AKWESASNE TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

GOALS OF ATFE

The Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment has the following goals:

To develop training programs within Akwesasne that promote waste management including composting and recycling and to coordinate community clean-up efforts, such as roadside, river front and underwater clean-ups;
To develop and promote sustainable development projects such as aquaculture projects, family gardens, orchards and tree planting.;
To coordinate and maintain the monthly meetings of the ATFE, a grassroots pollution prevention task force within Akwesasne which serves to address community concerns relative to industrial pollution from nearby ALCOA, General Motors and Reynolds Aluminum as well as local commercial and residential pollution.
To maintain multilevel pollution prevention education for small businesses within Akwesasne.
To improve and continue to implement the process developed by the ATFE which addresses pollution prevention within the territory of Akwesasne that will be incorporated into federal, state and tribal institutional structures to ensure that pollution prevention is incorporated into decision making and planning.
To develop an effective operating structure for the ATFE, Inc. based on input from the grassroots organization, the ATFE that ultimately serves to protect the Mohawks at Akwesasne from further exposure to industrial and commercial contaminants.
To develop a long term funding strategy for the maintenance of a pollution prevention program for the Mohawks at Akwesasne which addresses not only industrial pollution but also residential commercial pollution issues.
To document and develop an evaluation process on the progress and impact of the ATFE, Inc.
To continue to train Mohawks in education and counseling to enable Mohawk people to survive and flourish in an environment polluted by nearby industries.
To provide education on pollution prevention, sustainable development and waste management to the Akwesasne Youth Council and other youth groups to reach diverse communities and households - particularly at risk groups.
To continue to identify opportunities and volunteer liaisons within the Mohawk territory that generate public involvement and empowerment.
To continue to develop educational modules and packages for training and distribution to programs, schools and local businesses.
To issue a newsletter and/or write articles for local media that are designed to inform the Mohawk people about pollution issues as well as to promote local pollution prevention activities.
To network with other environmental professionals on pollution prevention issues.
To network with other Iroquois Confederacy communities on pollution prevention issues.
To act as a liaison between the Superfund projects, State University of New York at Albany and the ATFE, Inc.
To maintain environmental monitoring of the Mohawk territory by coordinating the sampling and analysis of air, water and soils by the ATFE's laboratory trailer.

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