Letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor:

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has recently issued statements concerning opposition to non-tribal gaming economic development taking place in the Akwesasne Kanienkehaka Territory. The main point of printed concern was the effect of non-tribal gaming on the ability to provide needed services to the community through gaming revenues.

There is stated irony in this concern. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the federally recognized, elected government, in fact does receive benefits intended for all Akwesasronon, but elects to only dispense those proceeds to select individuals which it lists on tribal membership rolls. This selective entitlement amounts to allocation without representation.

Notable in this process of elimination is the distribution of heating fuel allocations to community members. Depending on your membership, and where you live, you were approved to receive heating fuel or denied. All Akwesasronon face the cold weather in winter, some get help to do so. Does President Chavez know that his Citgo heating oil gift from Venezuela only goes to some people here?

Indian Health Services provision within Akwesasne is also inequitable. Longhouse people were notable in the effort to bring the Tribal Medical Clinic to Akwesasne, at a time of great need. Longhouse people now cannot even go to this clinic to get services, unless their name appears on a tribal membership roll.

The lack of a mechanism in the Tribal-New York State gaming compact for tribal gaming revenue sharing with Akwesasronon also detracts from a government for some of the people. The compact terms prohibit the tribe from providing per-capita payments to even their own tribal membership.

A government for all of the people of Akwesasne must include leaders who can see the value in representing all Akwesasroron, not just protecting some governmental economic projects from competition.

The adoption of tribal laws, which mirror both New York State and Federal laws highlights the aspirations of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe to become like the surrounding non-native communities that the tribe enriches through casino revenue sharing with these non-native communities. The tribal council trustees lack the humility to recall that they were originally appointed by New York State to maintain the territory boundary fences and count the livestock on the territory on behalf of New York State. Controlling benefits to exclude Onkwehonwe is not included in that mandate.

Signed,

Sakoieta, Turtle Clan Representative

Rarahkwisere, Wolf Clan Representative

Kanaretiio, Bear Clan Representative

Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonhsesne “ People of the Way of the Longhouse”