1. Obstacles to Inter-Tribal Trade
Chief Troy Thompson
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
November 12, 2016

2. Mention uniqueness of Akwesasne, situated in two countries, two provinces and one state. Akwesasne is where Ontario, Quebec, and New York State come together along the St. Lawrence River. Three Mohawk governments: MCA, SRMT, and MNCC. Membership: 12,000 for MCA, 13,000 for SRMT, thousands for the MNCC.

3. Map shows international nature of community
Map shows international nature of community. Three separate MCA Districts, two in Quebec, one in Ontario, one in New York. River landlocks the community from Canada. Map shows the two closest entry points into Canada from Akwesasne for the Kanatakon district. St. Lawrence River land locks the community from the rest of Canada.

4. Case Study
Opening of Tire Store in community, from American side to Canadian side.
Tires are brought across the border for sale.
Cornwall businesses object to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
CBSA tries to tell Mohawk business they have to pay duties on imported tires to Canada from the United States.
Council helps by being proactive.
This Case Study will help illustrate the obstacles and challenges facing First Nations/Tribes in conducting trade.

5. Obstacle
Neighboring Non-Native Businesses see Native Businesses as unfair competition.
They will claim that the economic playing field is not level.
They will do whatever they can to stifle Tribal/First Nation Trade and/or Businesses.
They will pressure government agencies to take action against First Nation/Tribal businesses.

6. How to Address Be proactive. Conduct an Economic Leakage Study.
Akwesasne’s economy - $140 million.
76% or $107 million is spent outside the community – Economic Leakage.
$31 million spent in Cornwall, Ontario – business concerns unfounded.
Factual information can correct misperceptions.
Leverage results into improved business relationships.
How to address this obstacle Economic Leakage Study. Goals: reduce leakage by buying/shopping local and leverage results to push for better economic relationships with neighbors. Raising awareness can improve relationship and address misperceptions.

7. Obstacle
Being a victim of circumstances and not being proactive in pursuing Tribal/First Nation Trade.
Lack of knowledge of International Trade Agreements and what they mean to First Nations and Tribes.
If you don’t have this knowledge, others will try to use it against you.
You need this knowledge to compete in the global market place.

8. How to Address
Educate ourselves on International Trade Agreements, how they work, how they can help us.
Seize the economic opportunity created by the TRC and UNDRIP.
Strengthen Inter-Tribal, Inter-First Nations relationships to promote economic opportunities.
Create our own Trade Agreements between First Nations/Tribes.
TRC is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Its final report called for mutually beneficial relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. UNDRIP is the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada and the United States have signed on to it. It promotes these important rights: self-government, self-autonomy, and self-determination.

9. MCA Trade Agreements Huron Wendat Nation of Wendake – Quebec
Maya Q’eqchi – Guatemala
West Bank – British Columbia
Kahnawake and Kahnasatake – Quebec
Metis of Labrador – Labrador
Iroquois Caucus – Amongst seven communities in Ontario and Quebec.
While the MCA has entered into these Trade Agreements with other Tribes/First Nations and has created the atmosphere for trade to occur, no practical trade opportunities have yet to be realized, except for the Maya agreement which allowed for coffee beans to be exported to MCA in the 1990s. It eventually failed because MCA didn’t have the capacity to continue the relationship.

10. Going Forward Just do it.
Don’t be victims of our economic circumstances.
Be proactive in creating First Nation/Tribal Trade Agreements.
Learn from each other, both our failures and successes.

11. Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
Questions?
For more information, contact the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne:
Chief Troy Thompson
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
Box 579
Cornwall, Ontario K6H 5T3
(613)