montrealgazette : Mohawks say they caught Mikinak member buying car with ‘fraudulent’ tax-exempt card at reserve

30.10.16

Mohawks say they caught Mikinak member buying car with ‘fraudulent’ tax-exempt card at reserve: [montrealgazette.com] Based in Beauharnois, west of Kahnawake on Montreal’s South Shore, the Mikinaks welcome as members anyone who can show through a family tree or a DNA test they have a single aboriginal ancestor. For $80, Mikinaks get a card declaring the holder is “an aboriginal within the meaning of the article 35 of the Constitution Act of Canada.”

Zacharie said status Indians can avoid paying taxes on items delivered to a reserve, and occasionally non-resident aboriginals arrange to have new cars delivered to Kahnawake. The Peacekeepers check if the buyer has a government-issued status card, before the transaction can proceed.

“We could tell that the card was fraudulent,” Zacharie said.