Kawennì:ios Newsletter - Kenténha / October 2012 - Saint Regis ...

Business FeatureKoi Express Japanese SteakhouseBy Alyson Cole, Public Information Administrative/Production AssistantSince opening its doors September of 2009,owners Jake and Karen Adams have increasedKoi in size and customer loyalty over the past threeyears. After moving to larger accommodations in 2010,the new dining room can now serve up to 35 patronsfor those wishing to dine in.It features a seating area tohouse those who are waitingfor take-out orders. For thecustomers who wish to dineat home without going out,Koi offers the convenienceof a delivery service topatrons in Akwesasne andsurrounding communities.They are also available tocater any size party with afew days advanced noticed.As always, Koi Express isAkwesasne’s only authenticJapanese cuisine restaurant andspecializes in fresh sushi and hibachistylefoods. Every dish is preparedwith only the finest fresh ingredients.Some favorites include the VolcanicChicken Bowl and the Sweet andSour Chicken Tempura. Every dishcan be paired with a selection of wine,beer or saké for customer satisfaction.Customers can now also enjoy everydayspecials for lunch and dinner anda delicious lunch buffet featuring avariety of their most popular itemsavailable from Wednesday to Fridaybetween the hours of 11:30 a.m. and2:00 p.m.With an ever-expanding menu, Koi Express hassomething for everyone. From the signature tempurato an appetizing filet mignon, everyone will be pleasedwith the selection of traditional Japanese cuisine as wellas some familiar favorites. Every dish is prepared withSeating for 35 in the Dining RoomCook Ed Prepares Chicken & Veggies2only fresh meat and vegetables and can be altered toplease every guest.They also feature smaller potions forthe kids to enjoy.For those looking for a California Roll, someLemon-Pepper Salmon orjust something different,Koi Express offers a varietyof fresh foods provided bytrained cooks. All cooks areeager to please every guestwho walks through thedoor and are willing to takespecial requests. Waiters andwaitresses provide personaland attentive service,welcoming guests to thewarm atmosphere. Overall,the staff at Koi Expresswishes to provide theircustomers with a high levelof service and hospitality along withgreat food and a different diningexperience.The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’sOffice of Economic Developmentcongratulates Koi Express on theirsuccess and hopes everyone willdrop in and sample their authenticJapanese sushi and hibachi-stylecuisine.Koi Express Japanese Steakhouse,488 State Route 37, Akwesasne, NY13655, (518) 358-2829.Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 12:00 noon – 9:00p.m.Full menu is available at fasprintmenus.com andcheck out daily specials on Facebook under KoiExpress- Japanese Steakhouse. ◊

Joyce Cook DonatesDissertation to TribeOn August 10, 2012, Ph.D. candidateJoyce Cook formally donated herdissertation to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribeto be housed at the Akwesasne Library. She isstudying at Hofstra University on Long Island.The theme of her study focuses on the educationpersistence to graduation of NativeAmerican students. A summaryof her dissertation follows:Native American students areunderrepresented at the postsecondarylevel (American IndianCollege Fund, 2007). Most NativeAmerican students donot complete a postsecondarydegree withinthe traditionally acceptedfour-year period andthey attend multipleinstitutions. The studyexplored the experiencesof Native Americanstudents, raised on theAkwesasne reservationand attending apredominantly whitepost-secondaryinstitution in theNortheastern UnitedStates. In keepingwith traditional NativeAmerican practices ofstorytelling and oralhistory, the data presented by the participants ina variety of formats were crafted into a singlenarrative. Each narrative has a different focalBy Joyce Cook and David Staddon, Editor"It was importantfor students tomaintain a link totheir cultureor starting point for retelling the participant’sunique experience.The Tribal Critical Race Theory was a lensused to analyze the data. The key findings of thestudy reflected various areas of the participants’lives. At the university, mentors and role modelsprovided important academic and"social support for participants. Inaddition, Native American friendsat the university formed a quasifamilystructure that providedsupport when the student wasaway from the reservation. It wasimportant for students tomaintain a link to theirculture, either througha local group outsideof the university orthrough participation ina university-sponsoredstudent organization.Also, the bonds offriendship establishedduring the crucial youngadult phase will haveimplications of thestrength of social andpolitical inter-Tribalrelations as studentsare exposed to otherChief Randy Hart and Ph.D. CandidateJoyce Cook Display Dissertationtribes within the region.Finally, the importanceof family support,through emotional and financial support, wasfirmly expressed as pivotal to each participant’spost-secondary success. ◊6

Medical ClinicHealth Services Program FeatureThe medical clinic is an ambulatory clinic thatprovides on-site acute and preventive healthcare. Its regular clinic hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Monday through Friday. They do have an after-hoursacute care clinic from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. , Mondaythrough Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon onSaturday. The pharmacy is also open during these hoursand is especially convenient for our patients. The clinicprovides the following services: primary care, pediatriccare, obstetrics, gynecological care and chiropractic care.Some of the providers work in other programsoutside of the clinic area offering medical care, guidanceand education. Besides heading the Quality AssuranceCommittee, Dr. Kelly is part of the treatment team inthe Outpatient Alcohol and Chemical DependencyProgram (A/CDP) on Wednesdays. Mara Russell-Bazdaric, FNP, offersher services to theLet’s Get HealthyProgram (LGHP)on Wednesdays.Beverly Cook,FNP, participates inHealing to WellnessDrug Court and ispart of the treatmentteam at PartridgeHouse on Thursdays.Beverly Cookand Health ServicesBy Beverly Cook, FNP, Clinic DirectorDirector Debra Martin are also trained Sexual AssaultNurse Examiners and are members of the SexualAssault Response Team. The team includes a sexualassault advocate (Amie Barnes), law enforcement(Hawi Thomas), a prosecutor and other support serviceproviders. Community members can access the teamthrough anyone of those staff or by contacting theThree Sisters Program.Stress and AnxietyScientific research is revealing how stress, anxietyand trauma are having long term negative impacts ona person’s health across the life span. Traumatic eventsexperienced in childhood and even during the prenatalperiod can result in serious health conditions across thelifespan into adulthood. Our clinic is working to addressthese issues by offering services that are more patientcentered, traumainformed and notonly focuses on thecurrent medicalillnesses, diseaseand preventativemedicine but alsotargets the mindand spirit. For thisreason the clinic hasexpanded its reachand reshaped someof our services tothe community. ◊Medical Providers: Dr. Kelly, M.D., Dr. Joseph OB/GYN, Dr. Latreille, Medical Internist, Dr. Lynch,Pediatrician, Gerald Lauzon, Chiropractor, Mara Bazdaric-Russell, FNP, Beverly Cook, FNP, MaryMcGonagle, FNP and Brenda LePage, FNPNursing Staff: Kelly Laffin, RN, Chris Reyome, RN, Amanda Garrow, RN, Wanda Patterson, RN,Diane Miller, LPN, Sharon Jackson, LPN and Brooke Aubertine, LPNOffice: Sherry Roundpoint, Nicole Bero, Sara Gorrow, Leigh-Ann Mitchell and Kateri Jacobs7

practices that have been harmed by contaminationinclude fishing, gardening, basket-making, medicine,hunting and trapping.Akwesasne’s approach to cultural restoration seeksto promote the restoration of land-based practices andtraditional economic activities within the community.One way to accomplish this is by establishing and directlysupporting a long-term master-apprentice relationshipin all the areas of traditional cultural practice that wereharmed by the release of hazardous contaminants.The goal of this Apprentice Program is to providehands-on experience for each category of traditionalactivity (hunting, fishing, medicines, horticulture andbasket making) to the fullest extent, incorporating allthe fundamental elements. The program “apprentices”will acquire all of their knowledge from the peoplemost experienced in their chosen activity: a master.They will work together on a daily basis going throughall components of a specific traditional activity so asto completely immerse the apprentice in traditionalinformation. Hands-on experience would be providedthrough direct harvesting, preparing, preservation andproduction of traditional products by the apprentice.Both the “masters” and “apprentices” will be equippedas necessary with tools, supplies and support. TheMohawk language component is also infused into everyaspect of apprentices’ training in order to maintain thetransmission of language and important technical focalvocabulary embedded in traditional resource harvestingpractices. The depth and complexity of the languageitself must be synonymous in the learning process asparticipants are reconnected to the natural resourcebased cultural activities. This important component ofthe Apprenticeship Program will result in an increase inthe number of language speakers as participants recoverfluency. The goal of this program is for apprentices togain a level of cultural knowledge and language fluencywhich allows them to practice autonomously and totake on a mentoring role for the next generation oflearners. If you are interested in more information onthis pending Cultural Apprenticeship program pleasecontact the SRMT Environment Division 518-358-5937:Jari Thompson, Cultural ResearcherAmberdawn LaFrance, Database AdministratorBarbara Tarbell, Program Manager ◊The Horticultural Component Seeks to Strengthenand Protect Ash Trees and Sweetgrass forBasketmakingApprentices will Learn to Hunt, Preserveand Prepare Wild Game9

Drop Drugs in Drug Drop BoxBy Alyson Cole, Public Information Administrative/Production AssistantThe Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police haverecently added a new weapon in Akwesasne’sfight against prescription drug abuse. It is called aMedication Drop Box or Drug Drop Box. It has becomethe newest fixture of the police station lobby, located at545 State Route 37. This box is available to the public24 hours a day in a secure location and its contents areemptied on a regular basis.No questions asked -- justdrop them in the box withcomplete anonymity.Seventy percent of peoplewho abuse medicationsget them from friends andfamily. The reasons are fairlycommon and simple. Theycan vary from swiping afew of Tota’s pills withouther noticing, finding anexpired bottle of Xanax®in a friend’s bathroom orinheriting a chest full ofmedication from the passingof a sick relative. In somemore extreme cases, abuserseven resort to breaking andentering in order to raid aperson’s medicine cabinet.The major issue in prescription abuse situations is thatthese drugs are easily accessible and that the peoplewho own them do not know the proper way to disposeof medications that are unwanted, unused or expired.The goal of the Drug Drop Box program is to havea safe place for disposal and to reduce risk of abuse,contamination, or preventable accidents, such as withchildren or pets. Many people believe it is okay toflush unused medications down the drain or toilet orto simply throw them out with the trash. The FDArecommends not flushing prescription drugs down thetoilet or drain unless the label specifically says that youcan and very few medications do. The most commonproblem with flushing is that there is the possible risk ofcontamination in the water and if tossed in the garbage,10they may end up in local landfills near water sources.Another misunderstanding in communities is thatlocal medical providers and pharmacies are able to ‘takeback’ these medications. In all actuality many do notand they may face liability issues, among other things,if they were to accept people’s old prescriptions orunwanted drugs. Althoughsome pharmacies do offer aDrug Take Back Day once ortwice a year, the SRMT HealthServices no longer accepts old,unused or expired meds.Legal regulations onthe transfer of controlledsubstances has limitedthe availability for othercommunity programs to acceptmedications and dispose ofthem. With the convenience ofthe Drug Drop Box located atthe Tribal Police Station, ourlocal law enforcement will beable to make sure the correctlaws are followed in handlingthe box’s contents. As pernormal procedure, the TribalPolice legally take possessionof the drugs, get a court order for their destructionand have the pharmaceuticals destroyed at a municipalsolid-waste combustion facility. After this is completethey must also report the total volume that has beendestroyed to the Department of EnvironmentalConservation. Overall the Tribal PD hopes that thisnew addition will help keep harmful medications outof the hands of those who might abuse them.In about one month of activity, over five poundsof unwanted medications have been collected in theSRMT Drug Drop Box.Accepted into the Drug Drop Box are tablets,capsules, patches, inhalers and any over-the-countermedication such as aspirin. Hazardous materials,needles, syringes and liquids are not acceptable. ◊

Tribal Court Swears InAppeals and Associate JudgesBy Barbara Gray, Ph.D., Tribal Court AdministratorOn August 20, 2012, another importantbenchmark was set for the Tribal Courts, whenChief Judge Herne swore in the newly-appointedCourt of Appeals Associate Judges and Tribal CourtsAssociate Judges. Tribal Courts Associate Judges hearcases of the Tribal Court when the Chief Judge is unablesuch as when he is recused due to a conflict of interest.The Appellate Court Judges hear cases appealedfrom the TribalCourt. The Court,having integrity andthe community’sconfidence that justicewill be provided, issomething the courtstrives to maintain.The swearing inceremony is soimportant becauseit provides anotherlayer of checks andbalances to ensurejustice.In his openingaddress, Chief JudgePJ Herne said, “I amso happy to standbefore you today andto be swearing in Associate Judges for the Tribal Courtand Appellate Court who all have law degrees and areMohawk.” Several family members of the new judges,members of Tribal Council and staff attended the event.After the swearing in ceremony, Judge CarrieGarrow said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to comehome and do work for our community.” Newly-swornin Appellate Court Judge Patricia Lenzi noted, “I amhonored to serve our people and the Tribe. Because ofthe boarding schools my family was lost for a long timeand it is so wonderful to be back.”L-R Top: Chief Judge PJ Herne, Chief Randy Hart, Sub-Chief Shelley Jacobs, Judge Patricia LenziBottom: Chief Ron LaFrance, Jr., Judge Carie Garrow, JudgeDale White, Tribal Court Administrator Barbara Gray, Ph.D.The Court has come a long way since being broughtbefore the Community in 2005 when communityreferendums were conducted and the communityapproved the creation of a SRMT Court system. By2007, all the members of Tribal Council (as per the2005 communityreferendums), signed aresolution recognizingthe outside governments.“…the TribalCourt system as anindependent decisionmakingentity withindependent judicialauthorities.” Thishas resulted in theestablishment ofthe current existingcourts system. Thisis the rare instanceof a governmentinstitution actuallybeing createdand approved bythe Akwesasnecommunity itself,versus that initiated by“I was the first lawyer to argue a case before the newCourt and it is an honor to serve as Associate AppellateCourt Judge,” said Judge Dale White in his remarks tothose attending the ceremony.The swearing-in ceremony took place in the SaintRegis Mohawk Tribal courtroom between 12:00 p.m.and 12:30 p.m., followed by a luncheon at the casino. ◊11

Tsikiónhet On Kwawén:na tanonTsiniionkwarihó:ten“Revive our word and history”Submitted By Akwesasne Community Justice ProgramThe Tsikiónhet On Kwawén:na tanonTsiniionkwarihó:ten “Revive our Word andHistory” youth camp was a weeklong pilot projectheld on Thompson Island from July 23-27, 2012. Thispilot project was sponsored by the Mohawk Councilof Akwesasne and coordinated by the AkwesasneCommunity Justice Program, the Akwesasne MohawkPolice Service,the Saint RegisMohawk TribalPolice Departmentand volunteers.The goal of thecamp was totarget youth ages12-18 and teachthem about theirculture, history,language andraise awarenessregardingprescription drug abuse.“I enjoyed every day of thecamp,” said Saint Regis MohawkTribal Police Officer Cpl. PJBurns. “It was very relaxing onThompson Island and all of thekids had a good time. Everyonetook part in the activities andthere was a sense of peace with allof the kids.”The cultural youth camp began with an orientationsession followed by a trek along the Thompson Islandwalking trails guided by the MCA EnvironmentDepartment. This activity was followed by an afternoonpresentation about historic teachings and team building12exercises with Tobi Mitchell. Elder Sesi Mitchellwas on hand to talk with the youth about TraditionalLaw, before participants were transported back to themainland.The second day of the youth camp started with apresentation by Cst. Robert White of the AkwesasneMohawk PoliceService onprescription drugabuse prevention.White stressedthe importanceof being aware ofthe side effectsand impactsthat prescriptiondrugs have onthe human body.Afterwards, EddieGray led the groupon a medicine walk to showparticipants the differentmedicines available on ThompsonIsland and in backyards. The daywrapped up with a presentationby Saint Regis Mohawk TribeHealing to Wellness Court JudgePJ Herne on topics relating to theHealing to Wellness program.“That’s why I wanted the youthto be well aware that they havetraditional medicines to show the difference in what isnaturally put here for them so they don’t have to usethese prescription drugs,” said Cst. White. “Also, to beaware that there are drug dealers out there looking fornew clientele all the time and not to fall victim to it –

that’s the important message to give to our youth.”The focus of the third day was around traditionalfemale and male roles and responsibilities, with all of thefemale participants sitting in with Louise McDonaldand the male participants with Aronhiaies Herne. Midmorningthe two groups switched so they would hearthe same information and have a better understandingof what is expected ofthe opposite gender.To kick off the themefor the afternoon, FredMitchell held a smokedfish demonstration withthe youth and the campsettled in for a smokedfish lunch.The youth campswitched gears for theafternoon with SaintRegis Mohawk Tribal PoliceOfficer Cpl. PJ Burns andAkwesasne Mohawk PoliceService Cst. Norman Kingproviding an overview of the Kids4 Fishing event that they andother volunteers developed backin 2011. With the second annualKids 4 Fishing event completedin May 2012, Cpl. Burns andCst. King, who areboth professionalfishermen, had awealth of knowledgeto share with thecamp participants.They discussed thedifferent styles offishing, artificiallures and baitsand the differentpresentation stylesto use with eachtype. They also discussed boating safety, danger signsto lookout for as well as warning areas in places like theSnye channel where they should take extra precaution.“Fishing is not just fishing, it is about finding a quiettime for you to think,” said Cpl. Burns. “Having a roughhome life can be difficult and being able to resort to13the river to find peace and really look at your inner selfcan really help some of these young people. Fishing,laughing and having fun in difficult times are all positiveaspects that can be taken away from this activity.”With a rainy start to the fourth day of youth camp,the determined participants braved the showers andspent the morning creating medicine pouches underthe direction of SaintRegis Mohawk TribeIntensive PreventiveProgram Youth Worker,Ian Clute. Each youthcamp participant sewedtheir own pouch and afew completed beadworkdesigns to add to thefront of them. Witha break in the weatherfor the afternoon, thecamp volunteers andparticipants enjoyed a canoeingexpedition around ThompsonIsland.The fifth and final day of theyouth camp included a morningpresentation on lacrosse byAkwesasne Mohawk PoliceCst. Robert White and Cst.Mackenzie Mitchell. Theydiscussed thebackground ofmedicine stickteachings and thecontemporaryaspects of the game.The afternoonwas spent withthe KanienkehakaRatirennenhawiAkwesasne Men’sSingers who led anIroquois social. Toconclude the youth camp a closing circle was led bycamp staff and the participants filled out questionnaireson how they felt about the camp. The overwhelmingrequest for next year’s camp is that it be overnight forthe week so that the youth can enjoy nighttime onThompson Island. ◊Photos by Kyrie Ransom

Causing a StinkBy Angela Benedict, Air QualityProgram Manager14Every year it seems like we have things happenwhich have never happened before or werenever so bad -- ever. Well, this year is no different.The environment division receives calls all the time forthings such as "There is bat in my house", "I have lots ofbees can you come get rid of them," or "I have this blackstuff all over my lawn furniture," or "Can you identifythis spider for me?" Last week was no exception. Wereceived a call that there was stuff falling "out of thesky" and it was leaving white spots all over. Not justregular white spots but foul-smelling white spots. Notsure if this was an air quality issue or not, my technicianand I went out to investigate. Sure enough white spotson the car, on top of the house, on the lawnmower. This"stuff" just washed off so we knew it wasn't paint orsomething like that. I did take a tape sample althoughI never looked at it. The next thing I did was look atthe trees. There are lots of trees in the area so I thoughtmaybe because of the dry weather the trees may beexcreting something. Oh, it was the trees all right butnot the trees directly. Looking closely I noticed thisinteresting little bug. He was kind of cool because forone thing he was green and everyone knows how I lovegreen, but he was orange, too -- my second favoritecolor. Next to this cute little bug was another greenbug that I noticed when I looked closer. I moved theleaf so I could take a picture of these insects and nextthing you know the green bug turned white. I thoughtthat is cool then out of his backside came this liquid.We had to take a sample of these guys so we broke a leafoff and took them back to the office. With the wonderof technology, I looked up on my phone green insectsand, lo and behold, there they were, both of them. Thelittle green and orange one is a nymph and the totallygreen one is an adult. The trees had several bugs onthem. We identified them as "Stink Bugs." The foulodor that was mentioned comes from these bugs in amilky white liquid.Stink bugs, sometimes referred to as shield bugs, aremembers of the Hemiptera order. These bugs are aptlynamed because they have small glands located on thethorax that are capable of emitting a bad smelling liquid.This ability is believed to be a defense mechanism thatcan be employed against predators; when a stink bug ismishandled, for example, it will release a foul odor.CharacteristicsThere are thousands of species of stink bugsthroughout the world. Two of the most well-knownspecies are the brown stink bug (Euschistus servus) and

the green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare or Chinaviahilaris). Both are commonly found throughout the USand other countries, particularly in Asia, where manyspecies are thought to have originated.Nymphthe area thoroughly, including pulling up and removingweeds, disposing of all leaf litter and other waste andwashing pots and other garden items. Using a powerwasher to clean the outside of a house and any otheroutdoor structures may also help.Homeowners should keep doors and windows wellsealed to help prevent the bugs from getting in, as theyoften seek shelter inside houses during the winter.If stink bugs are found inside a home, they can bevacuumed up or gently picked up by hand and disposedof quickly. People should be cautious while handlingstink bugs; they are not harmful to humans, but theywill release their odor when handled roughly. Theunpleasant smell tends to linger, but unlike the similarodor of a skunk, the scent can be washed away by usingsoap and water.Stink bugs range in color from brown to brilliantgreen, although many are duller shades designed toblend in with vegetation. A few, however, have brightorange markings that are thought to serve as a warningto predators. Nearly all species are distinguished by atriangle- or shield-shaped plate on their backs. Stinkbugs are part of an order of insects sometimes called"true bugs," which do not chew with their mouths;instead, they have a proboscis that allows them to suckthe liquids out of vegetation or other creatures.LifecycleMany species of stink bugs reproduce rapidly, withsome laying eggs several times a year. Females typicallylay multiple batches of eggs, often on plant leaves,which hatch in about a week. It typically takes severaladditional weeks for the insects to mature from nymphsinto adults. The nymphs closely resemble adults,although adults have four wings and the nymphs none.These bugs generally are active from spring to latefall in most regions. At night, they are attracted to lightand therefore can sometimes be seen flying around.Often, they hang around different types of vegetation,especially tomatoes, melons and beans.Pest ControlStink bugs can be difficult to control because they areresistant to some insecticides. A few varieties do workthough and can be tried if the bugs become a problem.To help reduce their numbers found in a garden, clean15AdultIn the beginning I mentioned the black stuff on lawnfurniture. This was one of the things we identified too.It is called sooty mold. Aphids, scales and the whiteflysuck sap out of plants and secrete this kind of sugaryhoneydew. This honeydew gets on things and once itdoes, it molds. It is called sooty mold because it is veryhard to get rid of. It's not toxic or anything (mostlycosmetic) because if it gets on your lawn chairs they willlook dirty, especially if they are white.Well, there you have it -- kind of stinky kind ofsticky, but we figured it out. Amazing what you learnover the years! So for the next seven generations let'sget the unknown known. ◊

Office of the Tribal ClerkProgram FeatureBy Summer Bero & Corleen JaccoTribal Clerk Corleen Jacco, Records ClerkTerry Cree and GIS Technician PaulDoxtator are all happy to welcome Ms. SummerBero to the Tribal Clerk’s Office as the DeputyClerk. They look forward to a successful workingrelationship to take on the challenges faced in thebusy office with land transactions, membership,research, certification letters and ID cards to namea few.The Tribal Clerk’s staff is presently workingtoward assisting the enrolled members living offthe territory by processing the enrollment cardsthrough the mail. Please contact the office torequest the application: 518-358-2272, extensions191, 261 and 271.Just a reminder to the enrolled tribal members ofAkwesasne that if you receive a Juror QualificationQuestionnaire from Franklin County or St.Lawrence County, drop the document off at theTribal Clerk’s Office so that they may take careof that for you by sending out a letter to theCommissioner of Jurors to remove your name fromtheir mailing list.L-R: Terry, Summer, Corleen and PaulShekon, my name is Summer Bero, mother of fourchildren: Sequoya, Shye, Sienna and Stone. I amthe oldest daughter of Walter and Geraldine Bero. Iam pleased to have been chosen for the position ofDeputy Clerk. I enjoy seeing, greeting and assistingthe community members in the Tribal Clerk's Office.Having four children has allowed me to see theimportance of organization which is integral in theClerk’s office.Summer Bero, Deputy Tribal Clerk ◊16

Casino Intern ScholarshipsBy Benjamin Herne, Casino Public Relations ManagerThe casino’s Education/Recruitment Departmentheld an award luncheon on Wednesday August15, 2012 to present scholarships to interns currentlyemployed at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino (AMC)and Mohawk Bingo Palace (MBP). The luncheon washeld in the Maple Room Steakhouse and was attendedby directors and managers from the Casino and Palace,as well as members of Tribal Council.The meal was prepared by Executive Chef GarrettMcKeenan with the assistance of Culinary Intern,Jamie Ransom who is currently attending MohawkValley. During the ceremony, words of encouragementwere offered to the interns by Sheila King, Directorof Education/Recruitment, Patrick Bassney, AMCGeneral Manager, and Emily Lauzon, who originallyimplemented the Native Internship Program backin 2007. She currently serves as the MBP GeneralManager. Rodney Jones, Valet Manager, also spokeabout his experience with his three interns Corey,Colby and Miles, who he described as some of the bestassociates he’s worked with.This year, the Native Internship Program honored22 interns who are enrolled in two- or four-yearinstitutions. The goal of the Native Internship Programis to provide support and encouragement for internsto stay in school and obtain their degrees by offeringemployment opportunities and scholarships. Theprogram continues to grow year after year, with thispast summer being the most successful to date. TheEducation/Recruitment Department thanks the SaintRegis Mohawk Tribal Council for its continued supportof its Native employment initiatives.The 2012 SRMT Native Intern Scholarship RecipientsCorey Bigtree-Thompson – Valet – Tompkins Cortland CCLouis King – Revenue Audit – SUNY CantonAshley Brown – Guest Services – Syracuse UniversityColby King-Jacobs – Valet – St. Lawrence CollegeNicole Burk – Food & Beverage/Facilities – SUNY CantonDiane Ransom – Security – IohahiioAlicia Francis – Security – St. Lawrence CollegeJamie Ransom – Food & Beverage – Mohawk ValleyMia Francis – Revenue Audit – Neumann UniversityKolby Smoke – Security – Lincoln Technical InstituteDale George-Conners – Slot Operations – Syracuse University17Mahlon Smoke – Food & Beverage – SUNY CantonChatnie Herne – Marketing – SUNY CantonNicole Terrance – E/R – Syracuse UniversityTekaheroken Herne – Guest Services – Local #2 ApprenticeshipAlicia Thompson – Purchasing - IohahiioLawrence Jock – Warehouse – Mohawk Valley CCCorey Thompson – Marketing – Lasalle CollegeWayne Johnson – Food & Beverage – Paul Smiths CollegeKayla Thompson – Security – SUNY PotsdamElizabeth Kelly – Food & Beverage – Tompkins Cortland CCMiles Thompson – Valet – University at Albany ◊

Land Dispute TribunalSubmitted By Legal DepartmentThe Saint Regis Mohawk Land DisputeResolution Ordinance has been in effectsince February 1, 2010. Current tribunal membersare: Paul Boots, Rowena General, Minerva White,Terrilee Ransom, Darlene Francis, Jarrad Terrance,and Steve Cook. Three additional alternates havebeen appointed and will be going through training.Since its inception the tribunal has adjudicated 21land disputes. The Land Dispute Tribunal hears anddecides new land disputes, which may be appealedto the Tribal Court, who can either uphold thetribunal’s decision, or issue a separate decision.The Land Dispute Ordinance is intended toprovide tribal members who have a land disputeto have a non-political forum to resolve disputes.Responsibility is placed on the parties involved toprove their case. The ordinance requires public noticeof all land disputes. Such notice contains the namesof the disputing parties and information about theparticular parcel of property in dispute. This is toallow other community members who may haveinformation or an interest in the disputed propertyto come forward. Each party to a dispute has theopportunity to examine all of the informationprovided by the opposing side and are afforded avenue where their argument is heard. The tribunalhas deadlines to hold hearings and make decisionsso a land dispute can be resolved in as little as threemonths. Cooperation of the parties lead to speedierresolutions which are fair and equitable for everyoneinvolved.Land disputes are filed only on Wednesdays inthe Tribal Clerk’s office upon paying a filing fee of$100. Complaint Forms and the Land DisputeResolution Ordinance are also available in theTribal Clerk’s Office. The Tribal Clerk’s staff willprovide additional information necessary for tribalmembers to file land dispute claims.Finally, either party to a dispute has 30 days toappeal a tribunal decision to Tribal Court. If thereis no appeal, the tribunal decision will be final. PastTribal Council decisions may also be appealed tothe Tribal Court, but only for decisions made nomore than ten (10) years prior to February 1, 2010.In order to file an appeal to Tribal Court, a Noticeof Appeal Form must be filled out and filed at theTribal Court, accompanied by the $100 filing fee.The appeal forms are available at the Tribal Court.If community members have questions, pleasecontact the Tribal Clerk’s office, the Tribe’s LegalDepartment at 518-358-2272, or the Tribal Courtat 518-358-6300. ◊19

Monthly Tribal MeetingSeskehko:wa / September 8, 2012Chaired by Chief Paul O. ThompsonAgenda1. Introductions:• Welcome• Reading of Action Items - Tribal Clerk2. Executive Director Introduction3. 2012/2013 Fuel Assistance Program• Compliance4. Drug Court• Micalee Horn5. Broadband Update• Jason Hall6. Konon:kwe• Randi Rourke7. Sexual Assault Response Team• Debra Martin8. New Business9. Reading of Action Items• Tribal Clerk10. AdjournmentAction Items from September Meeting1. To review what has been signed in regards to "ZeroTolerance" and report back at next months meeting2. To speak with the Chief of Police and look intosetting a policy into place RE: dangerous andviolent offenders released back into the community3. To report on the law suits we have regarding theland claims4. To look into implementing a roving microphonesystem for the monthly meetings5. To schedule a meeting regarding the reduction offees for small businesses6. To look into the personnel policy regarding the 6week maternity leave for tribal and casino employeesFollow-up on Action Items from August Meeting1. To look into making provisions to the fuel allotmentto include those that have electric heat and reportback at next months meetingFollow-up: It was confirmed that there is alreadyan allotment for individuals with electric heat;Compliance will be available at the Tribal MonthlyMeeting to answer any additional questions.2. To look into the Anti-tax steering committee’smeeting that was first discussed at the tribal monthlymeeting held earlier this year (March or April)Follow-up: A meeting was held on August 20, 2012at 3:30 and a report from the Committee is pending.3. To arrange a meeting with the Diabetes Center ofExcellence Committee to discuss the issues delayingthis project moving forwardFollow-up: The delays were identified to beoutstanding documents from the Contractor. Thosehave since been received and the Tribe has issued aNotice to Proceed.4. To get an opinion on whether it violates the law toenter into a severance agreement with an individual,and, separately, to contract with the same individualfor similar servicesFollow-up: A legal opinion was sought and it wasdetermined that there is no violation of the Tribe’sPersonnel Policy, nor does it violate any laws.20

CalendarKenténha / October6 - Monthly Tribal Meeting - 10:00 a.m. - Community Building lobby8 - Fall Heritage Day - Tribal offices and transfer station closed9 - Social Security Administration - 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. - Tribal Clerk’s office11 - Breast Cancer Awareness Day - Wear pink - 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Health Services lobby17 - Shine the Light on Domesic Violence - Wear purpleTuesdays - Tribal Council Work Sessions - 9:00 a.m. - Tribal Council BoardroomNew FacesMalloy Godreau Youth Worker Akwesasne Group HomeVeronica Tatro Teacher Aide Early Childhood DevelopmentJohn J. Tooker Per Diem Office for the AgingGiving BackSports Associations- $ 7,200Community Activities - $ 2,400Community Golf - $ 775Funerals - $ 1,000JobsDirector - Social Services DivisionAssistant Director - Social Services DivisionConsumer Services Facilitator - Division ofCommunity & Family SupportCredentialed Prevention Specialist - AlcoholismChemical Dependency Prevention ProgramLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Health ServicesMedical ClinicDiabetes Program Coordinator - Health ServicesLet's Get Healthy ProgramAll current positions with the Saint Regis MohawkTribe are posted on the Tribe's website at :www.srmt-nsn.gov.Positions with our gaming operations are posted onthe Akwesasne Mohawk Casino's website at:www. mohawkcasino.com.21

Fishing & Hunting inAkwesasneBy Mary La France, Environmental Health TechnicianThe mission of the Saint Regis Mohawk TribeEnvironment Division is to prevent diseaseand injury while promoting lifestyles that respect,protect and enhance the environment for the nextseven generations. The Saint Regis Mohawk TribeWater ResourcesProgram received agrant to work withthe New York StateDepartment of Health(NYSDOH) to advancethe Tribe's fish andgame advisory to betterprotect communityhealth while promotingtraditional lifestyles. TheEnvironment Divisionis asking the communityfor their assistance bycompleting a short surveyon the importance offishing and hunting. Inaddition, they are askingavid anglers and huntersif they are willing toparticipate in an in-depthinterview to help determinehow to best update thesefish and game advisories forAkwesasne.The Mohawk culturereminds people to acknowledge andgive thanks to the fish and wildlife. However, industrialcontaminants have disrupted traditional practicesby making their way into the local food chain andonto the dinner table. Some of these contaminants,like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and mercuryhave been known to cause severe health problems ifconsumed in large quantities or over long periods of22time. Health advisories should let people know whereit is safe to fish or hunt, what types of fish and gameare safer for consumption and how much. This isespecially important for areas where there are existingenvironmental concerns,such as the St. LawrenceRiver.There have been anumber of health advisoriesissued for the Akwesasnearea since 1987 and theTribe's EnvironmentDivision conducts regularmonitoring on the impactof contaminants in theSt. Lawrence River. Since1987, a lot has changedwith regard to the healthof the St. Lawrence atAkwesasne: much of thehighly contaminatedSt. Lawrence sedimenthas been addressed, onefactory has vacated,and others continue toreduce pollutant releasesthrough modernization.With these changesis a need to updatethe Tribe's fish andgame advisory to better reflect what ishappening in the environment right now.A significant aspect of updating the Tribe's fishand game advisory is community involvement. TheEnvironment Division and NYSDOH have developeda Community Fishing and Hunting Survey to helpunderstand the importance of fishing and hunting inAkwesasne.

The survey will ask:• How many people live in the household• If they consume locally caught fish or game, andwhat kind• Where people go to receive information onhealth advisories• How the advisories can be improvedThe second component of community involvementis a more involved interview, which is intended forthe avid angler and/or hunter who can help identifysignificant changes with regards to fish and game in theAkwesasne area. The interview will ask:• More details about where people are harvestingtheir fish and game• How the fish and game are prepared• What parts of the fish and game are consumed• How the information should best be presentedfor use by the Akwesasne communityThe Environment Division staff are actively collectingsurveys and conducting interviews at public outreachevents. Copies of the surveys are also available at theEnvironment Division office and will be sent to eachhousehold in Akwesasne for families to complete andreturn. Everybody who completes a survey or interviewwill receive a free gift for donating their time. For moreinformation about either the Community Fishing andHunting survey or interview please contact Mary LaFrance or Julia Jacobs at the Environment Division518-358-5937. Niawen:kówa! ◊Participants Also Receive an Akwesasne Territory FishGuide Mini PosterOutreach Coordinator Julia Jacobs and Environmental Health Educator Mary La FranceDisplay Gifts While Community Member Dallas Caldwell Fills out the CommunityHunting and Fishing Survey23

Breast Cancer Awareness MonthKenténha/October isNational Breast CancerAwareness monthand it’s time to spreadawareness to all womenin and around Akwesasne.The best protection is earlydetection. Breast cancer isthe most common canceramong women and it’s alsoone of the leading causes ofcancer deaths among women.Women have a one in eightchance of developing invasivebreast cancer during their lifetime. The American CancerSociety estimates that more than 1 million women in theU.S. have breast cancer and don't know it.The Outreach Chronic Care Nursing Departmentwill be hosting their annual Breast Cancer AwarenessDay on Thursday, Kenténha/October 11, 2012 in thelobby at the Saint Regis Mohawk Health Services fromBy Erin Barnes, Outreach Chronic Care Nursing9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The eventwill feature informationaltables and displays, breastcancer trivia and lotsof freebies. Don’tforget to WEARPINK for entry towin door prizes!Women shouldhave a clinical breastexam at least every threeyears starting at age 20and every year starting atage 40. Outreach will bescheduling appointments for women who wish to havea breast exam. If you think you are due for your annualbreast exam please call 518-358-3141 extension 130 toset up an appointment for Thursday, Kenténha/ October11, 2012. Exams will only be done by appointment andspots are limited so please call early. A rose will be givento all women who receive a breast exam. ◊Paint Akwesasne PinkKenténha/October 11, 2012Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe412 State Route 37Akwesasne, NY 13655ECRWSSPRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDMAILED FROMZIP CODE 13655PERMIT NO. 26POSTAL PATRON