Native Issues

(05/23/12) Gov. Cuomo's proposal to expand gambling in New York gave one rural St. Lawrence County leader an idea.

"I was thinking when I read the governor's proposal to put seven casinos in New York State, I thought, why not put one in the northern tier? Maybe we could get one up here." Brasher Town Supervisor James Dawson told town board members last week a casino would be a great way to attract visitors to the region...and to pump up St. Lawrence County's flagging economy.

The 900 acres Dawson has in mind has already been considered for a racetrack and entertainment complex. That development failed, and the land ended up in bankruptcy court. Dawson told Nora Flaherty a casino there could anchor a host of spin-off development. more

(03/22/12) In 1919, two intrepid cameramen left New York City to trek across the Canadian North. Traveling by foot, canoe, dog sled and icebreaker they filmed scenes from Hudson's Bay Company communities for that sponsor's upcoming 250th anniversary.

The finished two-hour movie was seen in Canada the following year. But once "talkies" took hold, interest in silent film faded. The original footage ended up tucked away in England, largely forgotten.

A collaborative project has been working to recover the film's source material for Canadians and the world. Some of the best segments will be shown April 3rd in a screening booked at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

To learn more, Lucy Martin reached filmmaker and event organizer Kevin Nikkel in Winnipeg. more

(02/14/12) A state Senator from Western New York was back at work at the state capitol yesterday, following an incident over the weekend at the Seneca Nation Casino in Niagara Falls where he and his wife were involved in a fight. The fight broke out after a diabetes fundraiser at the Casino. Martha Foley has more. more

(02/13/12) The U.S. government supports renewable energy with money for research and tax breaks. But as the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports, that backing has come under political fire, and the industry is already feeling the effects. more

(01/23/12) Gov. Andrew Cuomo has released a bill to amend the state's constitution to legalize non-Native casino gambling in New York. more

(01/13/12) One of the main planks in Governor Cuomo's State of the State address was the legalization of casinos in New York. Expanding gaming to non-Native casinos would require an amendment to the state Constitution. That's a long political process, and could add to the mix of lobbying money flowing into Albany. The Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports. more

(12/26/11) Last week, the Vatican declared that a Washington state boy's recovery from a deadly and debilitating illness was a miracle. The Pope signed documents attributing 11-year-old Jake Finkbonner's survival to the intercession of Kateri Tekakwitha. She was a 17th century Mohawk woman who lived in what is now Upstate New York and who converted to Catholicism.

The Pope's decision moves Kateri one step closer to full sainthood. Last week, Bishop Terry LaValley, head of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, issued a statement saying "we eagerly await that day when the church declares that she is numbered among the saints in heaven."

Back in April, NPR's religion corrrespondent, Barbara Bradley-Hagerty, examined the process by which the Vatican decides which miracles are authentic.

(12/05/11) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new jobs plan over the weekend. It centers on expanding gaming, and could mean a casino in the catskills, tax credits, and other initiatives.

The plan could be the centerpiece of Gov. Cuomo's second year in office, or it could be presented at a special session of the legislature to be held as early as this week.

The Assembly is coming back to Albany tomorrow for an afternoon conference, and possibly a special session.

In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.

(08/12/11) At the Akwesasne Freedom School on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation near Massena, kids spend their whole day, including recess, completely immersed in the Mohawk language. Nora Flaherty has more. more

(08/11/11) Seneca Nation president Robert Odawi Porter is using an historic piece of cloth to deliver a message to New York State about native sovereignty. He said payment of the cloth and a small sum according to an 18th century treaty symbolizes native nations' freedom from state taxation and right to land.

The history lesson came on the same day that Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he is considering legalizing gambling in New York. That would have a profound effect on native nations and tribes around the state who rely on their casinos for revenue. Martha Foley and Dave Bullard report.