AKWESASNE — (Seskéha/August 29, 2025) The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council notifies community non-profit organizations that it is accepting proposals for the Tribal Opioid Settlement funds for Fiscal Year 2026.
On Tsiothóhrha/December 21, 2018, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (the “Tribe”) filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York contending pharmaceutical companies who manufacture, market, and distribute opioids carried out a scheme to make individuals believe that prescription opioids were safe, non-addictive, and could be used without long-term effects. The complaint alleged that the scheme created an opioid epidemic that has ravaged tribal communities.
For the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe the opioid epidemic created health effects on its members and their families, as well as increased instances of child welfare, foster care cases, and crime. As a result, the Tribe has undertaken various efforts to combat the epidemic, ranging from strategies to prevent opioids from falling into the hands of youth or those without prescriptions, and community education on opioid dangers and how to address them.
As settlement agreements were negotiated with some companies, some defendants have filed for bankruptcy, it was undetermined at the time if additional payments would be added. The amount of the settlements that is allocated among each federally recognized Tribe and Alaskan tribal health organization was determined with the aid of the 2020 U.S. Census. The Tribe stresses the importance for tribal members to participate in the decennial census.
In accordance with settlement terms, the funds received shall support programs on an approved list of abatement strategies; and also, for culturally appropriate activities that are aimed at remediating the opioid epidemic’s impact on the Akwesasne community. The terms recognize that tribal communities possess unique cultural practices that play an important role in the health and wellbeing of tribal members.
The Tribal Council shares that since 2023, the Tribe has received settlement monies from the litigation amounting to $1,800,730.87 thus far, and expects annual distributions in varying amounts until 2037 in accordance with the following settlement schedule (subject to change based on actual amount received).
External awardees of Tribal funding are responsible to meet the following conditions:
- Submit an annual expenditure report to certify that awarded funds are properly utilized in accordance with funding proposal and return any underspend by March 31, 2027;
- Maintain records and financial documents for five (5) years after all funds have been expended;
- Express positive messages acknowledging the Tribe’s support and assist with any public relations regarding the award; and
- Present to Tribal Membership at Tribal Monthly Meetings on programmatic activity and report on how the funds were utilized.
The Tribal Council welcomes community non-profit organizations to submit proposals for FY 2026 (January 1-December 31, 2026) in accordance with the settlement terms, specifically for culturally appropriate activities that are aimed at remediating the opioid epidemic’s impact on the Akwesasne community by the deadline of Seskehkó:wa/September 30, 2025 to:
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Attention: Office of Tribal Council
71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way
Akwesasne, NY 13655
Note, late applications will not be considered for FY 2026. For any questions, please call the Office of Tribal Council at (518)358-2272.
Stay up-to-date on Tribal news and notices by visiting www.srmt-nsn.gov.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.