Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is the federally-recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasne. The territory under our jurisdiction lies south of the border dividing the United States and Canada. The lands north of the border are under the jurisdiction of our counterparts, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe administers numerous programs and services for community members, the details of which you will find throughout this website. The Tribe’s governing body, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, is made up of three chiefs, three sub-chiefs, and a clerk. They are elected for three-year terms, with chiefs and sub-chiefs on a staggered basis. The elected councils at Akwesasne were initially promoted by outside powers, but they have been modified over time and enjoy popular participation by our own people. Like most modern governments, they are secular (non-religious) in nature. All members are welcome to vote, run for office, or work for the elected systems of government. In addition to various Christian denominations, there is also at Akwesasne the Rotinonshonni, or People of the Longhouse. They are represented by the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, which is a traditional government that has chiefs, sub-chiefs, clan mothers, and faith keepers, each one chosen according to clan. They are recognized by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee, but not by the United States or Canada. Some members of the Longhouse participate in the elected systems, but some do not. It should also be noted that not all traditional people are represented by the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs, such as the members of the Kanienkehaka Kaianerekowa Kanonsesne.