On September 12, 2019 at approximately 6:30 AM, Akwesasne Mohawk Police responded to a residence in the village of Kana:takon (St. Regis) where an individual had discharged a firearm into a motor vehicle.

Police canvassed the area, and later received information that the suspect was walking in the adjacent neighborhood with a firearm. Due to the potential threat to the community, a lockdown was issued to residents of Kana:takon.

William Burk-Johnson, age 24, was arrested and charged with a number of firearm-related offenses contrary to the Criminal Code. A bail hearing is scheduled for later this week.

The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service encourages anyone with any information that will assist in their investigation, to please contact Police at 613-575-2000 or the Akwesasne Crime Stoppers at 613-575-2255.

This morning, September 12, 2019, an incident in Kana:takon (St. Regis) lead to a lock down of the village. Police setup a perimeter around a home in efforts to apprehend an armed suspect and the individual was apprehended without incident.

The investigation is ongoing. No further information may be released at this time.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne resurrected its Ionkwakwé:nion “We Accomplished It” Book of Accomplishments on Tuesday evening with a special induction ceremony and dinner honouring all first responders.

The Book of Accomplishments was created during the last Council’s term and was on a hiatus. In bringing it back to the intended monthly schedule, a large kick-off event was held and first responders were selected as the special recipients.

Chiefs served attendees dinner at the event, which was held at the unrecognizable A’nowara’ko:wa Arena, transformed into a beautiful large event hall to show respect to the guests of honour.

“It is an event we feel is very important to the continued well-being of our community, to support the individuals who care for us in the most urgent of times, and who deserve our daily thanks and appreciation,” Chief April Adams-Phillips told the audience. “We hope that through this event, we are helping to show you that you’re important to all of us, and we have all been impacted over the years by your work, bravery, and self-less ability to step up when lives depend on you.

Police, dispatchers, ambulance personnel, and firefighters were invited from all of Akwesasne’s emergency service organizations; The Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police, and Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance. Special recognition was also given to outside agencies that serve the Akwesasne community, including Seaway Ambulance, Cornwall, Bombay, Fort Covington and Massena fire departments, and surrounding police agencies.

All first responders in attendance were invited to sign the Book of Accomplishments and each organization was given a wood-burned plaque featuring words of appreciation.

Niawenko:wa to all first responders for the selfless choices you’ve made to protect the community.

Niawenko:wa to the following for their donations to this event:
MCA Wholistic Health & Wellness Program
MCA Dept. of Community & Social Services & the Akwesasne Family Wellness Program
Mohawk Government & Council
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe & Akwesasne Mohawk Casino
MCA Community Health Program

Special thanks to:
Our youth volunteers who served dessert to the first responders
Midnight Confetti
Alana Jaquemet (Guest speaker)
The A’nowara’kowa Arena staff
KBE Photobooth
Linda S Sunday Catering
DJ Hightower
And the planning committee:
Chief April Adams Phillips
Chief Vanessa Adams
Ryan King
Waheson Lazore
Ashley Tarbell
Shannon Roundpoint

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On Monday, September 9, 2019 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Akwesasne Mohawk Police received a call of an individual suffering from unknown injuries. Police were dispatched to the area of River Road in Akwesasne, Quebec, where an off-duty paramedic was attending to the individual, a young male, who was seriously injured and unable to speak with police. Officers spoke with a second individual, who was also injured. Police obtained information that both subjects had been assaulted at a nearby residence and were transported to a hospital. Police also attended the hospital to continue their investigation.

This matter is still under investigation. No further information may be provided at this time.

Investigators are asking anyone who has information relating to this incident to call police at 613-575-2340. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Akwesasne Crime Stoppers by calling 613-575-2255.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is inviting all first responders (police, firefighters, dispatchers, EMTs/paramedics) to a special appreciation dinner on September 10, 2019 at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

During the event, all first responders are invited to sign the Mohawk Council’s Ionkwakwé:nion Book of Accomplishments, which is being re-launched for regular monthly inductions at MCA’s general meetings.

If you are a first responder serving Akwesasne, we invite you and a guest to enjoy an evening of acknowledgment.

If you have any questions please contact the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Communications Unit at 613-575-2250 ext. 2210 or email communications@akwesasne.ca.

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – 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 www.akwesasne.ca/…/legisla…/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

On Saturday, August 24, 2019, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne held a Special General Meeting in order for its membership to vote on the following question:

Do you approve the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law?

Following the secret ballot voting period, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Leona Benedict confirmed the following results:

• 79 Yes Votes
• 2 No Votes

Immediately following the CEO’s announcement, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne passed a resolution accepting the results and formally enacting the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law.

“Moving forward, the AFAL will allow us to have the structure and written guidelines needed to effectively manage the operations of the MCA organization with the bar for transparency set very high,” said MCA Executive Director Heather Phillips.  “We are thankful for the community’s participation and direction.”

Akwesasne Financial Administration Law Background

In 2013, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne established a working task group to develop an Akwesasne Financial Administration Law. This working task group met diligently and developed a law that showed strong financial administration that meets established accounting standards.

Mohawk Council Resolution 2016/2017-#224 accepted the proposed Akwesasne Financial Administration Law dated September 21, 2016 and directed the Akwesasne Justice Department to conduct Phase III of the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation.

In February 2019, the Akwesasne Justice Department began conducting community consultation through Information Meetings and accepting written submissions through April 2019. Comments from the consultation process were summarized, discussed and the agreed upon changes were incorporated into a new draft of the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law dated June 7, 2019.

On June 13, 2019 the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne accepted the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law in principle for community enactment by way of a secret ballot vote at a Special General Meeting. Community Notice was provided that the Special General Meeting would occur on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

This MCR Submission accepts the final results of the secret ballot vote at the Special General Meeting as being approved. The resolution establishes the enactment date of the law as the date the resolution is administered, with the coming into force date effective January 1, 2020. This will provide time for administration to develop the required policies, regulations, and procedures needed to administer the law. The Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will also be registered in the Akwesasne Law Registry and be posted on the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne website.

Special General Meeting vote rescheduled for August 24, 2019

TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne hereby gives notice that the proposed draft Akwesasne Financial Administration Law has been accepted in principle for enactment following the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation. Council has determined that enactment will be through a secret ballot vote at a Special General Meeting, which has been rescheduled for:

Saturday, August 24, 2019
Kanonhkwat’sheri:io Atrium (Kana:takon)
Special General Meeting start time 10:00 a.m.

Voting by secret ballot is open to Eligible Voters as determined by the Akwesasne Election Law, 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 draft Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will be held on the following dates, times and locations:

• District of Kawehno:ke — Saturday, August 17, 2019 10:00am-12:00pm at Kawehno:ke Recreation Center
• District of Kana:takon — Wednesday, August 21, 2019 6:00pm-8:00pm at Kana:takon Recreation Center
• District of Tsi Snaihne — Thursday, August 22, 2019 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center

Due to a lack of Eligible Voters present at the first Special General Meeting scheduled for this vote, the meeting could not be called to order. Therefore, the vote asking the community if they approve the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law was not held. The proposed Financial Administration Law supports sound financial administration practices by modernizing the rules dealing with financial management. Providing better rules for financial accountability will increase transparency and accountability to the Akwesasne community.

The proposed draft law completed Phase III of the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation – Community Consultation in April 2019. Community comments received were compiled into a report for review and recommendation by the Akwesasne Legislative Commission, followed by a second legal review and input from the Working Task Group.

To start the meeting at 10:00am a quorum of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (e.g. minimum of 7 Council members) and an addition of at least twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters are needed to be present. If there is not twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters present in addition to Council quorum within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled start time, the meeting cannot be called to order. If at this second Special General Meeting the attendance threshold is still not met, the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will be considered rejected.

If by 10:15am on Saturday, August 24, 2019 there is at least twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters present in addition to Council quorum, the meeting will begin. A summary of the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law 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.

A full copy of the law, and a Community Notice was mailed to every household in the Districts in June 2019. If you did not receive a copy in your mailbox, or are interested in picking up the information package directly, you can request these documents at the Akwesasne Justice Department 613-575-2250 ext. 2400. You can also access these documents online at http://www.akwesasne.ca/justice/legislative-development/akwesasne-financial-administration-law/

For more information on the proposed Akwesasne Financial Administration Law, please contact:

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