Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe became the new owners of a grocery store Monday. First Americans IGA and the 609 acres surrounding it were sold from Sue Jesmer to the SRMT for $13.5 million.

The SRMT took over operation of the store on Monday and has agreed to keep it open and operational as a food store.

“All of Council have received many requests from community members to keep the store open,” said Tribal Chief James Ransom. “In response to those requests, the Tribal Council has decided to keep the store open.”

Ransom added that the store would not need to be profitable in order to stay open.

The SRMT is currently considering moving their pharmacy to IGA.

“The Tribal Council has asked the Health Services to conduct a study to determine whether it is feasible,” Ransom said. “The potential benefits could include expanded hours of operation.”

No other immediate changes are planned, though the possibility of housing a credit union there is being considered.

No jobs were lost during the sale and the SRMT plans to keep the store running as is, with no name change planned at this time either.

With the newly acquired acreage, the SRMT is planning to construct residential sub-divisions.

The purchase is a new business venture for the SRMT, but they aren’t the first tribe to own its own grocery store. Tribes like the Cheyenne River Sioux have also been experimenting with food store operation as well.

“I am aware of many tribes that own businesses, including gas stations and cigarette shops,” said Ransom. “The Oneidas own the Sav-on Gas stations around their territories.  The Onondagas own their cigarette outlet.”

The purchase was not without criticism from some community members. While some at a monthly tribal meeting expressed their unhappiness with the purchase price and manner in which the SRMT made the purchase (without taking opinion from the community first), others have said they are upset that as part of the purchase agreement, the former IGA owners were required to pay Franklin County taxes on the property. The land sits within the land claims area and unpaid taxes had accrued over several years.

Members of the Kanien’keha:ka Longhouse in Hogansburg met early this week to discuss possible plans for a peaceful protest at IGA.

Ransom said he was not aware of the details of the protest and was unable to comment.