Responding to a negative court ruling which will allow the sate of New York to collect tax on cigarettes sold to non-Native Americans, the Cayuga Nation released a press release today saying they would no longer sell cigarettes not made by the tribe. The Cayugas produce “Cayuga” brand cigarettes in eleven different brand styles. The release says, “Although we the Cayuga Nation views such action to be a clear violation of both its treaty rights and the U.S. Constitution, it appears we are without recourse to prevent the State from imposing these taxes.”
The Nation’s press release states unequivocally “As a sovereign nation, we refuse to pay taxes to the State of New York.” According to the release, Federal law prohibits the state from taxing tribally manufactured cigarettes.
No! One wonders why there isn’t any comments of the topic, is because most are probably afraid of retailiation from the government but I’ll say this I strongly think the government should leave the Indian Nations alone and STOP the harrassment and according to a chief I spoke with a day after the raid on Sky Dancers, he told me” That raid even took him by surprise” and if I was a chief of this Indian Nation if New York State wants Indian Casino’s built in New York State, then permit the Indian Nation to sell their proucts including their tobacco products such as cigarettes. After all, look what the White man did and how the White man treated the Indians back in the Wild West many moons ago. And another point is the merchants in Seneca County are more then upset with them as well.