Eastern Door Volume 6 Number 42

Volume 6 Number 42

November 21, 1997

MCK deposits for ARI
$36,086 Letter of credit meets critical deadline
By: Waneek Horn

Recently another step closer was taken towards the creation of an aircraft repair company at the Griffiss Airforce Base near Rome, N.Y.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) submitted a letter of credit for $36,086 obtained from the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake to secure the right to lease the 470,000 square foot hanger 101 at the Griffiss Airstrip securing it until April 1, 1998.

The deposit was put down Monday as stipulated in the Agreement between the Aviation Resource Inc. (ARI) and the Griffiss Local Development Corp. (GLDC).

Mark Mohave, director of development for Economic Development Growth Enterprises (EDGE) is happy with the deposit and sees it as a commitment to seeing the project through. "It was expected, it was anticipated and we are glad to see the business-like way Aviation Resources is proceeding in this" stated Mohave.

MCK, as a partner in Aviation Resources Inc., is looking to run an aircraft maintenance and repair facility in the hanger which will bring in approximately 300 immediate jobs for the Rome area as well as for Kahnawake residents.

ARI chairperson Frank Arvay feels that the step may be a small one but serves as a sign of investor's intentions. "I don't see it as a surprise, it shows that we are committed to the project" stated Arvay.

Like any business venture, there are no guarantees and if the following financial needs are not met the MCK will be able to pull out with their $36,086 credit intact.

They are currently looking to find the additional $4 million needed to get the facility off the ground. One proposal has been to obtain the money through the Canadian government.

The next step to be taken by the GLDC and ARI is to get the area certified as an Economic Development Zone by New York State so that incentives and tax credits can be obtained. Following the certification, the GLDC must obtain $4 million of its own to make improvements to the hanger.

If successful this operation could yield as many as 1,000 jobs and provide work for Mohawk ironworkers and welders as well as retired airforce maintenance workers that reside in the Rome area. If all goes well, start-up could be in the Fall of 1998.

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ADM dominates Tuesday's public meeting
By: Tom Dearhouse

Around 60+ people came to the Tuesday, November 18 public meeting at the Knights of Columbus.

The tops for discussion were Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Aviation Resources Inc, (ARI) besides copies available of two new law-one called the Emergency Preparedness Law and the second a Recreational Paths Law.

With the meeting chaired by Chief Myrtle Bush, the audience was told that ADM "is still open for consideration." Why? Council says because a form of revenue and jobs are needed. ADM's proposed lease calls for $200,000 per year for fifty years. The project would provide short term construction jobs and six to eight full time jobs on site plus 20 or more trucking jobs.

Council said the next step in considering ADM is to conduct a community survey. At the same time, reassurances were given that "nothing final has been signed, and nothing will be done until the community is in agreement."

Community members brought up issues like multi-lateral agreements, international laws that companies like ADM must follow, questioning whose laws will ADM follow and do some laws supersede others. Myrtle Bush said these agreements won't affect us, it's not for the federal authorities to come here. She said ADM gave assurances to abide by all communal, provincial and federal laws.

One critic felt this project would lead to eventual community taxation which the people and the Council is against. Bush said this topics needs to be dealt with separately.

Criticism was heaped on the Council Chiefs for not understanding the meaning of the word 'No' at the ADM project.

A debate took place on employment and Kahnawake being self-sufficient through other industries like cattle, farming and our own brand of clothing. The problem is for an individual entrepreneur to get an adequate startup investment from a financial source.

Council gave figures in a general overview of the community. It takes around 37 million to run the community per year. There are around 400 jobs, linked to Council like their office staff, PK's, court workers, and KSCS.

Social assistance in the community amounts to nine million dollars a year. In 1984, the amount was 2 million. Keeping in mind population growth and more people becoming eligible, how much will we need in the future? Unemployment in Kahnawake, according to Johnny Montour, stands at 50 percent.

Aviation Resources Inc.

Phillip Jacobs gave a short presentation on Aviation Resources Inc. and the status of the project slated to cost $15 million in investments. Council has an opportunity to invest $4 million from federal subsidies to provide Kahnawake some high-tech jobs. This new company plans to repair and overhaul Boeing 727s and other aircraft at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. Council is waiting to review the business plans, and discussions are at the early stage.

At the adjournment of the meeting, copies of the two new laws were circulated, with no comments and are available at the Council office.

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Editorial

Freedom of expression needs responsibility
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

The recent spate of unsigned newsletters and verbal tirades cannot be ignored although they don't deserve anybody's attention.

Unfortunately, ignoring them might be interpreted as acceptance or tolerating this unacceptable behaviour.

One would think that by now, everyone would know that unsigned letters are the tools of small-minded cowards who do not have the courage to stand up and be recognized for who they are and what they stand for.

They attack other people while believing that they are better than the people they attack. Instead, they disparage themselves and drag their cause down with them.

The Mohawk Times, which started this latest waste of paper, hijacked the ADM issue from an economic development, environment issued into a political, traditionalist versus band council confrontation.

Many of the opponents of the ADM project were opposed to the impact of the grain silos, not necessarily the political system that promoted the project.

The Mohawk Times tried to take the energy used to stop the project and to begin a movement toward traditional government. For obvious reasons it didn't work. Nobody reacted, except for one person, or two or three, who knows, who took the Mohawk Times seriously enough to answer with their own slanderous rag called the Real Mohawk Times.

This newsletter, also unsigned, countered the Mohawk Times by ridiculing some traditionals, criticizing the survival School and promoting the ADM project. This letter didn't make non-traditionals any better than the people they criticized.

The ADM issue is not about political ideology. It's about what kind of economic development this community wants.

Mudslinging by political activists is not clearing up the waters in this issue.

Which brings us to last Friday's talk show on K103. While freedom of expression is a valued and important part in any society, that freedom requires a certain amount of responsibility by those who use that freedom. To call people with a different opinion or point of view terrorists is an example of irresponsibility.

As much as he may view an opponent as wrong, ill-informed, stupid or even a liar, none of these suggest violence or physical harm to another person. That is what terrorism is: the threat of physical harm on another person.

We all know what it is to be called a terrorist. As Mohawks, since 1990, we have all been branded on talk shows, newspapers, and eve the Prime Minister of Canada called us terrorists. It is a way of dehumanizing your enemy to make it easier to do away with them.

Branding someone a terrorist is a dangerous escalation in a war of words. An escalation that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It should not be allowed to continue and the proponent of this expression should be the first to withdraw his statement.

On the same note, the Real Mohawk Times seemed to consider the guest on the he Friday talk show as a "respected official." It would behoove this official to publicly distance himself from any association with the writing of that newsletter.

Finally, shouldn't Canada Post have the responsibility of controling unsigned newsletters? Not only do they allow unsigned newsletters, they are not allowed to divulge who paid for the mailing. Is this another abuse of the right to freedom of expression.

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Comics

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