VERHOVEK, "Standoff Ends, but Not Mohawk Defiance", The New York Times", 14 Apr 1990, 27 Feb 2010</ref> This became the settlement of Ganienkeh, about from the Canada–US border. The local townspeople helped supply them with food and other necessities during the first winter as they were allowed to take nothing but their personal property."The Warrior's Society and the Black Market" , in Sin-Tax Failure: The Market in Contraband Tobacco and Public Safety, The Mackenzie Institute, Toronto: 1994, accessed 27 Feb 2010 The Mohawk established a "permanent nonreservation settlement" and claimed sovereign status. "Ganienkeh's founding was a rare case of Indigenous people reclaiming land from the United States." Ganienkeh spokespeople state it is the only Kanienkehaka (Mohawk Nation) community that functions solely under the original Kaianerehkowa (the Constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy) without influence or interference of the United States or Canadian governments. The people claim that the Two Row Wampum (Guswhenta'') guarantees Ganienkeh the right to exist as a sovereign entity within the international community. They note that as a sovereign people they may not be taxed by New York or the federal government. In 1990 Ganienkeh introduced tax-free bingo, and its 1500-person hall is often filled to capacity. This activity has generated income which the community has invested in economic development projects. They also sell cigarettes tax free. They established the Ganienkeh Holistic Center, which provides classes and education to everyone in the larger community. They also opened the nine-hole Ganienkeh Golf Course, available to players for a fee. These businesses are communally operated for the benefit of the Territory. Through regular convened community meetings, every resident of Ganienkeh may participate in the day-to-day government of the community. Ganienkeh is a dry community, prohibiting all recreational drugs and alcohol. See also Akwesasne Kahnawake Kanesatake Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation References External links Ganienkeh.net Mohawk tribe Iroquois populated places Native American tribes in New York (state) History of New York (state)