Mae DesTroismaisons
Nature and Culture
February 6, 2014
Professor Walter Kuentzel
Background
Before colonial settlers arrived in New York State, the Mohawk Native Americans thrived there, hunting, fishing, and gathering in order to subsist on what is now protected land. The Mohawk way of life was changed drastically after the War of 1812. In less than a century, the Americans’ repressive legislation like the 1876 Indian Act attempted to assimilate the native people’s once self-sustaining and independent society into “civilized” western culture by means of prohibiting the use of the Mohawk language and “diminishing [their] land base” (Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke, 2013). Although most of the Mohawk tribe eventually migrated north to Canada, New York is still home to some Mohawk people today (Native Languages of the Americas, 2013).
In 1892, when the State of New York created the Adirondack Park, the land had already been subject to deforestation by clear-cutting. In order to preserve the natural beauty of this mountain landscape, including its forests and waterways, the Adirondack Forest Preserve was established in 1894 and was recognized as a protected “Forever Wild” area. Today, the Adirondack Park is a popular place for locals as well as tourists to canoe, hike, and cross-country ski. 2.6 million of the park’s 6 million acres are by the state, while the rest is privately owned. Often misconceived as a state or national park, the Adirondack Park is a unique place where public and private properties come together, allowing civilization and conservation to coexist (Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, 2014).
Controversy Surrounding Land Use and Ownership
If the Mohawk tribe in upstate New York were to sue the government to claim a variety of off-reservation hunting, fishing, and gathering rights on lands throughout the Adirondack park as well as to seek to take back possession of a 12,000-acre tract of land in the “Forever Wild” region of the park, it would be a controversial social and environmental issue. In the following sections, multiple sides of this hypothetical conflict will be explored objectively while the views of the Mohawks, the government, and private landowners will be projected. Furthermore, recommendations will be made on how to diffuse the situation.
Mohawk Position
English settlers and Native Americans formed numerous treaties with one another. Both sides entered some of these treaties willingly, but the colonists forced many others onto native peoples only after brutal battles had ensued (Friends Committee on National Legislation, 2008). Many tribes were virtually extinguished during the time of western colonization, and those that persisted may now only claim land “given” to them by the government in the form of reservations, which make up a small fraction of the United States’ area. Because of the atrocities committed by settlers to native tribes, including the Mohawks, Native American people today should have the right to practice traditional subsistence practices like hunting, fishing, and gathering, even on protected land and in conservation areas like the Adirondack Park.
Government Position
Because the treaties entered into by English settlers and Native Americans are legally binding, the Mohawk tribe in upstate New York does not have the right to take back land in the Adirondack Park or to use that land in ways that are illegal. Despite the importance of cultural traditions to the Mohawk people, hunting, fishing, and gathering in protected areas are prohibited. The environmental effects of the aforementioned activities would degrade the land and its species richness.
Private Landowner Position
Allowing recreational activities like hunting, fishing, and gathering in this area for Native Americans and for no one else would be unfair to other citizens. Additionally, the Mohawk community should not be permitted to reclaim property that has been bought and paid for by other people. It would be unethical for the government to take private land through eminent domain for the purpose of restoring Native American hunting grounds, as the Mohawks no longer need to hunt, fish, or gather food in order to survive.
Recommendations
Although there is no obvious compromise for this conflict, one way to diffuse the issue could be to allow hunting, fishing, and gathering by Mohawk people only on state-owned land in the Adirondack Park. These activities would need to have strict limitations for environmental reasons, however. Because the Mohawk population is small in size, it seems possible to allow them to engage in traditional subsistence exercises without harming species richness.
Works Cited
Redish, Laura, and Orrin Lewis. “Mohawk Indian Fact Sheet.” Native Languages of the Americas. N.p., 1998. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.bigorrin.org/mohawk_kids.htm>.
“The Adirondack Park.” Adirondacks, NY. Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://visitadirondacks.com/about/mountains/adirondack-park>.
“Treaty Rights and Responsibilities Basics.” FCNL. Friends Committee on National Legislation: A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest, 17 Mar. 2008. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://fcnl.org/issues/nativeam/treaty_rights_and_responsibilities_basics/>.
“Tsi Nitiohtón:ne Oká:ra (History of Kahnawá:ke).” Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke. Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke, 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.kahnawake.com/community/history.asp>.
Nature and Culture
February 6, 2014
Professor Walter Kuentzel
Background
Before colonial settlers arrived in New York State, the Mohawk Native Americans thrived there, hunting, fishing, and gathering in order to subsist on what is now protected land. The Mohawk way of life was changed drastically after the War of 1812. In less than a century, the Americans’ repressive legislation like the 1876 Indian Act attempted to assimilate the native people’s once self-sustaining and independent society into “civilized” western culture by means of prohibiting the use of the Mohawk language and “diminishing [their] land base” (Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke, 2013). Although most of the Mohawk tribe eventually migrated north to Canada, New York is still home to some Mohawk people today (Native Languages of the Americas, 2013).
In 1892, when the State of New York created the Adirondack Park, the land had already been subject to deforestation by clear-cutting. In order to preserve the natural beauty of this mountain landscape, including its forests and waterways, the Adirondack Forest Preserve was established in 1894 and was recognized as a protected “Forever Wild” area. Today, the Adirondack Park is a popular place for locals as well as tourists to canoe, hike, and cross-country ski. 2.6 million of the park’s 6 million acres are by the state, while the rest is privately owned. Often misconceived as a state or national park, the Adirondack Park is a unique place where public and private properties come together, allowing civilization and conservation to coexist (Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, 2014).
Controversy Surrounding Land Use and Ownership
If the Mohawk tribe in upstate New York were to sue the government to claim a variety of off-reservation hunting, fishing, and gathering rights on lands throughout the Adirondack park as well as to seek to take back possession of a 12,000-acre tract of land in the “Forever Wild” region of the park, it would be a controversial social and environmental issue. In the following sections, multiple sides of this hypothetical conflict will be explored objectively while the views of the Mohawks, the government, and private landowners will be projected. Furthermore, recommendations will be made on how to diffuse the situation.
Mohawk Position
English settlers and Native Americans formed numerous treaties with one another. Both sides entered some of these treaties willingly, but the colonists forced many others onto native peoples only after brutal battles had ensued (Friends Committee on National Legislation, 2008). Many tribes were virtually extinguished during the time of western colonization, and those that persisted may now only claim land “given” to them by the government in the form of reservations, which make up a small fraction of the United States’ area. Because of the atrocities committed by settlers to native tribes, including the Mohawks, Native American people today should have the right to practice traditional subsistence practices like hunting, fishing, and gathering, even on protected land and in conservation areas like the Adirondack Park.
Government Position
Because the treaties entered into by English settlers and Native Americans are legally binding, the Mohawk tribe in upstate New York does not have the right to take back land in the Adirondack Park or to use that land in ways that are illegal. Despite the importance of cultural traditions to the Mohawk people, hunting, fishing, and gathering in protected areas are prohibited. The environmental effects of the aforementioned activities would degrade the land and its species richness.
Private Landowner Position
Allowing recreational activities like hunting, fishing, and gathering in this area for Native Americans and for no one else would be unfair to other citizens. Additionally, the Mohawk community should not be permitted to reclaim property that has been bought and paid for by other people. It would be unethical for the government to take private land through eminent domain for the purpose of restoring Native American hunting grounds, as the Mohawks no longer need to hunt, fish, or gather food in order to survive.
Recommendations
Although there is no obvious compromise for this conflict, one way to diffuse the issue could be to allow hunting, fishing, and gathering by Mohawk people only on state-owned land in the Adirondack Park. These activities would need to have strict limitations for environmental reasons, however. Because the Mohawk population is small in size, it seems possible to allow them to engage in traditional subsistence exercises without harming species richness.
Works Cited
Redish, Laura, and Orrin Lewis. “Mohawk Indian Fact Sheet.” Native Languages of the Americas. N.p., 1998. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.bigorrin.org/mohawk_kids.htm>.
“The Adirondack Park.” Adirondacks, NY. Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://visitadirondacks.com/about/mountains/adirondack-park>.
“Treaty Rights and Responsibilities Basics.” FCNL. Friends Committee on National Legislation: A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest, 17 Mar. 2008. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://fcnl.org/issues/nativeam/treaty_rights_and_responsibilities_basics/>.
“Tsi Nitiohtón:ne Oká:ra (History of Kahnawá:ke).” Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke. Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke, 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.kahnawake.com/community/history.asp>.