SRMT Reacquires 41.5 Acres of 1796 Treaty Lands
Jul 26, 2021
AKWESASNE — In accordance with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Land Acquisition and Sales Policy (TCR 2009-71), the Tribal Council is providing notification of a land purchase. The purchase entailed reacquiring 41.5 acres of 1796 Treaty Land that is located adjacent to the SRMT Transfer Station along State Route 37 for the amount of $166,000.00.
Notice of the intended purchase and comment period was provided, as required by TCR 2009-71. The intent to purchase was provided at the Monthly Tribal Meeting on March 9, 2021, included in the meeting packet, and made available on the Tribe’s Facebook page and Tribal Members Portal. The tribal meeting packet remains available to view on the portal and can be accessed through the Tribe’s website.
No written comments were received prior to the deadline of March 19th, which allowed the Tribe to move forward with completing the purchase and reacquiring the lands for the Tribe’s benefit.
“The Tribe’s Land Acquisition Policy requires notification be provided of any proposed land purchase or sale, which was done earlier this year. To provide added transparency, notification is also being provided that the purchase was recently completed,” stated the Tribal Council.
The purchase supports tribal efforts to expand the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s land base and regain all lands within the reservation’s exterior boundaries as set aside by federal treaty in 1796.
Tribal Council added, “In the absence of a land claim settlement agreement, the Tribe may apply to have the land taken into federal trust for exercising tribal jurisdiction and authority in a manner that preserves and promotes the long-term interest of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.”
The 39-acre parcel located adjacent to the recently reacquired lands houses the Tribe’s Transfer Station that was taken into trust in 2014. The Tribe may follow the same federal process for the 41.5 acres; which provides a comment period for individuals and local governments, but does not require that the County (Franklin) or Town (Fort Covington) agree for land to be taken into trust.
It is the Tribe’s continued desire to utilize the reacquired lands for the benefit of tribal members, which may include establishing a Business Park and/or using the land for single-family homes.
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