Tribe swears in new chiefs

By Shannon Burns

Chief Randy Hart, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s newly elected chief, received a standing ovation last Thursday following his inauguration speech that spoke of his ambition and the hope he has for the tribal community.

“I am honored, and I am proud, and words cannot express how I am feeling,” he told the audience at the swearing-in ceremony and luncheon.

While declaring himself to be “not a great leader, not a leader of man,” Hart said he plans to work together with tribal members and hopes to hear from each one.

“Let’s start with a promise to respect one another,” he said. “Let’s develop, together, a strong government.”

(Read Chief Hart’s complete speech below.)

Chief Hart ran for office in the SRMT’s annual election held on June 5 at which the 3-year seat held by James Ransom was up for re-election, along with the 3-year sub-chief position held by Ron LaFrance. Chief Hart, Ransom and LaFrance all ran for the position of chief, while several candidates vied for LaFrance’s sub-chief position. Chief Hart’s running mate Shelley Jacobs was the successful sub-chief candidate and she too was sworn in on July 1.

The SRMT also held elections for two traffic court judges and one chief tribal court judge during the June 6 election. All three candidates ran unopposed. Judge Peter (PJ) Herne was the successful chief tribal court judge candidate; he had previously been appointed to the position. Traffic court judges Lois Terrance and Steven Cook were re-elected to their positions.

“This is our fourth term in office,” Terrance said at the inauguration, adding that she hopes young people will soon strive to run for the position. “Let’s encourage them to look forward to doing what we’re doing.”

Judge PJ Herne gave a speech at the ceremony sharing with the community how he began his career and where it has taken him. He shared his ambitions for the tribal court, stating that a child support unit is one important thing the tribe hopes to implement, along with a drug court.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s first monthly meeting with their new council members will be held this Saturday, July 10 at the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Community Building beginning at 10 a.m.

Chief Randy Hart’s July 1st

Inauguration Speech

Good afternoon everyone. I’d like to start by saying thank you, to each and every person who is here to witness our special day. In some way, together we’ve all had a helping hand in my being here today. I thank you for allowing me to become your 260th chief. I am honored and I am proud, words cannot do justice for how I’m feeling.

I have a special thank you, to my parents Rudy and Louise. They did an outstanding job, raising 14 children and helping with so many others. My sister, Pam, a bright star in my life, she brought love, caring and compassion to my heart. I will never forget the short time we had with her, a smile, a look, and her sounds, leave me with a special memory. To my aunts and uncles, family is very meaningful; it is the foundation of our Tribe. Thank you for being part of mine. My brothers and my sisters, I am counting on you to keep the family strong, to keep me grounded and make sure my campaign promises are kept. To the younger members of my family, thank you for all your hard work and words of encouragement. I will take your ideas and thoughts with me, and you can count on it. To my friends, thanks from the bottom of my heart, the party is over and the work begins. I will be looking for your continued support and helping hands. I would like to say, happy birthday to Grace Day, and a very big thank you for your letter of support - it made my day.

She and many other members are the reason I accepted this challenge and I bring to the Tribe my personal goal: a working government where the membership is our first priority. Where unity is not just a word, unity is a place where families and friends can enjoy our way of life and our people working together as the Tribe can fulfill their dreams. I want to work on a free and independent Ahkwesahsne. Am I wrong to want a better life for my community? Am I wrong to want good, strong families? And am I wrong to want our children playing together? I don’t think so! In fact I am here to declare we can enjoy unity within our country, unity if we are willing to work, willing to work hard and willing to work through our differences. Let’s start with a promise to respect one another. Let’s work on understanding who we are; our history, our culture and our language. Let’s together develop a strong government. Individually we must believe in ourselves, we must believe we can accomplish our goals, and no one person can believe they can do it all by themselves. Most importantly, we must have patience, lots of patience and self-discipline to trust one another.

I am not a great leader. I am not a leader of man. I am a tribal foot soldier in the battle of managing our Tribe. Today I am reporting for duty, I have my orders and I am ready to listen to my people. I am here to start building the working relationships that will be needed. In my 1095 days, I want your help and assistance; we must instill an understanding whereby the Tribal Council and the membership are working for the approval of our community.

This is government in action. Government is the administration, supervision and management of the Tribe and how we operate. Our way is embedded in our customs, traditions, practices and our history. I don’t have a plan whereby Ahkwesahsne will be a better place, I don’t’ have a plan whereby the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe will be a better place to work. I do have a plan whereby the actions of the members will be heard, financial reports and government oversight will be the star of our directives. Our government belongs to the people, let’s put the strengths of our people to work, together we can rebuild the Tribal Council, and our Tribe.

Before I leave here today I want each and everyone to understand what we should expect from one another. Tribal members you must be responsible for your actions, participate in your Tribe and volunteer to help. Helping your Tribe means, give where you can and where you are needed. Together we must fix our families and make our home safe. I ask each member, give 1-2 hours per month to improve yourself and your Tribe; this is an investment we cannot afford to miss.

Tribal staff, I want each staff person to do the very best, making each and every work day better than the previous. Please remember, the reason we have a job is to provide a service to our tribal members. I say if ever the people organize, they can take away the train in which we are riding. If this isn’t motivation enough, you should check to see if you are breathing. This is not a warning, it is a call to act and a very important message: Tribal members are the boss.

Community members, just one point: Divided we fall, united we stand. These aren’t just words on a piece of paper. Please think of what I’m saying. I extend my hand of friendship and my ear to listen, and I won’t give up on my community.

To our foreigners, in the global society in which we live, all men are created with the opportunity to care for themselves. Today more than ever, the Tribe needs your friendship. A friend is a person who gives assistance. A friend is a person who helps, a friend is a person who supports and a friend doesn’t take over. Need I say more? Thank you for your friendship.

My fellow Council members, thank you in advance, I know there is a lot of work ahead. I promise to work with you, not against you; I am a teammate, not the enemy. I have only one request, honest government. Our members are demanding a clear understanding of their government and a voice within the decision making process. In order to accomplish this request we must develop three areas: A process to work together, a procedure to inform our members and a way to solve our differences.

I say, if we break the three-chief system, which prevents good activities, if we break the practice of working against ourselves, if we break the corruption that consumes our work day, I guarantee good things will develop.

I support a new tradition of “ask the people.” These three words are the missing link in the governmental chains that controls our tribe. Together we can take back our Tribal Council and our government. Today I bring hope; I bring freshness to the tribe and a new way of asking for help.

I want to hear, from every member, how can I help my Tribe become a better place to live? Our job starts today and ends when every member of our Tribe is safe and loved.

Thank you,

Your friend, and fellow worker, and I mean that.

P.S. I didn’t forget my wife, my children, and my grandson. (My family is the reason I’ll be at work everyday.)