AKWESASNE COURT: IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEALS FILED UNDER THE TSIKARISTISERE/DUNDEE LAND CLAIM SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
File #: Respectively (A) Appellant (R) Respondent
- 001-DSRR-12/18 (A) Scott Peters v (R ) MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict
- 002-DSRR-12/18 (A) Ronald M. Sunday v (R ) MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict
- 003-DSRR-12/18 (A) Steven Thompson v (R ) MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict
- 004-DSRR-12/18 (A) Virginia M. Johnson v (R ) MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict
- 005-DSRR-12/18 (A) Karla Ransom v (R ) MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict
The Akwesasne Court received five (5) applications in regards to the Dundee Land Claim Settlement Agreement Special Referendum Regulation in accordance to the Regulation under section 19.1, on December 14, 2018 no later than 1:00 pm. In keeping with the Regulation Appeals section 19.1 under section 20.0 Procedure on Appeals 20.3 ‘The Akwesasne Court shall review the appeal, the reply, the response, if any and all supporting documents submitted under Article 19.0 within five (5) days of receipt from the Court Administrator to determine if the appeal meets the threshold to proceed to a full hearing.’
The Akwesasne Court Administrator, Cheryl Jacobs, noted that “Given the volume of documentation submitted with each application and the reply from the individually named respondents, our two sitting Akwesasne Court Justices have determined that as each file review has been concluded, they will make their determination, the review period identified in the Regulation will in effect go beyond that five day determination timeframe. The Court does have the authority to make the decision to effectively, review each file outside of the five day referendum regulation identified timeframe.”
The Dundee Land Claim Settlement Agreement Special Referendum Regulation appeals are being reviewed individually at this time. The community can be assured that the court is committed to providing a fair process and is working diligently to fulfill the court’s duties and responsibilities, while upholding and respecting the values of the Mohawks of Akwesasne.
Any full hearing determinations requires the Court Administration to administratively and effectively notify the parties involved. As of Friday, January 25, 2019 there has been a determination reached on file #001-DSRR-12/18 Appellant Mr. Scott Peters v Respondent MCA Chief Referendum Officer Leona Benedict in which the Justices have determined the matter will proceed to a full hearing.
Further updates will be provided as each determination has been delivered to the Appellants and Respondent in the above noted cases.