Mohawks of Akwesasne
Community Settlement Trust
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Mohawks of Akwesasne
Community Settlement Trust
Mohawks of Akwesasne Community Settlement Trust was created to provide benefits to Members of the Mohawks of Akwesasne from the funds received from the Kawehnoke-Easterbrook Settlement Agreement and the OPG Settlement Agreement.
The Call for Proposals occurs at the end of the first quarter of each year and remains open for a duration of one month.
The Mohawks of Akwesasne Community Settlement Trust was created to provide benefits to Members of the Mohawks of Akwesasne from the funds received from the Kawehnoke-Easterbrook Settlement Agreement and the OPG Settlement Agreement.
The Ontario Power Generating (OPG) settlement agreement was signed in 2008 and the Kawehnoke Easterbrook settlement agreement was signed in 2012, resulting in the creation of the Mohawks of Akwesasne Community Settlement Trust on July 21, 2014.
The OPG settlement agreement addresses past wrongs that began in 1954 with the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project. Pursuant to the Settlement agreement, OPG has paid the Mohawks of Akwesasne compensation in the amount of $45,963,520.
The Kawehnoke Easterbrook Specific Claim settled with Canada in 2012. Canada and Akwesasne settled for $4,448,932 to resolve past grievances associated with loss of use of the land plus $567,098 to recover costs relating to Akwesasne’s Settlement Agreement Negotiation and Ratification process with the community.
To fulfill the obligations of the funds pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and to create and promote health, safety, well-being and economic development for Akwesasronon while preserving and revitalizing the language and cultural heritage of the community of Akwesasne.
To provide funding to assist Akwesasronon in promoting their relationship with the land, traditional knowledge/language, culture and traditions, community health and wellness and economic development through activities that enhance the cohesiveness of Akwesasne as one community.
Following the public call out to local artists, the Trustees selected Mr. Bruce Boots, a Member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne, for the design of a logo for the Trust. The Trustees held a visioning session with Mr. Boots to convey their vision for the logo. Based on this information, he created a number of logos, from which the Trustees selected one and suggested a few refinements. The Trustee are proud of the resulting logo, which is now being used on all Trust material.
“The outside purple band is designed to look like one of our Mohawks belts of unity; every person being equal in a continuous and unending cycle of peace. The middle part of the logo is based on the Iroquois legend of the Creation Story with Turtle Island representing the earth carrying the Tree of Peace for all people. Future generations who seek peace can find it by following the white roots back to the protection of the Tree of Peace.”
Bruce Boots, Artist
