Grand River Enterprises

Grand River Enterprises
Private
Industry Tobacco, bottled water
Founded 1993
Headquarters Ohsweken, Six Nations Territory
Key people
 Jerry Montour, CEO
Peter Montour, senior marketing officer, Kenny Hill, Marketing (Germany)
Products Sago
Seneca
Mohawk
Wahta Springs


Grand River Enterprises (GRE) sells tobacco products at its principal place of business located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve located in the Province of Ontario. It sells under the brand names Sago, Putters, DK's and Golden Leaf in Canada and Seneca in the United States.

The company is wholly native owned and is fully licensed by the federal government as a tobacco manufacturer. Tobacco on reserve is a new economy that has brought employment and opportunities resulting in healthy and sustainable communities. The spinoff effects of GRE has created over 1,000 jobs on first nations communities.[1]

The company was sued in March 2013 by New York State, which alleged that it was selling untaxed cigarettes to retailers in New York. The suit alleges that the sales violated the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act and the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, as well as state tax and health laws.[2]

The Six Nations Council continues to advocate that the millions of dollars paid by GRE to the federal government should be directly reinvested into the community since more taxes are paid by GRE compared to the annual transfer payment provided by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.[3]

GRE is facing a new battle due to counterfeiting of its products. The company has called on First Nations communities to put regulations in place that manufacturers can turn to when their tobacco products are counterfeited.[4] The company is the largest privately owned native corporation in the world. And the first to secure a private contract with the German Army. The contract is allegedly worth more than 70 million Euros per year. GRE International has been quoted to be worth an estimated one billon dollars. GRE operates factories across the globe. GRE sells its products in over 50 countries. The company has invested heavily in Philanthropy mainly with the creation of the Dream Catcher Foundation. Which has donated over 50 Million dollars to aboriginal causes. Believed to be the largest privately run aboriginal charity in existence. The company allegedly makes an estimated 100 Million dollars annually with the Montour & Hill families being the controlling shareholders.

References

  1. ↑ "Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security". Parliament of Canada. May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  2. ↑ "A.G. Schneiderman Sues Major Contraband Cigarette Dealers For Evading State Taxes". New York State Attorney General. March 4, 2013. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  3. ↑ "Six Nations Council, General Council Minutes" (PDF). Six Nations Council. January 14, 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  4. ↑ "Six Nations tobacco giant products hit with counterfeits, offers $25,000 reward". Kahnawake News. October 12, 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-09.


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