Meet Council
About the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is the elected government responsible for the northern portion of the Akwesasne Territory. This governance system replaced the former St. Regis Band Council, which was established under Canada’s Indian Act in the early 1900s. Under that system, most authority was held by the federal government through the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada — now Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
Over the past several decades, MCA has worked to move beyond federal control and toward community-based self-governance. This has included the development of Akwesasne’s own education system, justice department, and police service, rooted in the needs, priorities, and values of the Akwesasronon.
Since 1998, MCA has been engaged in active discussions with Canada to transition away from the Indian Act by replacing federal legislation with Akwesasne laws and regulations. This self-governance process continues today and reflects the community’s ongoing commitment to exercising its inherent rights and responsibilities.
Elections are held every three years. The Council is made up of one Grand Chief elected by the entire community and twelve District Chiefs — four from each of Akwesasne’s three northern districts: Kawehnò:ke (Cornwall Island), Kaná:takon (St. Regis), and Tsi Snaíhne (Snye).
Grand Chief Leonard Lazore
Chief Fallon David
District of Kaná:takon
Email: chief.fallon.david@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2175
Mobile: 613-577-5596
Portfolios: Dept. of Community & Social Services (DCSS); Dept. of Health (DOH); Justice; Public Safety
Committees: Green Team/Beautification/Waterways; Property Acquisition Team (PAT); Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Hydro Quebec; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Chief Theresa Jacobs
District of Kaná:takon
Email: chief.theresa.jacobs@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2176
Mobile: 613-662-7599
Portfolios: Dept. of Health (DOH); Dept. of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE); Government Secretariat
Committees: Governance; Property Acquisition Team (PAT)
Chief Lisa Francis-Benedict
District of Kawehnò:ke
Email: chief.lisa.fbenedict@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2170
Mobile: 613-577-5593
Portfolios: Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE); Dept. of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE); Justice; Nation Building
Committees: Governance; Green Team/Beautification/Waterways; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Iroquois Caucus; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Chief Lacey Pierce
District of Kawehnò:ke
Email: chief.lacey.pierce@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2173
Mobile: 613-363-3498
Portfolios: Dept. of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE); Dept. of Health (DOH); Public Safety
Committees: Green Team/Beautification/Waterways; Property Acquisition Team (PAT); Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Iroquois Caucus
Chief Vince Thompson
District of Kawehnò:ke
Email: chief.vince.thompson@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2168
Mobile: 613-363-3164
Portfolios: Akwesasne Rights & Research Office (ARRO); Dept. of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE); Economic Development; Nation Building
Committees: Akweksko:wa Port Divestiture; Office of Vital Statistics (OVS); Property Acquisition Team (PAT) Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Hydro Quebec; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Iroquois Caucus
Chief Scott Peters
District of Tsi Snaíhne
Email: chief.scott.peters@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2177
Mobile: 613-577-3240
Portfolios: Akwesasne Rights & Research Office (ARRO); Nation Building; Public Safety; Economic Development
Committees: Akweksko:wa Port Divestiture; Governance; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Hydro Quebec; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Iroquois Caucus
Chief Tesha Rourke
District of Tsi Snaíhne
Email: chief.tesha.rourke@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2179
Mobile: 613-551-3825
Portfolios: Dept. of Community & Social Services (DCSS); Dep.t of Health (DOH); Justice
Committees: Finance; Governance; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Chief Sarah Sunday-Diabo
District of Tsi Snaíhne
Email: chief.sarah.diabo@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2169
Mobile: 613-577-3276
Portfolios: Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE); Akwesasne Rights & Research Office (ARRO); Government Secretariat; Public Safety
Committees: Governance; Hydro Quebec; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Iroquois Caucus
Chief JoAnn Swamp
District of Tsi Snaíhne
Email: chief.joann.swamp@akwesasne.ca
Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2172
Mobile: 613-577-5592
Portfolios: Dept. of Community & Social Services (DCSS); Dept. of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE); Government Secretariat; Nation Building
Committees: Executive; Office of Vital Statistics (OVS); Property Acquisition Team (PAT); Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL); Hydro Quebec; Iroquois Caucus
Contact Us
Akwesasne — Land Where the Partridge Drums
Email: info@akwesasne.ca
Phone 613-575-2250
Fax: 613-575-2181
Address:
PO Box 90
Akwesasne, Quebec, H0M 1A0
101 Tewesateni Road
Akwesasne, Ontario, K6H 0G5