TRIBAL COUNCIL ISSUES STATEMENT ON ISSUANCE OF FEDERAL PERMIT TO MOHAWK CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER
Decision to Apply for Federal Permit Will Be Made by Individual Businesses

AKWESASNE , NY – On February 14, 2006 the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council learned that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a federal permit to Native Trading Associates to manufacture tobacco products in Akwesasne. The Tribal Council reiterated their position that the formal granting of the permit resolves an important issue for tribal members and that the decision to pursue the federal application process will be made by individual Mohawk business owners.

“The Tribe understands that obtaining a federal permit is an important step needed to protect hundreds of jobs Mohawk manufacturing facilities provide,” said Tribal Chief Barbara Lazore. “The input of tribal members in considering this issue has helped the Tribal Council in determining that this is a decision to be made by individual businesses.”

The Tribal Council appreciates the professional and timely manner that the application was reviewed and for the input of tribal members in defining the appropriate roles of the parties in regards to tobacco manufacturing in Akwesasne. Public input periods were provided in November 2005 and in April 2005 that gave tribal members an opportunity to share their comments and help guide the decision making process.

In December 2005, the Tribal Council announced that the decision to seek, or not to seek, a federal permit from the TTB will be made by the tribal members that operate the manufacturing facilities. Individual Mohawks own and operate businesses in Akwesasne and the Tribal Council will continue to support their efforts to promote economic development, provide employment opportunities, and benefit the Akwesasne community.

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