Native Americans object to Sullivan County casino

County lawmakers vote to acceptnew contract with Mohawks

By FRITZ MAYER

NEW YORK STATE — John McDonald told the Sullivan County Legislature last week, that they had “no right” to enter into a casino contract with the chiefs who claim to represent the Mohawk people. McDonald, a lawyer from Rhinebeck, said he was speaking for the Mohawk Nation and that the chiefs negotiating with the county were an illegitimate government that had been forced on the Mohawks by the U.S. government.

A Sullivan County resident, Fred Pecora, showed pictures of members of the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada involved in a standoff with Canadian authorities over a new residential development. The protesters claimed the land belongs to Native Americans, while the Canadian government claims it does not. Pecora said that some of the protesters have said they would use the same tactics, such as blocking roads with loads of gravel and occupying the development site, to halt the building of a casino at the Monticello Raceway.

In subsequent interview, The Reverend James David Audlin, whose Mohawk name is Distant Eagle, explained that the Mohawk Nation is one of the Six Nations of Native Americans that formed a federation in the 19th century. The Mohawks have three separate councils of chiefs: one is recognized by the U.S. government, another is recognized by the Canadian government, and according to Audlin, a third is recognized by the vast majority of Mohawks as the legitimate leadership of the nation.

Audlin said that the council that is negotiating to open the casino in Sullivan County was elected by 10 to 15 percent of the Mohawk people.

McDonald said the position of most Mohawks is that they are a sovereign nation, and, as such, they do not have to abide by U.S. tax laws and customs. They object to the casino deal because, in their view, it invalidates their land claims in New York State. Also, it would force them to comply with certain New York laws, and threatens their sovereignty.

McDonald said that if the county and the racetrack move forward with the development of the casino it could “lead to bloodshed.”

Audlin, however, disagreed. He said the incident in Canada involves land that was once claimed by Mohawks, but that neither the Mohawks nor any other of the Six Nations ever claimed land in Sullivan County. He doubted that Six Nations citizens would move to prevent the construction of a casino, even though they oppose it. Audlin is the author of a new book called “Circle of Life: Traditional Teachings Of Native American Elders.”

Legislators vote for new contract

At the same meeting, lawmakers voted five-to-four to accept a new version of the contract with the Mohawks to develop and run the casino at the raceway. Because of confusion at the meeting, Legislator Elwin Wood voted no, but he actually meant to vote yes.

The new contract calls for some concessions on the part of the tribe, including payment of sales tax and room tax.

Legislators Chris Cunningham and Rodney Gaebel voted no because they oppose the casino. Legislator Ron Hiatt voted no on the grounds that there were not sufficient protections in the contract to assure that some people such as “dead beat dads” would not be served in the casino.