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Mohawk Chief To Congress: Land Claim
Settlement Should Go Forward
July 14, 2005
TTWI Newswatch 50
Watertown, New York
Following is a press release from the Mohawk Tribe:
Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement Should Still Go Forward -
Chief Ransom Testifies in front of House Resource Committee
Akwesasne, New York - Rep. Richard Pombo, the Chairman of the
House Resource Committee, held an oversight hearing on the New York
Tribal Land Claims this morning in Washington, D.C.
Chief James Ransom was amongst several tribal leaders to testify.
The hearing focused on the status of settling recognized tribes’
land claims within New York State following the June 28th, 2005, Second
Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in the Cayuga Nation vs. New York
State.
The court ruled that the Sherrill case should be extended to bar the
Cayuga land claim, ruling that the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma waited too long to reclaim their homelands,
thus overturning the lower court judgment which awarded the Cayuga
Nation $247.9 million in 2001.
Amongst the dignitaries that gave testimony besides Chief James
Ransom were: Mike Olson, Assistant Duty Secretary U.S. Department of
Interior; Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian
Nation; Chairperson Cristina Danforth, Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin; Chief LeRoy Howard, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma;
President Robert Chicks, Stockbridge Munsee Community of Wisconsin,
and Chairman Paul Miller, Committee on Native American Affairs and
Gaming New York State Association of Counties.
Chief James Ransom’s testimony reiterated that the Akwesasne
Mohawk Land Claim Settlement is unique and that Cayuga court
decision should not effect the settlement for the following reasons:
The Akwesasne Mohawks have had and still have a strong presence
within their claim area. We have never moved from our ancestral
lands. The Akwesasne Mohawks are an important part of the
character of Northern New York and have built positive relationships
with neighboring communities and counties over the years. The
Akwesasne Mohawks have been exercising jurisdiction within the claim
area and has shared jurisdiction in other areas. The St. Regis
Mohawk Tribe provides water and sewage sanitation services to all
living in the Hogansburg Triangle. The Akwesasne-Hogansburg Fire
Department services the Akwesasne Community and is part of the
Franklin County Mutual Aid system. Most recently, the New York State
Legislature passed legislation cross-deputizing the St. Regis Mohawk
Tribal Police with the New York State Police. The Akwesasne
Mohawks are settling not only their land claim but the issue in
regards to the new license for the St. Lawrence FDR Power Project.
The United States recognized that the Akwesasne Mohawks land claim
process could have implications on the NYPA’s license. The
United States took the position that the islands that are subject of
the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim, are within the Department of
Interiors jurisdiction with the FERC licensing process for the NYOA
Project. This is the only land claim where the United States has
taken the position that land claim areas are subject to their
protection and jurisdiction.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim still retains support from all
parties who were signatories to it and has received support from the
St. Lawrence County Legislature, which was the final signature
needed on the land claim settlement. Their support came after the
Sherrill decision was announced. Greg Allen, Senior Assistant
Counsel to the Governor, in a written statement on April 15, 2005,
to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, stated that “It is clear, however,
that the Sherrill decision does not effect the settlement agreement
with the Akwesasne Mohawks and the Governor does intend to submit to
the Legislature a new bill to implement the terms of the settlement
agreement.” The New York State Assembly passed the Governors
billed on June 21st but the New York State Senate was unable to do
the same before the end of session of June 24th.
Concluding his testimony Chief James Ransom stated, “The St. Regis
Mohawk Tribe firmly believes that the Cayuga ruling does not affect
our land claim settlement and we will continue to work with state
and federal representatives to have the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim
ratified.”
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The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people. |