Residents of an eastern Ontario Mohawk reserve greeted their new $1.9-million police station not with fanfare, but with a blockade.

Protesters from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory said they blocked the delivery of the pre-fabricated building last Tuesday because they believe the federal and band money spent on it would have been better spent on urgent projects such as fixing their crumbling school and providing clean drinking water.

Jana Hill, a spokeswoman for the 50 protesters, said a majority of community residents buy water off the reserve.

"We have access to a pump in the park if we need clean water, but that's no good for people who don't have vehicles," she added.

The protesters accused the band council of making a significant funding decision without proper consultation.

Tracy Maracle, the principal of Ohahase High School, said the 125-year-old school is so dilapidated that it can no longer even be fixed.

Maracle recalled that three years ago a community-wide survey listed health and education as two key areas in need.

"Nowhere did it say the community has said we need a new police building," she said.

Members of the community accuse the band council of deciding to spend more than $900,000 on the police building without consultation.

Chief Donald Maracle, who heads the Tyendinaga band council, said councillors had no choice at the time, as they were given only three days to respond to a federal government offer to fund half the building and felt that was an opportunity.

He promised to consult with the community about what should now be done with the building.

The Tyendinaga reserve is located near Deseronto, Ont., about 25 kilometres east of Belleville.