A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Isaac White
The December monthly meeting of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe was held on a brisk Saturday at the Tribal Administration building. There was an abundance of material to review and plenty of spirited discussion among those in attendance.
The meeting commenced with a Review of previous action items:
A request for a review of the Adult Use Cannabis Ordinance regarding advertising and signage was acknowledged. The Compliance team is planning a presentation for the January Tribal Meeting.
A request to present results from a justice survey focusing on the youth perspective on advertising was fulfilled. The survey, which had its deadline in October, saw contributions from Education, the Alcohol Chemical Dependency Program, and the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club, who submitted their surveys to Communications.
A PowerPoint presentation shed light on the survey conducted about signage and advertising in Akwesasne. The results, insightful and informative, were shared with those present and are available for review on the Tribal members’ portal.
The Cannabis Control Board then presented to the community members. They highlighted crucial points regarding the cannabis industry in Akwesasne, focusing on their administrative duties and how they operate within the cannabis law. They noted the number of licensees sanctioned by the SRMT: 23 retail licenses, 6 cultivation licenses, and 5 processing licenses, according to the document provided by the Cannabis Control Board. The board mentioned that a review of the Cannabis ordinance is underway and potential changes to the law might follow.
A community member inquired about the board’s stance on “illegal” cannabis retail outlets operating within the territory. The board responded that this issue is outside of their authority and priority, stating that they are responsible for overseeing tribally licensed cannabis operations. There was no clear definition of what constitutes an “illegal” cannabis operation during the meeting. However, in other public settings, the SRMT has clarified that only tribally licensed cannabis operations are considered legitimate by the SRMT.
Concerning fees collected from tribally licensed stores, the board reviewed the fees but indicated that the SRMT compliance department ultimately handles them. Another community member questioned who the Cannabis Control Board reports to, and the board replied that Compliance reports to the Tribal Council.
In their comments, the community member expressed the belief that as long as there are “illegal” cannabis operations, those tribally licensed should not be subject to fees. SRMT compliance director Elliott Lazore addressed the audience, highlighting that the SRMT has brought 6 shops, previously unlicensed by the SRMT, into tribal licensure.
Lazore stated that the Tribally licensed shops are clearly showing their commitment to the community. Mr. Lazore’s statement appeared to imply that tribally licensed shops are committed to the community, raising questions about whether Mr. Lazore and the SRMT believe non-tribally licensed shops have the same commitment.
Chief Ron LaFrance stated that processors who are tribally licensed are only allowed to sell their products to other tribally licensed operations. He emphasized this as a measure to prevent “illegal” shops from selling these products.
When asked by Indian Time about the prevalence in the cannabis industry of products being reproduced by another “illegal” operation, Chief LaFrance acknowledged that the majority of products sold in Akwesasne might not originate from the actual creators, leaving unresolved the question of how the SRMT will ensure tribally licensed products are not sold in non-tribally licensed operations.
The Police Commission followed, providing details on their duties and their role in the world of policing in Akwesasne. They highlighted the importance of maintaining oversight for the tribal police and ensuring a connection between the tribal police and the community. They also spoke about the need for regular reviews of policing procedures. The commission announced some openings within the Tribal Police, encouraging community members to join.
The Tribal Procedures Working Group gave an update on their progress in revising the Tribal Procedures Act, a crucial piece of legislation impacting the operation of the Tribal Government. They emphasized the importance of community voice in their work and lamented that many community members are unaware of the document.
The group is actively trying to educate people that the TPA affects all of Akwesasne and that community involvement is essential for improving a law that currently allows the Tribal Council to conduct affairs in a manner that doesn’t entail too much community review. The working group implored the community to engage with them about their complaints outside of tribal meetings or formal settings.
A new issue raised during the meeting was the seniors’ benefit. A motion from the floor requested that the 2016 referendum vote be honored by the Tribal Council. The vote, which was overwhelmingly in favor of elders receiving the benefit, now awaits the Tribal Council’s decision.
The meeting concluded with a community member raising concerns about the situation in Gaza and for the Palestinian people in general. They questioned why the SRMT Tribal Council has not addressed this issue. The parallel drawn between the Palestinian people and the Kanienkehaka, along with other Onkwenhonwe, was poignant. The similarities in experiences of colonial land theft, genocide, and oppression are strikingly familiar to all Onkwenhonwe.
Chief LaFrance responded, saying that both sides have committed wrongs, not mentioning the disproportionate response from Israel, including the leveling of Gaza city and the expulsion of people from their homes, an ethnic cleansing familiar to Native people in what is now known as the U.S.
Also not mentioned, is that over 90 percent of the thousands killed by Israel’s campaign are civilians, many of them children, a disturbing tale of unchecked violence against the Indigenous Palestinians. This young Akwesasronon’s call for solidarity with the Palestinian people underscored the shared struggles of Indigenous peoples across the globe. The call for the SRMT to show support for Palestinians massacred by Israel was one that will hopefully be embraced by all of Akwesasne.
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