A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Sub Chief Shelley Jacobs presided over the meeting, substituting for Chief Beverly Cook.
The SRMT recognized the efforts and achievements of the Salmon River Girls Hockey. The SRCS girl’s team hockey team, coached by Olivia Cook, captured its first Section 10 title in 10 years and ended their season with second place in NYSPHSAA. The team was also recognized for achieving academic status as “Scholar Athletes” with 75% of the team earning a 90 or above average.
The SRM Tribal Youth Organization gave a presentation on their goals and main objectives. They encourage all youth of Akwesasne to join and attend their meetings.
SRMT Education Director Stephanie Cook presented information on the upcoming Salmon River Central School Board election. A candidate has until May 15, 2018 to declare their candidacy. However, submission of intention must be made to the Salmon River district clerk 30 days prior to the election on Friday, April 13, 2018 (actual date is April 15th which falls on a Sunday). Candidates must be 18years old, a citizen of the United States, be able to read and write and reside in the Salmon River Central District for one uninterrupted year prior to election.
Two board seats will vacant - Michael Sisto’s term ends on June 30, 2018 as does PJ Burns’.
Jade White, Director/Commissioner of Social Services, along with Everett Lazore and Kerry Jacobs presented community members with an overview of the Child Advocacy Center with Family Advocate and Victim Advocate. The Child Advocacy Center takes a multi-disciplinary approach to minimize the short and long term trauma of abuse. Team members include SRMTP, SRMT Child Protective Services Division, Child Protective Service/Prevention Foster Care, SRMT Victim Advocate, SRMT Mental Health, Three Sisters and agencies from surrounding counties: Franklin, Clinton and Essex.
In an attempt to reduce additional trauma of repeating a statement or incident, the Child Advocacy Center is working with Courts to accept a videotaped statement.
The Center works on any element of assistance to aid the victim, from shelter to transportation to navigating court. The Child Advocacy Center has an open door policy and they can be reached at 518 358 2272, ext. 2402.
Chief of Police Matt Rourke presentated on the SRMT Sex Offender Watch. The Tribal Police just recently changed to this sex offender watch program finding this program better meets the needs of Akwesasne. The Sex Offender Watch program is used by surrounding counties and offers immediate and updated information on registered sex offenders.
Offender Watch is the nation’s leading registered sex offender management and community notification tool with hundreds of leading agencies in dozens of states utilizing it. Tribal Police use this to manage and monitor the whereabouts, conduct and compliance status of the registered offenders in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. Offender Watch is updated instantaneously throughout the day as offender addresses and other offender information is updated in the SRMTP office. On the Offender Watch website, you may enter any address in the county and see real-time information on the publishable offenders within the specified radius of the address you enter.
It also offers tips and information on how to talk to children about safety, tips on Halloween, fundraising and other important issues. The site can be found on the SRMT website as well as the SRM Tribal Police Facebook page.
Tony David, Water Resource Manger, Matt Rourke Chief of Police and Derek Comins, Emergency Planning Coordinator presented an update on the 2018 Akwesasne Flood. Comins lead the Unified Incident Command, which was comprised of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Emergency Planning Office, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department and the Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department, which supervised all activities related to Akwesasne’s recent flood.
According to David, the recent flood could be contributed to a ‘freshet’ - a great rise or overflowing of a stream caused by heavy rains or melted snow. This resulted from a two-day quick thaw melt, followed by extreme cold of back to back ice jams on the St. Regis River. The River has a long history of flooding, having flooded in 1913, the 1940’s and again in 1981.
David reminded community members we need to take into account how global warming produces extreme weather conditions and our overreliance on infrastructure (a dam). He suggested we need to rely on climate change resiliency, flood plain mapping and strategic planning.
The SRMT provided 24 hours staffing of certain programs including: Finance, HIP Crew, Social Services, and Compliance, assisting over 100 community members during the flood providing them with food and shelter and replacing 100 heating systems. As of Wednesday, March 7, all but 8 homes have been restored to pre-flood conditions having their heating and electrical systems repaired or replaced.
Derek Comins stated, “This has proven we are capable of handling our own emergencies. We had several agencies at our disposal, including the Department of Transportation, the Border Patrol, HAVFD and surrounding fire departments. It was such a collaboration within our community.”
Questions from community members included: is FEMA is involved and at this point FEMA wasn’t requested, but a thirty day window is open to apply for Federal Aid. During the emergency flood situation – Tribal General Funds were used to cover directly related costs.
New Business:
And update was requested on the Tewathahónni audit (to be presented in July).
A community member questioned the cost related to the investigation of slanderous letters.
An update was requested on the Soybean project (to be presented in July).
A community member asked about the recent people gathering at the Akwesasne Mohawk Police. C of P Rourke provided an update.
The SRM Tribal meeting ended shortly before 1pm.
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