"Enforce Curfew on Reserve"

A little-known curfew bylaw in effect on the Six Nations Reserve came to public attention in magistrate's court recently when the father of an Ohsweken district juvenile was summoned on a charge of allowing his son to stay out later than 9 p.m.

The bylaw, prohibiting children under 17 from being on streets and roads on the reserve after that time unless accompanied by a parent or a person authorized by a parent, was passed last September by the elected council. The bylaw was put into effect at the urging of parents' groups who had become concerned at the problem of juveniles roaming the reserve late at night.

Magistrate J.T. Shillington, QC, dismissed the first charge under the bylaw which appeared before him last night stating that it was quite possible that the father had not known of the bylaw. Since that time the council and RCMP have taken steps to publicize the bylaw by posting it at the council house, post offices and schools.

Though the bylaw has been in effect more than six months only the one charge has been laid because the council and RCMP have been simply warning first offenders until the law becomes more familiar.

A similar 9 p.m. curfew, affecting children under 16 years old, has been in effect on the tiny Mississaugas of the Credit Reserve for some time and is also policed by RCMP at Ohsweken.