NEW YORK – Governor Paterson said last week that he is concerned about possible "violence and death" over New York State's plan to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian reservations, Gothamist reports.

"There will be quite an uprising and protest to this, but I am going to maintain this policy...The state police tell us over and over again that there could be violence and death as a result of some of the measures we're taking," Paterson said.

A U.S. District Court has reserved a decision as to whether to grant the Seneca Nation a temporary restraining order against New York State's enforcement of new tax laws. Regardless of the court's ultimate decision, though, the Senecas are preparing for a fight.

"Let's start setting up some fires here and there just to let the public know that we are serious and we are ready to battle if this is what it is going to come to," read one post on the Seneca Voice blog.

Because of the impending tax collection, the Onondaga Nation said it would probably stop selling national brand cigarettes this week and instead sell Indian-made brands, a move that Paterson said suits him just fine.

“They can make their own cigarettes and they can sell the cigarettes on the reservation as they are entitled to by federal law," Paterson said. "Once they come off, or anyone else comes off, of their sacred land with cigarettes that are not being taxed by New York State, we are going to address that issue."