St. Regis Mohawk Tribe angry over Oneida letter

Tuesday, March 27, 2007  

The leaders of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York sent an angry letter to Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter after he accused the Mohawks of giving up their sovereignty.

The Mohawks agreed to share gaming revenues and agree to state taxation, zoning and other laws at their proposed off-reservation casino in the Catskills. Halbritter questioned the wisdom of the agreement in a March 13 letter.

"We must say that we are not aware of any of our Six Nations having agreed to submit to state taxes and regulation, which all our people have fought against since the two-row wampum established our first relationships with the newcomers of this land," Halbritter wrote, The Albany Times-Union.

Mohawk chiefs Lorraine White and Barbara Lazore responded on March 13. "Frankly, your letter is duplicitous and self-serving," they said.

Halbritter is facing pressure to share gaming revenues because the tribe's old gaming compact has been invalidated.

Get the Story:
Gaming compact dispute sharpens (The Albany Times-Union 3/27)