The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York has created a tribunal to resolve land disputes on the reservation.

The tribal council used to hear land disputes but the process took too much time. The five-member tribunal, which will be appointed by an independent commission, should improve the system, a spokesperson said.

"Depending on how many people are involved, they've had some that take years and then someone else would come forward saying, 'I wasn't involved and I have an interest,'" Aimee L. Benedict told The Watertown Daily Times.

The tribunal has to make a decision within 30 days of a final meeting between parties. Appeals have to be filed within 30 days.

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Mohawks name tribunal to settle land disputes (The Watertown Daily Times 2/16)