Letter to the editor

Common Misconceptions About Monticello, The Tribe, and the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino

I would like to address a few misconceptions being  promoted in the community by the Anti-Sullivan County Casino group (The Vote No Group):

First, the Tribe has mis-managed the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and would be out of their league in Monticello.

 This is not true. Indian Gaming is the MOST highly regulated industry in the nation.  It has been over 20 years since the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988 and major strides have been made within the Indian gaming industry and within our own territory ensuring that revenues generated from the Casino truly benefit the Akwesasne Mohawk community.

 In our casino there are standard operating procedures in place to segregate incompatible functions. All departments have a written set of procedures to follow in their day to day activities.  Each day an audit paper trail is scrutinized by an internal revenue audit department. Further more, the Tribal Gaming Commission (TGC) inspectors work 24/7 performing their own separate audits. And even further, on an annual basis, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm performs an independent financial audit of the entire casino operation. Additionally, the management side of the house has a compliance department whose job is to make sure that all departments within the casino are complying with a multitude of federal, state and tribal laws and internal policies.   The general manager works closely with this compliance department to ensure all departments are in full compliance with all applicable rules, laws, and written policies. He reports to a casino board of directors that sit on the Tewatahonni Corporation. 

 The Tribal Council does not manage the casino. The casino is managed by a diverse executive team comprised of seasoned casino professionals – seventy percent (70 %) are Mohawk. There are many Akwesasronon that work in the casino as regulators, auditors, accountants, as well as surveillance and security personnel. -- whose job is to maintain the integrity of the games and protect casino assets. All new casino workers go through an exhaustive orientation training program. Training includes such topics as compliance and safety and includes a cultural component delivered by members of the Tribal Council.

 There are approximately 248 Mohawks working within the casino in various capacities from floor workers to top management. Mohawks hold most of the top management positions.  The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino’s recent ten year celebration is a testament to the financial success of our casino. Last week the Casino hosted a grand opening celebration after the recent completion of a $55 Million dollar casino expansion financed by banks that have complete confidence in the Casino’s ability to repay this loan.

 A second misconception in the community is that the Tribe will be taken advantage of by the management company in Monticello.

 Nearly twenty years ago when working for the Tribe we set up a law library hoping to some day have our own legal department. Our community is fortunate to have a legal team of experienced Mohawk attorneys working for the Tribe and the Casino. They have gained extensive knowledge from working in Indian Country and within the Indian Casino gaming industry.

 Dale White, our Tribe’s General Counsel returned to Akwesasne after having worked through out Indian Country and for the Mohegan Sun for several years. Michelle Mitchell, another successful Mohawk attorney has specialized in reviewing casino contracts.   She can tell you first hand her experience working for the National Indian Gaming Commission (federal regulators) and the New York State Racing and Wagering Board (state regulators), and the Seneca Gaming Corporation.  She’s had a bird’s eye view of Indian gaming from all angles.

 We are much more sophisticated and knowledgeable about casino gaming then we were fifteen years ago when this Monticello project first began. We have ten years experience operating a successful casino!

As former chair of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming Commission, I’ve watched the Indian Casino Gaming industry grow and prosper making it a point to attend the annual National Indian Gaming Association Trade Show and Convention each year.

I do not believe Tribal Council would allow themselves to be taken advantage of by Mickey Brown, Kien Huat and/or Empire Resorts.  Our newest Tribal Council Chief, Mark Garrow walked the floor at the Casino as the TGC’s lead inspector. I have every confidence in his ability to scrutinize any new agreement that may be reached with Empire after an affirmative yes vote in the January 30, 2010 Referendum.

 The third misconception is that there will be corruption because a Monticello casino is too far away.

An affirmative yes vote in the January 30th Referendum puts the wheels in motion for our Tribal Council to re-establish a relationship with Empire. The Mohawk/Monticello LLC (limited liability corporation) will be just as highly regulated as our own Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. Our Tribal Gaming Commission will oversee and regulate a Mohawk/Monticello LLC Casino just as diligently and responsibly  as they do  the casino in Akwesasne. The same set of National Indian Gaming Commission Minimum Internal Control Standards will apply. 

Those are the same standards and accounting principles applicable throughout Indian Country.  There will still be a three (3) tiered level of regulators on a federal, state, and tribal level scrutinizing a Mohawk/Monticello LLC casino operation. There will be the same type of surveillance monitoring in a Mohawk/Monticello casino operation with the ‘eyes in the sky’ camera coverage and surveillance monitoring of money movement within the casino as we have here in Akwesasne. The financial statements of Mohawk/Monticello LLC casino will be audited by an independent auditor just like at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. The Mohawk/Monticello casino will have an internal revenue audit department that audits all departments within the casino. More importantly, the Mohawk/Monticello Limited Liability Corporation will have its own compliance department making sure the casino operation is in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and tribal laws so that it truly benefits the Akwesasne community.  I am confident we will set up the proper system of accounting and internal controls that provides the Mohawk tribal community with a paper trail to “follow the money” as it moves throughout the casino.

 I look forward to the career and other opportunities a Mohawk/Monticello LLC casino will provide for me, my children, grandson and this community. Mohawks will have preference in hiring.  In Akwesasne, we are promoting Mohawk employment within the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino through Emily Lauzon’s Education and Recruitment program. She runs an excellent program and does a fine job of actively recruiting Mohawks and increasing Mohawk employment levels at the casino through her management trainee program and internships. I for one am thankful for her program at the casino for it provided me with the opportunity to come into the casino.

 Niawen ko wa for your time. These are my beliefs and this is my personal opinion.  I hope I’ve helped you understand how a successful casino such as ours operates in a highly regulated environment and that you understand what opportunities a Mohawk/Monticello casino can provide for our community. Please join me in voting YES to Off-Reservation Gaming in the January 30th 2010 Referendum.  Please encourage your friends and families to get out and vote by working your social networks.

Tracy Sunday, Former Tribal Gaming Commission Chairwoman