Ganienkeh, which translates from Mohawk into Land of the Flint, is a Mohawk community located on about 600 acres near Altona, New York in the far northeast corner of Upper New York State. In May 1974 an armed group of Mohawks "repossessed" land near Altona, New York, at Moss Lake, a girls' camp. They left Akwesasne reservation in order to live traditional lives. The reclamation is a rare case of Native peoples repossessing land from the US. The members of the community believe that this part of their traditional territory had been illegally obtained in a 1797 treaty made with Joseph Brant.  The action was part of specific land claims that were being filed by the Iroquois for lands lost after the American Revolution. The founding of Ganiengeh was also related to local problems  at Akwesasne such as substance abuse.

In 1977 the three-year armed occupation of the camp ended when the Mohawk agreed to move to a 600-700 acre territory at Miner Lake, which was offered by New York State through an intermediary trust. This became the settlement of Ganienkeh, about 12 miles from the Canadian border. The local townspeople helped supply the 25 families with food and other necessities during the first winter. The Mohawk established a "permanent non-reservation settlement" and claimed sovereign status. Altona residents and the government object to the claim of sovereignty and the land dispute has still not been settled.

Ganienkeh residents believe that they are the only Mohawk community functioning entirely under the Iroquois Constitution as a sovereign nation without interference from the US or Canadian governments. Their sovereign status means they can not be taxed by either New York State or the federal government.

In recent years Ganienkeh has relied on the Mohawk Nations Office and Warrior Society's introduction of high stakes, tax-free bingo, and tax-free sales of cigarettes and liquor for income. Not all residents of the community agree with using these sales for economic development.  Over the years the community has created a number of agricultural and farming initiatives.  The Ganienkeh Wholistic Center was created to provide services for the people of Ganienkeh and our non-Native neighbors. The community is devoted to revitalizing of the Mohawk language at Ganienkeh. In the winter of 2005 - Rontewennanónhnha – Ganienkeh’s first total immersion school became a reality. Initially the residents at Ganienkeh discouraged outside visitors, but they have begun extending their support to its “non-Indian” neighbors by providing employment opportunities and by assisting with various area charity fundraisers.