Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Isaac White.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe hosted its monthly meeting for tribal members on Saturday, with Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief Michael Connors presiding over the proceedings. The agenda for the meeting was quite substantial, with a wide range of critical topics.

The meeting commenced with a review of previous action items, including an examination of the adult use cannabis ordinance pertaining to advertising and signage. Additionally, there was a request to present the findings from a justice survey on youth perceptions of advertising. The Tribal Council carefully assessed the results of this survey and decided that the most prudent course of action would be to release it through the tribe’s education department and alcohol chemical dependency program. This initiative remains ongoing.

Following this comprehensive review, there was a momentous event as the tribe formally recognized St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Chief Matthew Rourke. Chief Rourke was honored with the prestigious 2023 Chief of Police of the Year Award from the National Native American Law Enforcement Association.

A presentation was then made on behalf of the Tewáthahón:ni Corporation. Discussions emerged about the corporation’s future business plans and initiatives. Notably, one of these plans involves a new direction for the corporation, aiming to enable them to secure federal contracts for the benefit of tribal members. This represents a significant stride towards strengthening the economic foundation of Akwesasne.

However, during this presentation, it was revealed to the community that an attorney still plays a role within the corporation who was part of the ill-fated attempt to lease the Tribal transfer station to a non-native convicted felonious fraudster.

The meeting continued with a presentation by St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Compliance Head Elliott Lazore regarding fall heating assistance. Lazore provided essential information, including details about recertification applications for tribal members approved for heating assistance in 2022, as well as insightful data on community fuel usage. Notably, the majority of the community relies on #2 kerosene as their primary heating source, though the price has seen increases in recent years.

The presentation also delved into the heating assistance formula, with Lazore assuring the audience that compliance efforts were diligently focused on ensuring the community receives the full benefit of the expertise of him and his team.

Next on the agenda, the Tribal Procedures Act Working Group presented their progress. The group members introduced themselves and shared updates