Cornwall, ON, Jan 07, 2013 — Akwesasne Mohawks sent the Canadian government a message of native unity on Saturday. Hundreds of people marched across the two bridges from Massena, NY, to Cornwall, Ontario. Several tribal chiefs were among the marchers.

The demonstration was part of a movement called "Idle No More" that's swept across Canada. It protests legislation that many First Nation people say threatens their land and water.

The protest closed the border crossing for several hours. Despite a history of clashes with border officials, the march was a peaceful, family affair, full of drumming and singing.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Jan 04, 2013 — A group of Mohawks is planning to march on the bridge to Canada near Massena, NY, and shut down traffic Saturday. The demonstration is a part of an indigenous rights movement that's spread across Canada.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Jun 26, 2012 — In Cornwall, Ontario, Clark's Shoes has been meeting footwear needs for customers on both sides of the border since 1896. Ross McDonald has spent over half a century running the store his maternal grandfather founded. For shoppers of a certain age, this is what buying shoes has always been like: helpful, personable service in a family-owned business. McDonald is retiring near the end of this month and a lot of his customers are feeling the loss. Lucy Martin dropped by the store earlier this month, when most everything was on sale and business was brisk.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Sep 02, 2010 — The temporary border checkpoint in Cornwall will remain in place another year. Canada had said it wanted a permanent solution by now. The port of entry was moved last year when Akwesasne Mohawks protested border officers being armed. As David Sommerstein reports, a return to the original checkpoint on Cornwall Island seems unlikely.  Go to full article

Summerstown, ON, Aug 12, 2010 — The Canadian government announced Tuesday it will begin building a new bridge between Cornwall and Cornwall Island next spring. The lower, shorter span will open up acres of land along the St. Lawrence River. City of Cornwall and Mohawk officials applauded the project, which will cost $75 million.

We'll have more next week on what the new bridge could mean for the ex-paper mill town of Cornwall. Construction was to have begun last summer.

But a standoff between Canadian border officials and Akwesasne Mohawks delayed the project and led to the closure of the customs checkpoint on Cornwall Island. The dispute over arming border agents shut down the international bridge between Cornwall and Massena for six weeks.

Today, Canada still operates a make shift checkpoint in the city of Cornwall. Locals report delays of up to two hours. Canadian and tribal officials haven't met in months. And Mohawks on Cornwall Island say they're stuck in a netherworld between two borders. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Dec 24, 2009 — A Canadian court has rejected a motion that Akwesasne Mohawks face hardships in reporting to the temporary customs in Cornwall. The Mohawks sought to stop border officers from forcing tribal members to cross a bridge twice to get home. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Dec 16, 2009 — A three-year inquiry into claims of widespread sexual abuse of children in Cornwall, Ontario concluded yesterday. Commissioner Normand Glaude faulted local institutions like the Catholic church, the Children's Aid Society, and the police for looking the other way as children and teens were abused. In a statement delivered yesterday in Cornwall, Glaude said the institutions "failed to serve the interests of justice and the goal of protecting the vulnerable against abuse." Andrew Carroll is managing editor of the Cornwall Standard Freeholder. He told David Sommerstein the report points the finger at high-profile leaders of the community.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Oct 02, 2009 — Canada will continue to impound cars and impose fines on Mohawks who don't check in with customs officers in Cornwall, Ontario. Five vehicles have been seized in the last week. Canada's border agency resumed the controversial policy last Friday after a grace period. Akwesasne Mohawk leaders say tribal members are being punished for last summer's stand-off that closed the border crossing for six weeks. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Sep 28, 2009 — Controversy continues as Canadian border officials and Mohawk tribal leaders struggle with an ongoing dispute over the international crossing on Cornwall Island. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Cornwall, ON, Jul 14, 2009 — For the first time in six weeks, the general public could cross the border between Massena and Cornwall, Ontario yesterday morning. Canada set up a temporary checkpoint on the Cornwall end of the bridge. The move brought relief to a region that's been hammered economically by the closure. But it also raised new questions about long-term fixes for the port of entry. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article