"Quebec Mohawk Crisis Taking Toll On Residents of Six Nations Reserve"

OHSWEKEN - The crisis in Quebec Mohawk communities is taking a toll on Six Nations residents.

After a three-hour meeting Wednesday morning and a stormy five-hour meeting Tuesday night, people were frustrated with division on the reserve

On Tuesday, community members called for action from Six Nations people to show their support for the Mohawks of Kanesatake and Kahnawake. Among suggestions were to set up roadblocks and to take down and destroy Canadian flags on the reserve.

The next morning, Six Nations elders called for peace and common sense.

Les Powell, a member of the Six Nations Veterans Association, warned people not to damage the Canadian flag.

"If they come over and try to take down our flag, I'm to old to run and fight, so I'm going to have to find some other way to protect it. And I will."

Andrew Staats said: "Our young people, they see people protesting in Toronto, in B.C., in Edmonton and they want to do something."

Kanesatake Mohawks had asked the Six Nations community to wait until things calm down, but Mr. Staats said people "want to do something. It's hard to tell them to wait."

Several people at the meetings warned that violence could also come to this community. "We could have the same thing here," cautioned Jan Longboat.

Hubert Buck, a Confederacy chief, said Six Nations residents will feel the effect of the native standoff with the government, even if they are not directly involved.

"All of us are in that battle. It's going to interfere with all of our lives - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but maybe the next day."

Arnold Hill, another member of the veterans association, called for the road blocks to come down. "I think that the barricades at Oka have served their purpose."