincial Police on or about January 5, 1996. After being advised of his rights, Sbikowski stated, in substance and in part, that the first deal involving MCLEAN and JACOBS was to be for five kilograms of cocaine.

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Chamber of Commerce promotes Casino
By: Kenneth Deer

The Kahnawake Chamber of Commerce has begun to actively advocate a casino in Kahnawake by opening an office in its building on the ground floor of the Seneca building near the tunnel, for a group in support of the casino.

The groups is headed by Andrew Delisle Sr. who has been advocating a casino for some time. "The object of the group is to get the idea of a casino into motion. Since the Mohawk Council is bound by the referendum of 1994, we have to find another mechanism to get the community's support for a casino," said Delisle. Participation in the group is open to any one who has a sincere interest in getting a casino in Kahnawake.

"The groups is not restricted to members of the Chamber, we want to see everyone who feels they have something to contribute to join this group," stated Delisle. The groups strives to be non-political.

The number one goal of the groups is to solicit support in the community by actively meeting groups and individuals in Kahnawake. They will be available to meet with the different social clubs, organizations and groups to promote the casino and get feedback from the community.

The groups is currently developing a workplan to carry out its goals, Committees will be formed to carry out certain activities to meet this end.

The group would like to make it very clear that they want to create a community casino. A casino that the community of Kahnawake can feel that they are the owners and operators of. To meet this objective, the group must define a community casino. What is a community Casino? How would it work? These are questions that the groups must answer.

The groups is created only to develop the idea of a community casino. A board will be established later to actually carry out the building and operation of the casino. The make of the Board is yet to be developed.

One of the early issues to be tackled will be the establishment of a treasury where the profits of the casino would be deposited.

The issue of a casino will be on the agenda of the next band meeting sometime in February.

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Editorial

Leadership in the coming year
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

There are all kinds of leaders in our community and we all have our own ideas of who is a leader. There are political leaders, there are social leaders, there are spiritual leaders. There are leaders in sports, in the workplace and in families. We see leaders in our social groups, gangs and classrooms.

Leadership is not always recognizable. It is not always the person who is in the front, leading the way. Many times it is the person in the back, quietly and firmly making his or her own decisions and supporting the 'leader' when they agree with the direction the 'leader' is going in. At another time, these quiet persons can change the direction of a 'leader' just by threatening to withdraw their support.

Kahnawake has all kinds of leaders as evidenced by all the organizations and institutions in this community. But in essence, everyone is a leader. Everyone at one time or another makes a decision that influences others in one way or another. Everyone can think of one instance when their decision or influence changed the direction of a family, groups or organization.

There is also positive and negative leadership. Positive leadership guilds and creates, while negative leadership takes down and destroys. Negative leadership lowers our standards of behaviour, lowers our viewpoint of others and elevates ourselves at the expense of others. Positive leadership makes us achieve higher standards of behaviour and bring others along with us.

Unfortunately, sometimes negative leadership gets all the attention. attacking and calling down other individuals and leaders is all too easy.

In the next year, there will be changes in the political landscape of Kahnawake. From alcohol boards to a possible casino board to elected councils to traditional positions, people should take careful measure of what kind of leadership they want, positive and constructive leadership will be in high demand, make sure you choose wisely.

Banishment might be the answer

The message does not seem to be sinking in. One would think that after the recent spate of arrests for trafficking in drugs and counterfeit money, that people would be staying away from these activities.

Somehow, our young people still feel they are invincible, that getting caught won't happen to them. It only happens to other people. Some people still feel that Kahnawake is free of electronic bugging and is a safe haven for illegal activities. In today's modern age, there is no place to hide.

We can't feel sorry for anyone caught in these kind of activities. Its been said before and will be said again, the greatest threat to our security is the criminal element inside our borders.

The attitude that "Its my business if I get caught, its no skin off your nose" is far from true. We as Mohawks have an extra burden to carry. Every abuse of our border rights puts those rights in jeopardy. We are in constant pressure from the outside as evidenced by the recent taxing of our US social security payments. As a community we should not defend or make excuses for people involved in drugs. We banished people from this community before and it may come to that again if that's what it takes to make our young people understand that they are a threat to our existence by dealing in drugs. Maybe by banning a few more drug dealers, people will get the message that if they want to live here, they should leave drugs alone.

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