AKWESASNE -- In the wake of a statewide minimum wage hike to $9 per hour and talk of it possibly going even higher, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe officials are raising their minimum wage by nearly $1 per hour.

Their wage, which was already above the state and federal minimum, went to $11.03 per hour from $10.08 on Jan. 1.

It affects about 120 tribal employees, according to the Tribal Council.

“This increase represents the Tribe’s efforts to provide a livable wage for tribal employees, especially for our front line workers,” said tribe Executive Director Tsiorasa Barreiro. “The Tribe’s increase is well above New York State’s minimum wage.”

On Dec. 31, the state minimum went from $7.50 per hour to $9 per hour. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at the time that he wants to push for a $15 per hour minimum wage statewide.

The SUNY Board of Trustees are expected to ratify a minimum wage hike for their employees. If it passes, they will receive a $9.75 per hour minimum wage in February, which will rise to $15 in 2021.

Over the summer, the tribal council, Barreiro and the tribe’s CFO met and decided to hike the wage.

“Talks focused on balancing the needs of the staff, the needs of the community and the needs of the tribe given the economic climate in northern New York and across the United States,” Tribal Council said in a prepared statement. “We’re pleased that a ‘team approach’ has resulted in a more-appropriate minimum wage for tribal staff.”

The only people working for the tribe who will receive less than $11.03 per hour are some trainees and students specifically designated to receive a rate below the federal minimum wage, according to the tribe.