Community Development Fund Capital Project Presentations Provided
Jul 19, 2022
AKWESASNE - The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe was proud to have received presentations from the Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) and the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club (ABGC) at the Monthly Tribal Meeting held on Ohiarihkó:wa/July 9, 2022. Both organizations were named recipients of SRMT Community Development Funds, so the presentations provided an opportunity for tribal members to learn more about both organization’s proposed capital projects.
“At the September 2021 Tribal Meeting, the Tribe initiated a community discussion on priority projects to be undertaken through funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA),” stated Tribal Chief Michael Conners. Chief Conners noted, “The listing of priority projects was still under development, so a community callout was conducted during the month of September for tribal members to help identify other important community projects.”
The priority projects included necessary improvements to the community’s infrastructure, need for single and multi-family housing, enhancements to the tribal farm, economic support for local businesses and non-profit organizations, and individual financial assistance, among other proposed priorities. The callout further identified the need to include support for the Akwesasne Freedom School and to increase the Tribe’s pledge for the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club’s Capital Campaign.
“The Tribal Council had previously pledged $1 Million for the Boys and Girls Club’s new building construction through the Community Development Fund and increased its annual support for AFS to $200,000 through ARPA,” noted Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance. Chief LaFrance added, “Following feedback from tribal members, we were proud to announce at the February 2022 Tribal Meeting a pledge of $2 Million for the Akwesasne Freedom School’s New School Building Project and an increased pledge of $3 Million for the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club to build a new main clubhouse.”
At the July Monthly Tribal Meeting, representatives from the Akwesasne Freedom School noted the contribution will be applied to the new school’s estimated budget of $3.6 Million. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in Tsiothohrkó:wa/January 2023 and, when completed in Seskehkó:wa/September 2023, will feature a 12,000 to 15,000-square foot facility at 60 Freedom Way -- adjacent to the existing cannery on the eastside of State Route 37 in Akwesasne.
On a three-acre parcel of land donated by the Tribe along 71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way, the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club is seeking to better serve Akwesasne youth with construction of a 18,900-square foot building; which will entail classrooms, gymnasium, kitchen, offices, teen suite, and a large multi-purpose room for functions and activities. The new location provides access to athletic fields and other facilities at Generations Park -- including the Ronthahiiohsthá:ka Clubhouse operated by the Alcohol/Chemical Dependency Program.
“We are extremely proud of the work that the Akwesasne Freedom School and the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club are doing and their desire to enhance the services they provide to those who are most precious to us -- our children,” shared Tribal Chief Beverly Cook. Chief Cook further stated, “We are pleased to support both organization’s efforts to create safe and supportive gathering spaces in our community through the Community Development Fund.”
The presentations provided by AFS and ABGC at the July 2022 Monthly Tribal Meeting can viewed on the Tribal Members at www.srmt-nsn.gov. To learn more about each capital project, as well as to support their efforts, please visit their websites at www.foafs.org and www.myabgc.com/our-capitial-project and click “Donate.”
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.