Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Robinson Bay is a beautiful natural area that traditional Akwesasne Mohawk people use and have used to gather plants and trees with medicinal properties. This site is a peaceful area that is home to many species of wildlife. The bay itself has beaver dams and other water animals living there that live there undisturbed by people. All of this is in jeopardy of being destroyed by the building of an aquarium.

Although there has been protests to the development of this area, the three chief system tribal council [St. Regis Mohawk Tribe] has signed an agreement with the Aquarium Board in Massena to develop this beautiful and natural landscape into a commercial site that will house an aquarium at Robinson Bay. Concerned Akwesasne Mohawks have found that the Aquarium being built on this site would destroy the wild life and plants such as trees and the medicines that currently call Robinson Bay home. They have found that this site is an ancient archaeological cultural site.

Environmentally concerned Akwesasne Mohawk people have vocally opposed the Robinson Bay development. Mohawk elders have written to the aquarium board expressing their disappointment at the disregard of their culture and the natural world. The President of the Aquarium Board, at a public meeting held at the HUD building in Akwesasne, agreed not to build at Robinson Bay, and said they would move it to Cole's Creek. However, the next day he reneged on his promise.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has signed an agreement to allow the Robinson Bay aquarium to be built. We need to persuade them to do what is right and not allow the building of the aquarium at Robinson Bay. We need to persuade those who are backing the building of this project at Robinson Bay to reconsider their support. This includes the following: The New York State Power Authority, Massena New York Economic Development, St. Lawrence University, Clarkson University, and SUNY Potsdam.

Please help the Akwesasne Mohawks stop the destruction of Robinson Bay! We are all responsible for protecting Mother Earth and the indigenous cultures. It is our hope that through peaceful means and the power of the Internet we can persuade the tribal council to act responsibly, and we hope the backers of this project will realize that their support of the Robinson Bay project is not a very smart, nor a good thing for them to do.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* Pass this information on to concerned people and environmental & human interest groups.
* Show that you do not support the destruction of a traditional medicine gathering area and the cultural integrity of Robinson Bay by mailing, faxing, and where available, to e-mail the following supporters of the aquarium at Robinson Bay.
[Example form letters are included below they can be copied and pasted, or printed and sent to the following address:]

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Rt. 37 Box 8 A
Hogansburg, New York 13655
Phone: 518-358-2272 ~ FAX: 518-358-3203

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environmental Division
412 State Route 37
Hogansburg, N.Y. 13655
Phone: 518-358-5937 ~ FAX: 518-358-6252
Email: earth@northnet.org

New York State Power Authority
Economic Development and Marketing:
Phone: 1-888-JOBSNYPA ~ E-mail: edpab@nypa.gov

Massena Community Development
E-mail: KATHI@communitysights.com

St. Lawrence University
23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617
General Information: (315) 229-5011 ~ E-mail: lcania@stlawu.edu

Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699
E-mail: webmaster@clarkson.edu

SUNY Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Ave.
Potsdam NY 13676
E-maiL: webmaster@potsdam.edu

EXAMPLE: FORM LETTER: Copy and paste into a new mail, or use it as an example of what to say and ask for.

St. Regis Mohawk Tribe
Rt. 37 Box 8 A
Hogansburg, New York 13655
Phone: 518-358-2272 ~ FAX: 518-358-3203

Dear St. Regis Mohawk Tribe: (Tribal Chiefs: Hilda Smoke, Alma Ransom, Paul Thompson.: Tribal Sub-Chiefs: Richard Terrance, John Bigtree Jr., and Harry Benedict)

It has come to my attention that the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has agreed to allow the Aquarium Board of Massena to build an aquarium at Robinson Bay. This traditional area is being used by Akwesasne Mohawks to gather plants and trees with medicinal properties. In addition, this site also is an ancient archeological site.

I feel that the placing of this project at the Robinson Bay location is not in harmony with fostering peaceful relations amongst the people of the community, it negatively effects the natural environment, and it will negatively effect the future generations' use of medicines found at that location. The Robinson Bay site is an important cultural site that should be preserved.

I appeal to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to retract their support of the Robinson Bay site for the aquarium project and to build it in the Cole's Creek area, which is not being used as a medicine gathering area, nor does it contain, to my knowledge ancestral remains. An alternative for the building of the site exists, and I hope that you will choose to build the aquarium at Cole's Creek, for it is an alternative that will foster peace.

Sincerely,

FORM LETTER #2 To Ask organizations to retract their support.

Dear Sirs:

It has come to my attention that your organization is funding or in support of building an aquarium at Robinson Bay despite the protest from many Mohawk people. This traditional area is being used by Akwesasne Mohawks to gather plants and trees with medicinal properties. In addition, this site this is also an ancient archeological site.

I feel that the placing of this project at the Robinson Bay location is not in harmony with fostering peaceful relations amongst the people of the community and community at large, it negatively effects the natural environment, and it will negatively effect the future generations' use of medicines found at that location. The Robinson Bay site is an important cultural site to many traditional Mohawk people, and it should be preserved.

I appeal to your organization to retract your support of the Robinson Bay site for the aquarium project and to build it in the Cole's Creek area, which is not being used as a medicine gathering area. Also, importantly, it does not contain, to my knowledge, ancestral remains. An alternative for the building of the site exists, and I hope that you will choose to build the aquarium at Cole's Creek, for it is an alternative that will foster peace.

Sincerely,