Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Indian Time received notice late Wednesday, May 11, 2016, that the SRMT was postponing the referendum. We received the following statement:

“The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council received notification that the referendum questions originally scheduled for June 4th Tribal Election must be postponed.

The public informational meetings will be rescheduled to a later date. The Tribal Council supports this decision to allow for more time for the community education on medical marijuana, industrial hemp and tribal membership. Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.”

We hope to clarify this developing situation in our next issue. The following article was written before the postponement:

The referendum brings forth the topic many States have already discussed, researched, studied, investigated and finally voted on: medical marijuana.

Before asking what are you going to do with medical marijuana, where would it be grown, how will you regulate it, the first question is exploring this avenue.

There are many steps to take in this path and asking community members if they should explore this avenue is the first. The SRMT is bringing this question to the community of Akwesasne; do community members want the Tribe to explore the entire package of legalizing, licensing, and regulating medical marijuana?

In a response from the SRMT Chiefs, they stated, “The purpose of the June 4th referendum is to determine if the membership approves of the tribe exploring options to legalize, license and regulate the cultivation, production and distribution of medical marijuana. If approved by the membership, the tribe will then research and identify how medical marijuana can be developed to provide the greatest benefit to the community of Akwesasne. It is premature to speculate what form this economic venture may take without first knowing if it is supported by community members.”

The same question was asked on Industrial Hemp, “The tribe is first seeking guidance from members if it should explore options to legalize, license and regulate the cultivation, production and distribution of industrial hemp. Membership has an opportunity to voice their opinion on this issue to determine if any resources should be devoted to explore this economic venture.”

This referendum is incredibly important to the future of our children’s children’s children. It will affect Mohawks for generations.

Many community members are asking questions and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has answered a few questions here.

1. What does lineal descendancy mean? 

Lineal descendancy will mean that eligibility for tribal membership would no longer be based on blood quantum and instead be based on whether the applicant has at least one parent who is enrolled or eligible to be enrolled for membership.

2. From one side, mother or father, or both? 

If lineal descendancy is chosen, an applicant could trace their lineage through either parent for tribal membership.

3. How long does that go back? A family line forever? How many great-greats? 

For lineal descendancy, we propose to go back to an enrolled parent however, community members have expressed their desire to incorporate other criteria for tribal membership, such as ties to the community.

4. What is the blood quantum amount used to determine tribal membership?

Currently, eligibility for tribal enrollment is 25% Mohawk blood quantum.  During community consultation meetings however, there were many that favor having a 50% Mohawk blood quantum, with some allowing the blood quantum from other tribes to count toward our blood quantum requirement.

5. How will you figure blood quantum out? 

Blood quantum is calculated by looking at one’s family tree and determining the percentage of Mohawk blood the applicant possesses.

6. Is what the people vote, either lineal descendancy or blood quantum, going to make that the law? 

Yes, once a decision is made on lineal descendancy or blood quantum, the membership ordinance will be re-written to reflect the community’s decision.  The community will be asked to be involved in drafting the ordinance and once finalized, it will be brought to the people to ratify through referendum.