Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

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Resolution

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is actively working to settle the terms of a 32-year outstanding land claim with New York State, St. Lawrence County and Franklin County. This agreement provides the following:

• The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with St. Lawrence County and New York State on May 28, 2014. To learn more about this agreement and the benefits it provides, click here.

• The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has the right to acquire, only from willing sellers, identified lands in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties and to return them to the Tribe’s territory.

• In exchange for lands which the Tribe is able to acquire, local governments will receive payments from New York State greater than any lost property taxes for those lands.

• St. Lawrence County and Franklin County will each receive annual payments from New York State to be paid in perpetuity.

In addition to the direct economic incentives, the settlement clarifies questions related to:

• Building Codes - the agreement requires adherence to New York State Building Codes, which the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe already meets or exceeds. The Tribe’s Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort is a prime example of our commitment.

• Police and Fire services - the agreement sets clear boundaries for the Reservation, removing disagreements over jurisdiction. It also provides a forum for resolution through discussion, rather than through the courts. We only have to look as far as our fire departments to see how effective cooperative agreements are and can be.