KANESATAKE, Que. — Dissident Mohawk chiefs upset over a policing deal blocked a major road on Monday near this settlement northwest of Montreal.

The protesters had been blocking only one lane of Highway 344 since last Friday, but they extended the blockade early Monday afternoon, saying federal officials refused to speak with them.

The protesters are upset that Grand Chief James Gabriel negotiated a policing deal with Ottawa without consulting the band council.

All traffic was turned back on Monday, other than school buses, emergency vehicles and local traffic.

Two vans, including one sporting a Mohawk flag, were parked across the road. A tent was also erected on the site.

Gabriel warned that Kanesatake police officers are ready to break up the blockade, which he called an illegal act.

"(We'll) put our support behind them (the police) to call in any reinforcements that are necessary from other First Nations to support the Mohawk police to control the situation," said Gabriel.

The blockade was put up by a group led by three chiefs - Steven Bonspille, Pearl Bonspille and John Harding. It has been manned around the clock by dozens of members of the Mohawk reserve near Oka.

The policing deal ensures the current Kanesatake police force remains in place, staffed by Mohawk, Cree and Mi'kmaq officers.

But the dissident chiefs are demanding all police officers who patrol the reserve be Mohawks, and they want a say in the policing budget.

They also want to renegotiate a number of other deals, including education and social-service agreements.

"The Canadian government wants confrontation over negotiation," Steven Bonspille told reporters at the blockade on Monday.

"Confrontation is not my style, but when Canada tells us they won't speak with the community of Kanesatake, there's nothing left to do."

Gabriel said he may ask Quebec provincial police to help native officers end the blockade.

"If this continues, John, Pearl and Steve won't be able to control the people at the blockade," said Gabriel.

"At this point, there's always a risk that the situation will degenerate."

The blockade is the latest incident in the continuing governance problems in the Mohawk community that was at the heart of the 1990 Oka standoff.

In July 1990, a dispute over a golf course on the reserve triggered a 78-day standoff with armed Mohawk militants.

One Quebec provincial police officer was killed during the dispute, which saw armed Mohawks square off against police and Canadian soldiers.