SAINT REGIS MOHAWK TRIBAL COUNCIL REASSESSING RELATIONSHIP WITH ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY
Tribe Responds Strongly To Inappropriate Comments

AKWESASNE — Immediately following news that the St. Lawrence County Legislature had formally withdrawn its support from the land claim settlement, Legislature R. Sean Gray (R-Massena) made public comments regarding the reservation that were totally inappropriate. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council responded and issued a letter to Legislature Chairman Tom Nichols voicing its concern.

Gray’s comments appeared on February 28, 2005 in the Malone Telegram and the Massena Courier-Observer. It was also included in the Telegram’s March 1^st editorial that stated:

“My concerns are growing,” Legislator R. Shawn Grey (R-Massena) said. “There are some things happening that only bode ill for us and for the people of our county.  Look historically at what has happened in Franklin County.  I don’t know why we would want to invite the reservation into our county, where it does not currently exist.”

In the letter submitted on March 1^st, the Tribal Council indicated that it was hurt and angered by comments made by the representative of the St. Lawrence County Legislature and is reassessing its relationship with the County because of it. They noted that Gray is an official representative of the County Legislature and that he “insinuated that we are somehow unsavory and unworthy of being part of the county because we are Mohawks.”

The Tribal Council believes that no matter what context these remarks were made, they are inappropriate and uncalled for

“We have a history of helping out our neighbors in St. Lawrence County when the need has arisen,” stated the Tribal Council. “We believe that our relationship with St. Lawrence County has been mutually beneficial and these comments are unfortunate.”

The Tribal Council told Nichols that it will adjust its relationship with the County if Gray’s comments are the official position of the St. Lawrence County Legislature.

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