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Hothouse Pothouse
Shake up for local dealers as cops bust two drug dens
By: Tom Dearhouse

Kahnawake Peacekeepers raided two homes within the territory Tuesday night, arrested seven individuals and seized an estimated $250,000 of suspected marijuana, hydroponic growing equipment, and other items. Peacekeepers say this is the largest narcotics seizure in their history.

At about 7:45 p.m., 25 Peacekeepers and three civilian dispatchers were on duty for the simultaneous raids, traffic control, and supporting work at the PK station.

At a residence on (Sunstar Video) road, PK's encountered bolted steel doors in the front and two rottweiller dogs in the back yard. After being accosted by the dogs PK's shot and killed them in order to gain entry to the house.

Ten PK's were involved in the arrest of Mark (Full Blast) Lahache, 36, and Valerie Deer, 42, on charges of narcotics possession and trafficking.

Also arrested were Chad Norton, 20, on local warrants and Kenentiioh Lahache, 20, on an SQ warrant. A third local was arrested, but PK's would not release the name. Criminal charges have not been ruled out for these three individuals.

PK Chief Warren Lahache described the interior as an elaborate growing operation. Over a period of 5-6 hours at this location, police seized 1,500 suspected marijuana plants at various stages of growth, 500 grams of street-ready pot in bulk, hydroponic equipment, $4,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia such as scales and cutting equipment.

A hydroponic system uses large heating lamps over plants, a sprinkler system on a timer for regular watering, all contained in a sealed room with an atmosphere control for temperature and humidity. With fertilizer and chemical usage, growth rate of plants can be four times the norm.

Some plants were seedlings, others less than a foot, others full grown between 3-4 feet. Police speculate these plants were destined for spring planting and cultivation.

Second house raided

At a two story home, behind Rabaska Restaurant, six PK's arrested Allan T. Diabo, 53 and Peter Diabo, 25, on two counts each of trafficking and possession.

Inside police recovered 52 grams of suspected marijuana packaged for sale, plus drug paraphernalia.

According to PK Chief Lahache, his department's actions came after recent progress in investigations. He said the operation has been a two year task whereby PK's compiled evidence to ensure a court judge would grant search warrants, and increase odds for a conviction. Lahache said two active sites are shut down, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Police are aware of 12 other drug dealers, and it's just a matter of time before they are caught.

Lahache commends the entire PK department, the patrolmen who initiate drug files, and also the anonymous tipsters who start a trail which lend some direction for the investigators.

This shut down of an operation gives some satisfaction for Lahache and the Peacekeepers because during Lahache's tenure as Chief there have been grumblings within the community of police inaction about the drug problem.

Bail Hearing

Mark Lahache and Valerie Deer appeared in Longueuil Court Thursday for their bail hearing.

Valerie Deer was granted bail at $1,000 which she was able to meet.

Bail was said at $17,000 for Lahache, plus conditions set for his release should he make bail.

A Longueuil Court judge issued conditions that Lahache must report every Wednesday to the PK station, refrain from any contact with persons associated with drugs, and specifically mentioned refraining from contact, direct or indirect, with three individuals; Chad Norton, Kanentiioh Lahache, and a third person, previously unnamed-Kanentonton Lahache. He also cannot have a pages or cellular phone.

Mark Lahache must keep the same address or inform the courts of a change, and keep the peace.

His preliminary hearing is slated for April 27.

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Community Meeting
By: Tom Dearhouse

Membership issues dominated the Public meeting of Tuesday, March 31. The meeting lasted three hours, with about two hours spent discussing membership, its criteria and an apparent Mohawk Council inconsistency in a case brought up last month at this public forum.

Community member Mona Nolan again asked the Chiefs at the Council table why her son Kevin Nolan, 25, can not be re-instated in the Mohawk registry, while four other people have, despite public announcements of a hold on reinstatements since August 1997.

Kevin Nolan, working out of town, has no apparent criteria against him, a band number is issued to him, he's considered at least 50 percent Mohawk by a Council letter, and is going out with a Mohawk woman.

There was a lengthy debate on the matter, and a visibly distraught Nolan pressed the Council for an explanation. Towards the end of this subject, each Chief acknowledged the tough situation. Personally each stood in turn to say they would accept Nolan, put professionally, they had to abide with the rules in place.

Grand Chief Joe Norton said, in summary, the debate would not lead to a resolution because there is not consensus at the Council table, and the Council is simply a reflection of the community with its differences of opinion.

Norton admits an inconsistency in applying the rules, only because the community is inconsistent, and MCK reflects the community.

The community was asked to be patient for the membership code, and to use a good heart and mind when it is to be released.

Electoral Officer

The Council announced nominations will be accepted for an electoral officer at the next public meeting, since this is an election year for the 11 Council Chiefs and one Grand Chief.

Usually held in July, elections are run by a person (electoral officer) appointed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, or a person duly appointed at a community meeting.

In the regulations regarding Council elections, the duties of this position are to set a date for a nomination meeting which shall be at least thirty days before the date of the election.

An electoral officer will arrange for a meeting where the electors/voters may hear the candidates speak. Also the person shall conduct and supervise the election in accordance with regulations.

Mohawk Language

Council Chief Davis Rice read a declaration composed of principles taken from a consultation with Mohawk elders, Kanien'keha speakers who urged for a law to make Mohawk the number one language within the territory.

Council Chief Tiorakwathe shared some statistics he gathered from a recent language conference.

Tiorakwathe reminded people not to feel safe in such a large number.

Several members on behalf of Onkwawenna said the Council draft on the language was not strong enough.

In response to an Onkwawenna complaint of not getting enough attendance at language classes and the center in general, Council suggested volunteers go to the people at their workplaces.

The Grand Chief promised to keep the community informed, and said by next meeting, more documentation on a law would be available.

Private schools

During the open discussion period, one mother questioned a difference she found in tuition fees among families sending children to a private high school in Montreal. Tuition there is $13,000.

With some research, she found out other parents with children in the same school were paying nothing, others $1,200 and for her, after negotiations with the Education Center, her coverage came down. She was asked to pay $8,000, then as low as $4,000 which was still steep for her and her husband.

Chief Davis Rice suggested putting her story and objections in writing to be sent to the Combined Schools Committee. The committee will have to answer as the Council does not have a seat on this elected committee.

The meeting ended at 10:22 p.m.

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Editorial

Quebec's new partnership with Natives falls short
By: Kenneth Deer, The Eastern Door

Quebec announced its new policy guidelines concerning Aboriginal affairs yesterday in the National Assembly. Mr. Guy Chevrette, Minister of State for Natural Resources, Minister of the Regions and Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, presented a paper entitles Partnership, Development, Achievement which outlined their new approach toward relations with the Indigenous Peoples of Quebec.

While some of the proposals with help Native communities in Quebec, other proposals undermine our current rights.

On the positive side, Quebec is creating a 'political forum for debate, discussion and concerted action between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal elected leaders.' With these forums, Quebec hopes to be able to understand our situations and build a relationship on partnership and trust. The potential for such forums could go a long way in educating Quebec parliamentarians on the real issues we face every day.

Another positive aspect of the proposal is the injection of $125 million of new money for practical community projects and economic development. Quebec is also asking the Federal Government to match this amount which would, in total, add $50 million a year for the next five years to our local economies. Chevrette said that Quebec's commitment is not linked to the Federal dollars.

If the Feds don't agree to match the funds, Quebec will continue with its commitment of $125 million. Quebec will pass a motion next week in the National Assembly asking the Federal Government to match the funds.

The money will be allocated on a project by project basis and not by population or regions. Chevrette feels the money is most needed in the smaller communities to help develop their infrastructure and economic development but the final decision on who will get these projects will probably be made by the Quebec Cabinet.

Another shift in Quebec policy is the offer to include Aboriginal Peoples in profit sharing in hydro-electric projects. Obviously a ploy to buy off some Indigenous Nations, but it does give the opportunity for those Nations affected to negotiate for fair compensation for projects that may be forced through anyway.

More ominous in the Quebec proposals is the option for Aboriginal people to pay provincial taxes on Reserves and have the taxes rebated to their governments by the province of Quebec. And, with the cooperation of the Federal government, the GST could be rebated the same way. Quebec states that this will help cash strapped band councils to better service their people.

Mr. Chevrette should have his head examined. Native people in general are on the lowest rung on the economic ladder in Canada and he wants to help them by applying taxes? There is no logic to this proposal if the goal is to improve the living conditions in our communities.

More likely, the application of taxes to goods on reserve will eliminate any advantage our local entrepreneurs have in keeping their customers from buying off reserve. This plan would only help the non-Native businesses around our communities.

And, more importantly, it undermines rights in the Indian Act and the Federal governments fiduciary responsibilities to the Native Peoples of Canada. The Quebec government fails to understand our position on the reparations that these governments owe us for the occupation and use of our lands. Taxation is not negotiable.

Finally, the Quebec's new guidelines are based on the 15 principles passes by the Quebec Cabinet in 1983 which state, in part, "(Quebec) also recognizes, the right of Aboriginal nations, under Quebec legislation, to own and to control the lands that are attributed to them." Quebec has not changed its position that their laws are paramount in our communities.

Quebec's new policy is not a new partnership at all. It's still the same old colonial attitudes with some new window dressing. The window dressing may help improve our communities somewhat and the political forums may yield some new understandings, but the fundamental underpinnings of Quebec's relationship with the Indigenous Peoples in Quebec have a long way to go before we are truly equal partners.

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