St. Regis Mohawk Tribe: News & Resources

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
Ohiarihko:wa/July 13, 2005

For information contact:
Public Information Office
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236
Fax: (518) 358-9675

AKWESASNE MOHAWK LAND CLAIM SETTLEMENT SHOULD STILL GO FOWARD
Chief Ransom Testifies in front of House Resource Committee

AKWESASNE, N.Y. — Rep. Richard Pombo, the Chairman of the House Resource Committee, held an oversight hearing on the New York Tribal Land Claims this morning in Washington , D.C. Chief James Ransom was amongst several tribal leaders to testify.

The hearing focused on the status of settling recognized tribes’ land claims within New York State following the June 28^th, Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the Cayuga Nation vs. New York State . The court ruled that the Sherrill case should be extended to bar the Cayuga land claim, ruling that the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma waited too long to reclaim their homelands, thus overturning the lower court judgment which awarded the Cayuga Nation $247.9 million in 2001.

Amongst the dignitaries that gave testimony besides Chief James Ransom were: the Honorable Gale Norton, US Department of Interior; Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation; Chairperson Cristina Danforth, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin; Chief LeRoy Howard, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; President Robert Chicks, Stockbridge Munsee Community of Wisconsin, and Chairman Paul Miller, Committee on Native American Affairs and Gaming New York State Assoc. of Counties.

Chief James Ransom’s testimony reiterated that the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement is unique and is different from the Cayuga and Oneida claims in several significant ways:

The Akwesasne Mohawks have had and still have a strong presence within their claim area. We have never moved from our ancestral lands.
The Akwesasne Mohawks are an important part of the character of Northern New York and have built positive relationships with neighboring communities and counties over the years.
The Akwesasne Mohawks have been exercising jurisdiction within the claim area and has shared jurisdiction in other areas. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe provides water and sewage sanitation services to all living in the Hogansburg Triangle. The Akwesasne-Hogansburg Fire Department services the Akwesasne Community and is part of the Franklin County Mutual Aid system. Most recently, the New York State Legislature passed legislation cross-deputizing the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police with the New York State Police.
The Akwesasne Mohawks are settling not only their land claim but the issue in regards to the new license for the St. Lawrence FDR Power Project. The United States recognized that the Akwesasne Mohawks land claim process could have implications on the NYPA’s license.
The United States took the position that the islands that are subject of the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim, are within the Department of Interiors jurisdiction with the FERC licensing process for the NYOA Project. This is the only land claim where the United States has taken the position that land claim areas are subject to their protection and jurisdiction.

The Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim still retains support from all parties who were signatories to it and has received support from the St. Lawrence County Legislature, which is the final signature needed on the land claim settlement. Their support came after the Sherrill decision was announced. Greg Allen, Senior Assistant Counsel to the Governor, in a written statement on April 15, 2005 , to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, stated that “It is clear, however, that the Sherrill decision does not effect the settlement agreement with the Akwesasne Mohawks and the Governor does intend to submit to the Legislature a new bill to implement the terms of the settlement agreement.” The New York State Assembly passed the Governors billed on June 21^st but the New York State Senate was unable to do the same before the end of session of June 24th.

The Akwesasne Mohawks firmly believe that the Cayuga ruling does not affect our land claim settlement and we will continue to work with state and federal representative to have the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim ratified.

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The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.








		PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: Ohiarihko:wa/July 13, 2005 For information contact: Public Information Office St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236 Fax: (518) 358-9675 AKWESASNE MOHAWK LAND CLAIM SETTLEMENT SHOULD STILL GO FOWARD Chief Ransom Testifies in front of House Resource Committee AKWESASNE, N.Y. — Rep. Richard Pombo, the Chairman of the House Resource Committee, held an oversight hearing on the New York Tribal Land Claims this morning in Washington , D.C. Chief James Ransom was amongst several tribal leaders to testify. The hearing focused on the status of settling recognized tribes’ land claims within New York State following the June 28^th, Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the Cayuga Nation vs. New York State . The court ruled that the Sherrill case should be extended to bar the Cayuga land claim, ruling that the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma waited too long to reclaim their homelands, thus overturning the lower court judgment which awarded the Cayuga Nation $247.9 million in 2001. Amongst the dignitaries that gave testimony besides Chief James Ransom were: the Honorable Gale Norton, US Department of Interior; Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation; Chairperson Cristina Danforth, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin; Chief LeRoy Howard, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; President Robert Chicks, Stockbridge Munsee Community of Wisconsin, and Chairman Paul Miller, Committee on Native American Affairs and Gaming New York State Assoc. of Counties. Chief James Ransom’s testimony reiterated that the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement is unique and is different from the Cayuga and Oneida claims in several significant ways: The Akwesasne Mohawks have had and still have a strong presence within their claim area. We have never moved from our ancestral lands. The Akwesasne Mohawks are an important part of the character of Northern New York and have built positive relationships with neighboring communities and counties over the years. The Akwesasne Mohawks have been exercising jurisdiction within the claim area and has shared jurisdiction in other areas. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe provides water and sewage sanitation services to all living in the Hogansburg Triangle. The Akwesasne-Hogansburg Fire Department services the Akwesasne Community and is part of the Franklin County Mutual Aid system. Most recently, the New York State Legislature passed legislation cross-deputizing the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police with the New York State Police. The Akwesasne Mohawks are settling not only their land claim but the issue in regards to the new license for the St. Lawrence FDR Power Project. The United States recognized that the Akwesasne Mohawks land claim process could have implications on the NYPA’s license. The United States took the position that the islands that are subject of the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim, are within the Department of Interiors jurisdiction with the FERC licensing process for the NYOA Project. This is the only land claim where the United States has taken the position that land claim areas are subject to their protection and jurisdiction. The Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim still retains support from all parties who were signatories to it and has received support from the St. Lawrence County Legislature, which is the final signature needed on the land claim settlement. Their support came after the Sherrill decision was announced. Greg Allen, Senior Assistant Counsel to the Governor, in a written statement on April 15, 2005 , to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, stated that “It is clear, however, that the Sherrill decision does not effect the settlement agreement with the Akwesasne Mohawks and the Governor does intend to submit to the Legislature a new bill to implement the terms of the settlement agreement.” The New York State Assembly passed the Governors billed on June 21^st but the New York State Senate was unable to do the same before the end of session of June 24th. The Akwesasne Mohawks firmly believe that the Cayuga ruling does not affect our land claim settlement and we will continue to work with state and federal representative to have the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim ratified. --30-- The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.