Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

RE: District Attorney Duve’ and New York State Assault Mohawk Success.

Over the last several months, the State of New York has initiated a campaign against federally licensed Mohawk tobacco businesses in Akwesasne. The attack has been thinly disguised as a “legal” challenge to the ability of tribes in New York to ship cigarettes beyond their limited reservation boundaries.

NYS has been chiseling away at the only vibrant economic engine left in the North Country, the Mohawk economy. Although these Mohawk manufacturing businesses operate in compliance with Federal law (and have been operating the same way for many years), they are being unfairly and illegally targeted by the local District Attorney and her staff.

The anti-Mohawk campaign being waged by the District Attorney’s offices are especially troubling in light of the fact that hundreds of non-Natives from Franklin and St. Lawrence counties benefit daily from the Mohawk economy. Equally as troubling, is the fact that with no notice to these businesses, trucks have been seized and businesses are forcibly restricted from moving their product to their legitimate customers.

The Mohawk Nation, NYS and the U.S. Federal governments have long established trade relations as per the 1794 Non-Intercourse Act, the Commerce Clause and Iroquois treaties. Nicole Duve’ and Assistant District Attorney Becker, on the other hand, have shown racist tendencies in applying the rule of law and discriminating against Mohawk people.

St. Lawrence DA Duve’ has been attacking Mohawk tobacco companies operating lawfully under Federal guidelines.

District Attorney Duve’ has seized legal tobacco products destined for points outside of NY State. The DA’s office ignores federal law and the Commerce Clause. Their bias and resentment of successful Indian businesses is clearly evident.

NYS is interfering with Native American Inter-state Commerce. Yet, our neighboring counties benefit from our success. Of course, and so do our neighbors in Massena and Malone and towns in between. Duve’ seems to be cutting off her nose to spite her face.

District Attorney Duve’ and her assistant, Jonathan Becker accept that major tobacco companies are pulling the strings here. They benefit professionally by demonizing Mohawk Indian trade and commerce, contrary to Federal law and the Mohawk right as per the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (signed by the U.S. this year).

District Attorney Duve’ and ADA Becker have implemented an economic/legal strategy that is anti-Constitution, anti-interstate commerce, anti-Indian and specifically, anti-Mohawk .

St. Lawrence and Franklin county sanctioned racism must stop now.

If it were not for the Mohawk economy, Northern NY would be barren. Ask any business in Malone or Massena.

Shame on You, District Attorney Duve’.

Ray Cook

For more information contact:

Attorney (and former Tribal Elected Chief) Lorraine White

315-250-5696