Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Tax Exemption Matters #663323

She:kon,

It has come to my attention that the Big Lots retail outlet in Massena is no longer accepting the tribal identification cards for proof of tax exempt status. It would seem as if the last remaining store in Massena has now given in to the New York State Department of Revenue concerning tax exemption for Indians.

On the back of the tribal ID cards is a number that reads 663323. No that is not a tribal number. In fact, it is a number that connects all Iroquois people that dates to 1966.

This is information about what that number 663323 is that we find on all of our membership cards from the St Regis Mohawk Tribe.

Did you know that our Haudenosaunee people went to great lengths to get this number for our members to use in NYS? This came about from the Onondaga Indian Nation. Fifty-four years ago NYS wanted to gain taxes in the stores on the Reservation land and also went to the New York State fair demanding that all the crafts that the Onkwehon:we people were selling to be taxed as well. This went to the courts and the case was actually won by the Onkwehon:we and the case number is #3323. The 66 comes from the year that this was won.

Today, we have tribal leaders who are voted into office who are being advised by unelected legal counsel. The current Tribal Council’s main legal advisor would make a great municipal New York legal advisor. One recent change that I will point to is the adoption of a state tax exemption status by the Tribe. Why else would our Tribe apply for and maintain a separate tax exempt card for only tribal use? Like a church would, except that we are a Tribe. We are the tribe, the tribal MEMBERSHIP.

 This was rather shocking news to hear about how poorly the individual rights here are treated. Questions have now been raised. Why would the Tribal Council themselves not support a tax exempt number issued to all members and to include this in the negotiations with New York State for it to be accepted at all stores collecting tax? Why would the Tribe send letters to neighboring businesses in Massena that said that only the Tribal tax exempt number should be recognized, instead of the 663323 number? Why does the tribal identification card still list that number if the Tribe retains EXCLUSIVITY of use? 

 It is pretty disgusting and shameful that our Confederacy people worked hard at obtaining this 54 years ago for all to use in NYS, as a small payback for the loss of our lands. Now in these past few decades we have self-serving elected Tribal officials today who can disregard efforts of past elders and leaders so they can listen to misguided employees like the tribal lawyers who think they know better.

Better for whom? When we vote for these Tribal Council members because they are family or a friend requested you to vote this way, there is no accountability with these candidates on these issues. There is thin line between an elected democracy and a government that only takes its own interests into account while hiding behind elections. The 663323 tax exemption situation deprives our people of something that we believe and understand. That is that our people are tax exempt because we cannot be taxed unless we allow ourselves to be taxed. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is allowing tribal members to be taxed because it is no longer fighting for that right, and now opposes it selfishly.

 Peace Be With Everyone.

Agnes Terrance