Special General Meeting

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne hereby gives notice that the proposed Akwesasne Election Law – Amendment (2019) has been accepted in principle for enactment following the amendment provisions contained in the existing law. The enactment method required under the Akwesasne Election Law (2005) is a secret ballot vote at a Special General Meeting, which will be held:

Saturday, September 28, 2019
Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center (Tsi Snaihne)
Special General Meeting start time 10:00am

Voting by secret ballot is open to Eligible Voters as determined by the Akwesasne Election Law (2005), which includes a person at the time of voting who:

(a) has attained eighteen years of age;
(b) is a resident in a district;
(c) is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne;
(d) is Onkwehonwe.

Contact the Chief Electoral Officer Leona Benedict to verify that you are on the voters list at 613-575-2250 ext. 2406 before the Special General Meeting.

Information Meetings regarding the proposed Akwesasne Election Law – Amendment (2019) will be held on the following dates, times and locations:

• District of Kawehno:ke – Saturday, September 21, 2019 – 10:00am-12:00pm at Kawehno:ke Recreation Center
• District of Kana:takon – Monday, September 23, 2019 – 6:00pm-8:00pm at Kana:takon Recreation Center
• District of Tsi Snaihne – Thursday, September 26, 2019 – 3:30pm-5:30pm at Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center

Background of Amendment:
The Mohawks of Akwesasne enacted a customary law in 1988 ensuring that selection of leadership was in accordance with local community custom. This law was subsequently amended to the current document called the Akwesasne Election Law in 2005.

The Akwesasne Legislative Commission selected the amendment of the Akwesasne Election Law as a priority for 2019. This law is currently being amended according to the amendment provisions contained within that law.

The Akwesasne Legislative Commission is focusing on changing the amendment process, and if this amendment is approved, then there will be a focus on more substantive changes based on feedback provided by the community during previous consultation periods.

Amendment Process:
An update will be mailed to every household within the Districts, which contains language of the proposed amendment to the Akwesasne Election Law – Section 18 Amendments. If you do not receive a copy in your mailbox, or are interested in the full version of the law with the change, you can request a copy of either document to be mailed to you, personally. Contact the Akwesasne Justice Department at 613-575-2250 ext. 2400 with your mailing address so a copy can be mailed to you. You can also access these documents online at http://www.akwesasne.ca/justice/legislative-development/akwesasne-election-law-amendment/.

To start the meeting at 10:00am a quorum of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (e.g. minimum of 7 Council members) are needed to be present in accordance with the Akwesasne Election Law (2005) Section 18. A summary of the proposed Akwesasne Election Law – Amendment (2019) will be read, followed by a motion from Council calling for the vote to take place. The secret ballot vote will be conducted by Chief Electoral Officer Leona Benedict and her Deputy Electoral Officers.

Eligible Voters interested in voting may enter the meeting any time after the start of the meeting to vote. Council quorum must be maintained for the duration of the meeting. At 12:00pm, the voting period will end and a second motion will be passed closing the voting process after all Eligible Voters in the room have voted.

For more information on the proposed Akwesasne Election Law – Amendment please contact:

Kyrie Ransom, Justice Coordinator
Akwesasne Justice Department
613-575-2250 ext. 2403
15 Akwesasne Street
Akwesasne, Quebec
H0M 1A0