A Voice from the Eastern Door

MNCC and SRMT Release Statements On Land Claims Announcement by Franklin County

By Kaniehtonkie

The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe issued statements regarding released Franklin County’s land claim ‘settlement’ announcements. Local, regional and national news have covered this issue. In response, the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs and the Saint Regis Tribe state clearly, that the towns and counites agreement is a welcomed step in this entire process, adding that this not the final agreements and more work needs to be accomplished.

On Monday, Donna Kissane, Franklin County Manager released the flowing statement, “County’s Franklin County’s Land Claim attorney, Alan Peterman of Barclay Damon LLP, provided the County, Towns of Bombay and Ft. Covington a settlement offer from the State of New York on May 31, 2023. Following the review of the offer, it was determined that each municipality would bring the offer to their respective boards for consideration. On Friday, June 2, 2023, the Town of Bombay passed a resolution accepting the offer, Sunday, June 4, 2023, the Town of Ft. Covington accepted the offer and Monday, June 5, 2023, Franklin County officially accepted the offer. The County is excited that after over 4 decades of negotiations that we have a settlement offer from the State of New York that is acceptable to us.  There are additional procedural steps that must be taken by the parties, state and federal government to finalize the agreements.”

Under the agreement, New York will also pay $2 million each year to be split up amongst the three for the services they’ve rendered in the past. According to the agreement, Franklin County and the Towns of Bombay and Fort Covington will share $15 million for the unrestricted use of the land, as well as $1,875,000 to Franklin County and $937,000 each to the Towns.

Again, there are additional procedural steps that must be taken by the parties, as well as state, and federal governments to finalize the agreements.

The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs (MNCC) stated, “The Nation is pleased to learn the State of New York, Franklin County Bombay, and Ft. Covington have reached agreement on terms that would become part of a negotiated settlement of the pending Mohawk land claim. A final settlement will require approval form the Nation, the Tribe, MCA and the United States as well as St. Lawrence Counties.

The MNNC statement added, “The Nation looks forward to continuing work on a settlement agreement that would preserve Mohawk rights and benefit all of Akwesasne.

The Mohawk Nation is tasked by Grand Council with representing the Haudenosaunee and future generations in the federal court litigation and in efforts to settle that litigation out of court. The Nation is participating in court-ordered mediation according to Grand Council’s directive and the Great Law, with the goal of being creators a draft document that brings land back to Akwesasne and that best protects Akwesasronon, the Haudenosaunee and future generations.”

It goes on to say, “Once finalized, any draft settlement agreement will be put to the people.”

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) released this statement, “The Franklin County Manager recently released a statement that the County along with the Towns of Bombay and Fort Covington agreed to a “settlement offer” with New York State in the Mohawk land claim dispute. This is welcomed news for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) since a key issue that needed to be resolved in order to reach a final settlement has now closed.

The SRMT takes this opportunity to clarify the news reports that a final settlement in the land claim dispute has been reached – that is not the case. While the June 5th announcement is indeed welcomed, and is a great development, it is not a final settlement of the land claim dispute among all parties including the Tribe. It involved issues solely between the County, the towns and the State.”

Similar to the MNCC, the SRMT statement said, “Tribal Council will be hosting an information session on the land claim settlement later this month, with details to be announced soon to tribal membership. Tribal Council invites membership to join the Monthly Tribal Meetings for up-to-date developments on the land claim.

New York Sen. Dan Stec said he was happy with the settlement and released a statement that said in part, “The state’ refusal to increase its offer to the county drew this process out for far too long. I’m glad I was able to assist Franklin County officials and state negotiators in helping to increase funding for the county and end the stalemate over this 41-year-old land claim issue.”

According to Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) compensation for land ownership, taxes and public services like road maintenance and water infrastructure were major concerns for local governments.

 

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