Renegade Casino in Indian Country

Internal Mohawk Politics is much like the great sport that was given to them by the Creator: Lacrosse.  It is a brutal contact sport in which the participants wear little protective gear.  Blood is pretty common.

In a very insightful article in Indian Country Today, the dispute regarding the unlicensed casino on the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne is explored. The Men’s Council of the Longhouse, who are running the Three Feathers Casino, rejects the authority of the Tribal Government to allow or refuse them authority to operate a casino upon the Territory.  In fact, they reject the authority of the Tribal Government all together.

To the uninitiated, this may appear to be a little bit, how shall I say this, rash?  But the St. Regis Mohawk Territory is the only place on earth that I know of in which it is a perfectly acceptable political statement “Oh, I do not follow or accept the authority of that Government.”  It is a land that proves the maxim that one can only govern with the consent of the governed.

So the Men’s Council opens a Casino in July.  Clearly in violation of Federal and State Law as well as that of the recognized government of the Tribal territory.  Seven months later, the strongest action taken is the issuance of a Cease and Desist Letter by the Tribe.  No FBI, no State Police, no Tribal Police.

The Kanienkehaka Kaianerehkowa Kanonhsesne, The Men’s Council of the People of the Way of the Longhouse, who operate the Three Feathers Casino, has refused to shut down the casino. “The casino is open for business and we will remain open,” Turtle Clan representative Sakoieta (pronounced Sag o wee ta) to the Longhouse Men’s Council told ICTMN. The Longhouse council responded to the cease and desist order with a “Commentary” on January 31, defiantly rejecting the elected government’s authority. “While we claim no dominion over the Territory of Akwesasne, we absolutely reject any claim by you, any agency you attempt to empower or any outside authority that attempts to empower you, to have such either. We genuinely regard only the people to have such authority,” the document says. The commentary was signed by Sakoieta, Wolf Clan representative Rarahkwisere (pronounced La la gwees sulay), and Bear Clan representative Kanaretiio (Gana la deeo).

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Sakoieta told ICTMN that he thought “there would be a riot” if the Longhouse representatives were forced to close the casino’s doors.

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/02/02/mohawk-elected-government-and-traditional-longhouse-council-in-casino-rift-95529


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