- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Real Estate
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has introduced legislation to ratify a land claim settlement agreement involving the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in New York. Once ratified, the agreement would allow the return of 3,500 acres to reservation status, with the potential to acquire up to 14,000 acres.
The legislation, H.R. 2916, would ratify a land settlement between New York state, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, the towns of Fort Covington and Bombay, and the New York Power Company, per a press release from Stefanik’s office.
The agreement, as outlined in the bill’s text, would settle claims under a range of cases brought by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe beginning in 1982. In those cases, the Canadian Band of St. Regis Indians, part of the larger Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, argued that they were due approximately 12,000 acres of land that were wrongfully taken following treaties signed with the state of New York in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
In addition to the land claim settlement, H.R. 2916 also would provide free tuition for all Akwesasne Mohawk students attending State of New York educational institutions, the right to acquire 9 megawatts of power from the New York Power Authority at what Stefanik calls a “preferred rate,” and $70 million from the New York Power Authority over the next 35 years.
“Our claim has spanned over four decades, and we look forward to seeing the hard work of many Akwesasne leaders finally come to fruition as the bill progresses through Congressional and Presidential approval,” the Saint Regis Mohawk Council said in a statement. “Getting our land back has been a goal of ours and our ancestors—we would not be here without the perseverance and courage from everyone who worked on the claim and negotiations since 1982.”
Stefanik described the legislation as a significant milestone for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe after “decades” of advocacy. “This is a significant milestone for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe following over four decades of tireless advocacy from their council members,” she said.
Franklin County officials also highlighted the historic nature of the agreement, noting the extensive negotiations leading to its submission for federal review.
“This marks a historic milestone and represents a major step forward in resolving longstanding issues that have impacted our communities for generations,” Franklin County Legislature Chairman Ed Lockwood and Legislator Paul Lauzon said in a statement. “We look forward to the next steps in this important process and will continue to work collaboratively to ensure the successful implementation of this agreement.”
