Tribe Second Year Participants in CITGO Home Heating Fuel Program

AKWESASNE– Members of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council met with CITGO representatives last week and reported at Saturday’s monthly tribal meeting that the Tribe will participate in the discounted home heating program again this year.

Tribal Chiefs Barbara Lazore and James Ransom, along with Elliott Lazore, Director of Compliance, traveled to Portland, Maine to meet with representatives in charge of CITGO’s home heating fuel program. Last year the CITGO program provided nearly $2 million dollars worth of fuel assistance to Akwesasne Mohawk residents.

Tribal Chief Jim Ransom gave a synopsis of the program saying that, this year, the Tribe will expand the program to all households in the territory of Akwesasne, who burn fuel oil, kerosene or propane to heat their homes. The Tribe is working with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to bring the CITGO home heating program to ALL qualified Native households and institutions at Akwesasne. In keeping with the program guidelines, seniors, low-income residents and single parent households will be considered priority.

The program is expected to begin fuel deliveries on December 1 and last through the end of March 2008. The program will require everyone to apply in order to receive the fuel. Ransom stated, “Even though you may have applied last year, you must still reapply this year as household information may have changed.” 

Applications are expected to be available some time next week in the Compliance Office at the Tribal Building. Announcements will be made on CKON on the exact dates of availability. Additional dates will also be set for application distribution at the Seniors Center, the IGA, and other potential locations. The Tribe’s Compliance Office will be coordinating with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to ensure the program operates smoothly for everyone; new and returning participants.

Tribal Chief Lorraine White contacted CITGO representatives earlier this fall in the hopes of renewing the Tribe’s participation in the fuel program. “We are very gratified to once again be working with CITGO to keep our families warm this winter,” stated Chief White. “This program is an exemplary model of indigenous people helping indigenous people and we feel very fortunate to be a part of CITGO’s effort that specifically focuses on Native communities.”

“We all know that heating our homes in the winter is a huge expense for families especially when the price of fuel is going up,” said Tribal Chief Barbara Lazore. “This program will assist each and every Native family in the Akwesasne community by helping to take the sting out of winter fuel bills.”

Tribal Chief James Ransom concluded, “We are extremely grateful to CITGO for again including us in this tremendous program. It is great to see the entire community benefiting from this collaboration with CITGO.”

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