The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is asking a federal judge to stop the state of New York from exercising jurisdiction over an area known as the Hogansburg Triangle.

The tribe says the Hogansburg Triangle was set aside by the 1769 Treaty with the Seven Nations of Canada. A lawsuit says Congress never extinguished the reservation.

"For the county to attempt to impose property taxes, building codes, business law within any reservation is prohibited by federal law," David Staddon, the director of public information for the tribe, told The Adirondack Daily Enterprise

The lawsuit names Gov. David Paterson (D) and Franklin County as defendants.

Get the Story:
St. Regis Mohawk tribe suing Franklin County (The Adirondack Daily Enterprise 8/13)

Relevant Documents:
Complaint: St. Regis Mohawk Tribe v. Paterson (August 5, 2009)

Related Stories:
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe files suit over treaty (8/10)