AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Clerk is providing notification that final amendments to the Tribe’s Non-Member Fishing Regulation will be enacted by the Tribal Council. In accordance with the Tribal Procedures Act, the community consultation phases and comment periods on the proposed amendments have concluded. The Tribal Council may now take final action and formally adopt the amended regulation at their biweekly Work Session. 

In 2014, the Non-Member Fishing Regulation was amended to safeguard the inherent and protected right of Akwesashró:non (People of Akwesasne) to fish in Akwesasne’s territorial waters. At the request of local residents, additional amendments have been proposed to further enhance this protected right. The amendments include establishing a season for Non-Members to fish in Akwesasne’s waters, setting catch limits, and increasing the fishing permit fees.

To share information and respond to questions on the proposed amendments, consultation meetings were held on Tsiothohrkó:wa/Jan. 18; Tsiothohrkó:wa/January 25, 2023; and onOnerahtókha/April 26. The amendments were presented at each meeting; as well as made available to view at the Tribal Clerk’s Office, the Office of the General Counsel, and at the Compliance Department. Development of the proposed amendments was accompanied by 30-day comment periods. 

A video recording of the consultation meetings remains available for membership to view on the Tribal Members Portal, which can be accessed from the Tribe’s website at www.srmt-nsn.gov. A copy of the Non-Member Fishing Regulation Amendments, with comments submitted by tribal members, is also available to view from the Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 consultation meetings.

The final 30-day comment period concluded on Ohiaríha/June 2; which enabled the final draft of the proposed amendments to move forward to enactment. The Tribal Council shall now take final action and formally adopt the Non-Member Fishing Regulation Amendments through the signing of a Tribal Council Resolution at Work Session.