Monthly tribal meeting addresses community issues — Complaints, Bingo Palace net profits, Art Park, Soy bean project, and Diabetes.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Monthly Meeting was held May 14th, 2016 at the community building, chaired by Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance.  The action items from the April Monthly Tribal Meeting were read by the SRMT Tribal Clerk, which were as follows:

* Request to check into Progressive Jackpots.  The jackpots decrease when someone wins, particularly on Saturday, March 26, 2016.  Yes, the jackpots decrease when someone wins, especially on Saturday March 26, 2016.  The jackpot amount is the same for all of the machines in the group, and all reset to a new start amount when won, as it is linked together due to being progressive.

* Request for bingo Palace Net Profits. There will be an update at the June Tribal Monthly Meeting.

* Request for a community meeting on the Art Park. As of now an art park committee is being formed to start developing the concept and design sketch.  SRMT is looking for two community members to sit on the committee.  For more information contact Lindsay Tarbell at lindsay.tarbell@srmt-nsn.gov; or 518-358-2835.

* Request for community meetings on drug concerns.  Community Meetings were held April 11th, and May 9th, 2016.

* Request for a presentation on the Soy Bean Project.  The Soy Bean Project was an agenda item for the May meeting.

Following the action items, Mr. Jordan Lauzon and Mr. Craig Jock gave their presentations on their campaign to be elected on the SRCS School Board.  Mr. Lauzon ran against Mike Sisto, for a two-year seat, and Mr. Jock is running unopposed for a five-year seat.  Both felt they could do a lot together, to “do what’s best for the children in school and the community,” said Lauzon. “We are not simply preparing our kids for college or a career; we are preparing them for citizenship in a world they will inherit from us.  I believe that we are not merely teaching our students to read and write, we are also teaching them right from wrong.”

Mr. Jock also followed up their shared belief that the kids come first, as well as his strive to work towards bettering processes for the parents of children with disabilities, to ensure they are provided and accessing the programs and services that should be available to them.  Mr. Jock states that, “I will work hard to make decisions which ensure that teachers and classrooms are equipped with the best possible resources.  From our beautiful campus facilities to technology in the classroom, our children deserve enriched learning environments and innovative tools.  I am committed to providing those for them.”

Voting was held at the Salmon River Central School on May 17th, from noon to 8PM in the High School Auditorium. Mr Jock was elected to a five year term. Lauzon lost by only a handful of votes.

Stephanie Cook, SRMT Executive Director of Education, presented on the P-Tech Northern Border Academy program that will be implemented in the 2016 – 2017 school year.  P-Tech, Pathways in Technology Early College High School Program, will offer students the opportunity to be trained in the medical field starting from grade 9 throughout their high school career, into their first two college years.  This program will ensure the students chosen for this program will obtain an Associate’s degree through North Country Community College for free.

The P-Tech program is offering studies in three pathways: Health Services, Human Services, and Chemical Dependency.  The students will be transported to Franklin Academy in Malone, NY for the day, and bussed back to their respective schools in the afternoon.  This will allow students to look at these different pathways of learning, while also allowing the students time for extra-curricular activities.

This grant was awarded to three schools within Franklin County: Brushton-Moira, Malone, and Salmon River Central Schools allowing thirty spots, ten students from each school.  Stephanie Cook stated that, “this grant was awarded last fall, and is such a tremendous opportunity for these students.  Everything is ready to rock-n-roll this September.”

All students interested have completed applications, interviews, and have been chosen for this 2016 – 2017 school year.  The selection committee was made up of partners from the school district and advisory board.  Further down the road the P-Tech program will be looking at ways to expand in different pathways.

In response to the request for a presentation on the Soy Bean Project, SRMT Director of Economic Development, Christopher Thompson, updated the community on further details surrounding the investment made of “Soyway” by the Tewatahonni Corporation, the SRMT for-profit entity.  The investment will involve the purchase of land, off reserve that’s more conveniently located to highway and rail services, to build a new facility for a soy bean processing plant.

Soyway will process soy beans into soybean meal, for dairy cows, and soybean oil.  68.3% of the revenues will be from the soy bean meal production.  The beans will be acquired from soy bean farmers within Quebec (60%) and New York State (40%).  The soy beans will be procured by a secondary company called Interstate Commodities.  They will handle the purchasing and delivery of beans to the processing plant.  Another secondary company called Furst McNess will be purchasing 100% of the products made at this soy bean production plant.  “Basically we’ve sold what we’re making, and we haven’t even made it yet,” stated Thompson.

The SRMT Economic Development director ensured the community that the department performed its due diligence in looking at every angle in the process of this investment, and supports it as a solid investment.  There are many advantages to this investment such as prime location, rail access, highway access, job creation, local support, non-toxic process, energy efficiency, and the supply and demand is high.

New York State is the leader in yogurt sales in the US, and by tapping into this market the SRMT has accessed dairy farmers in the market for soy bean meal for their cattle.

There are future plans for a job fair, to engage the community to fill these highly skilled positions.  There will be a demand for machine workers and training programs available.  The benefits of this $3.5 Million dollar investment will be managed draw-downs (milestones), 22% ownership (the largest of all the investors), investment recovery within three years, estimated 200 construction jobs, 35 plant jobs (with competitive wages, benefits, and profit sharing), and 15-20 trucking job opportunities.

In total there are seven investors, including the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.  The other six investors are Mike Malecha- President, General Manager; Rob Swain, VP of Risk Management; Berry Summerour, CFO & VP; Doug Fisher, VP of Human Resources; Kenneth Jahre, VP of Business Development; Paul Gruenberg, VP of Strategy, Joint Ventures, M&A, Financial, and Risk Management.

The Soyway project has been deemed an investment, and not an expenditure, which is why the matter was not brought to a referendum to the community of Akwesasne.  Chief Ron LaFrance stated, that “council was advised by the CFO that because this is an investment and not an expenditure, that it did not require a referendum to the community.  It was a unanimous decision.”

In response to the ethics complaint filed on April 13, 2016 to the Tribal Administration Office, it has been found that the three chiefs in question, Ron LaFrance, Beverly Cook, and Eric Thompson, show no evidence to support the complaints filed, as they do not fall within the jurisdiction of the SRMT Ethics Ordinance.

In regards to the complaint against an individual’s health care policies, HIPAA Privacy Rule protects individual medical records and was unable to acquire further details.  However, it is known that Tribal employees and/or elected officials that have qualified for a Tribal Health Care Plan have elected and pay for their selected health care plan and may continue to do so after the end of employment.  This complaint will remain unfounded.

In regards to the third complaint made against the location of the Tribal EMS station and associated costs, it has been found that the Tribal Council did not participate in the selection of the location, or contracts with the property owner.  This selection was performed in accordance with the standard SRMT contracting practices.  This complaint will remain unfounded.

SRMT Ethics Officer, Mark Martin, states that “there is no cause to establish an ethics commission for a hearing under the procedures (Section VIII, subsection H. 3) within the Ethics Ordinance (TCR 2007-061).”

In April of 2016, Tribal Chiefs Beverly Cook and Eric Thompson, along with Allyson Doctor, MS Health Communication,  Dr. Robinson of the SRMT Physician and Michael Cook- Director of Health Services, were given a unique opportunity to tour the health facilities in Cuba, as well as research centers, 14 institutions, including the National Institute of Endocrinology, the Latin American School of Medicine, and lastly a meeting with the Directors of the biotech/pharmaceutical organization- Biocubafarma.

These SRMT officials were introduced to a new innovative drug called- Heberprot-P, which is a treatment for diabetic ulcers that may lead to amputations.  Heberprot-P contains a human epidermal growth factor, which may be injected over a 45 day treatment, depending on severity this treatment can continue for 60-90 days.  Heberprot-P has shown to reduce the risk of diabetic amputations by 70%.  It has also shown a success rate of 78-80%.

This innovative drug is offered in almost 30 countries, but is not yet available in the US or Canada.  The University of Arizona is interested in doing a clinical trial, which will take up to three years to complete.  This invitation to Cuba marks a culmination of indigenous communities and health care sharing.  Acceptance of this invitation was vital to “not get lost in the shuffle,” said Chief Beverly Cook.  “IHS has the smallest budget, below prisoners; we (IHS) are at the bottom of the public health system.  Cuba’s door is open to medical training, and said it would be about $80K to educate physicians, for the program entirely.  Cubans were leading in the Ebola crisis, and they don’t hesitate to offer help where it’s needed around the world.  They dispatched help to Haiti, and offered help after Hurricane Katrina.”

Chief Eric Thompson said in a statement in April 2016 that, “access to Heberprot-P may extend the years and quality of life to people facing diabetic wound complications and amputation.  We recognize the political hurdles of the past.  It is our intent to create access to a medication that decreases amputations, suffering, and disability.  Ultimately we hope to pave the path to treatment that will benefit our Mohawk people and other Native communities.”

On Saturday, May 28th, 2016 at 2PM a presentation will take place for Mohawk Code Talkers, at the Travis Solomon Memorial Lacrosse Box, at Generations Park.  There are 17 congressionally recognized Codetalkers, as well as an additional 8 names presented to the US Dept. of Defense, but have not been completely verified.  Tribal Council will recognize them as Mohawk Codetalkers.  Congressional Medals will be presented by Mike Cook to each Codetalker’s family, created by the US Mint.  There will also be duplicates available for sale to the public at a later date.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, NYS Assemblywoman Addie Russell has confirmed their attendance to this event.  There are already over 500 people planning on attending, if that number grows much more the venue may have to change.  The SRMT will put out a public notice in the event of a venue change for this occasion.

New business added to the action items for the June 2016 Monthly Tribal meeting are as follows:

* The former Bingo palace as a year round lacrosse box; parking lot ownership issues.

* Election Board- two vacancies.

* A PA system for the Senior Building Meetings.

SRMT Tribal Elections will be held on June 4th, 2016.  The next SRMT Tribal Monthly Meeting will be held on June 11th, 2016, at the SRMT Community Building, Akwesasne, NY.

ATV: By Ohseraséia:hawi