BY: SHANNON BURNS

INDIAN TIME - Vol. 24 #06 - Enniska / February 16, 2006 Edition - Page 1 & 3

The New York State Senate killed the Akwesasne Mohawks' Land Claim Settlement Bill last week as it waited there for final approval. The news shocked many who have been waiting more than twenty years for an end to the land claim debate and had believed that an end was near. However, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chiefs are moving forward and are preparing to rewrite the Bill and resubmit it with the cooperation of the Governor's office.

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther who agreed to the Bill being killed, saidthe move was made for several reasons, including the Tribe's move from one casino site to another in Sullivan County.

Tribal Chief James Ransom said the current Bill specifically mentioned the Kutsher's site for a casino. The Tribe has since ditched those plans and is actively pursuing a casino at the Monticello Raceway.

"The action could be a blessing in disguise," said Ransom. "It provides an opportunity to introduce changes to the legislation that address local concerns."

Two local governments affected by the land claim settlement had withdrawn their support of the claim.

The Town of Fort Covington had concerns regarding the "checkerboarding" effect, and the Town of Brasher withdrew their support earlier this year. Recent Supreme Court decisions have put a cloud over Indian land claims in the State in recent months and the Tribe has always maintained the importance of settling the land claim out of court.

Alex Paige, an attorney hired by the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs to work on land claims said support of surrounding towns is extremely important to the land claims settlement.

"The settlement agreement itself is alive and well and we still have a lot of work to do with regard to the State Legislature and making sure the local governments are comfortable," Paige said.

Rewriting the Bill, Ransom said, could give the parties involved an opportunity to fully separate the casino and land issues. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who blocked the Bill from ever reaching the Senate floor, cited his preference for three casinos in Sullivan County, not just one as the Bill suggested. Gov. Pataki has also stated in the past that he does not want to give a casino to any Tribe with an outstanding land claim.

However, a spokesman for the Governor's office, Saleem Cheeks, said recently that "the land claim legislation is one piece and the casino legislation is another ... I wouldn't link the two."

That statement, said Ransom, "is a positive development and counters what everyone else is reporting."

The land claim settlement, ratified by the Governor's office last year and also approved by the Assembly, would give the Akwesasne Mohawks thousands of acres in land plus money to buy that land, free college education, and low-cost power.

The Tribal Council is maintaining daily contact with the Governor's office.

"We are developing a plan to get the settlement back on track and will share it with the community as soon as it is prepared," Ransom said.