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: Kawehnó:ke (Cornwall Island), Kaná:takon (St. Regis), and Tsi Snáihne (Snye).

	GRAND CHIEF LEONARD LAZORE
	Email: grand.chief@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2167 Mobile: 613-551-6737

KAWEHNÓ:KE DISTRICT CHIEFS

	CHIEF VANESSA ADAMS
	Email: chief.vanessa.adams@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2174 Mobile: 613-363-3891
	Portfolios: ARRO; Economic Development; Government Secretariat; DOH; DCSS; Public Safety
	Committees: Executive; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; CBSA

	CHIEF LISA FRANCIS-BENEDICT
	Email: chief.lisa.fbenedict@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2170 Mobile: 613-577-5593
	Portfolios: AMBE; DIHE; Justice; Nation Building
	Committees: CBSA; Governance; Iroquois Caucus; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)

	CHIEF LACEY PIERCE
	Email: chief.lacey.pierce@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2173 Mobile: 613-363-3498
	Portfolios: AMBE; DCSS; DOH; Public Safety
	Committees: CBSA: Finance; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; Iroquois Caucus; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)

	CHIEF VINCE THOMPSON
	Email: chief.vince.thompson@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2168 Mobile: 613-363-3164
	Portfolios: ARRO; DIHE; Economic Development; Nation Building
	Committees: Akwekskowa; CBSA; Property Acquisition Team (PAT); OVS; Hydro Quebec; Iroquois Caucus; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)

KANÁ:TAKON DISTRICT CHIEFS

	CHIEF FALLON DAVID
	Email: chief.fallon.david@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2175 Mobile: 613-577-5596
	Portfolios: DOH; DCSS; Justice; Public Safety; Economic Development
	Committees: CBSA; Property Acquisition Team (PAT); Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; Hydro Quebec; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)

	CHIEF CINDY FRANCIS-MITCHELL
	Email: chief.c.fmitchell@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2178 Mobile: 613-577-9014
	Portfolios: ARRO; Government Secretariat; Justice; Nation Building
	Committees: CBSA; Executive; Finance; Governance; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; Hydro Quebec

	CHIEF THERESA JACOBS
	Email: chief.theresa.jacobs@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2176 Mobile: 613-662-7599
	Portfolios: DOH; DIHE; Economic Development
	Committees: Finance; Governance; Property Acquisition Team (PAT)

	CHIEF TERESA OAKES
	Email: chief.teresa.oakes@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2124 Mobile: 613-551-0270
	Portfolios: AMBE; DCSS; Government Secretariat; Nation Building; Public Safety
	Committees: Akwesaskowa; CBSA; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; OVS; Hydro Quebec; Iroquois Caucus

TSI SNÁIHNE DISTRICT CHIEFS

	CHIEF SCOTT PETERS
	Email: chief.scott.peters@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2177 Mobile: 613-577-3240
	Portfolios: ARRO; DIHE; Economic Development; Justice; Public Safety; Nation Building
	Committees: Akwekskowa; Governance; Iroquois Caucus; Hydro Quebec

	CHIEF TESHA ROURKE
	Email: chief.tesha.rourke@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2179 Mobile: 613-551-3825
	Portfolios: DCSS; DOH; Economic Development
	Committees: CBSA; Finance; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)

	CHIEF SARAH SUNDAY-DIABO
	Email: chief.sarah.diabo@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2169 Mobile: 613-577-3276
	Portfolios: AMBE; DOH; Government Secretariat; Public Safety
	Committees: Iroquois Caucus; Hydro Quebec; CBSA

	CHIEF JOANN SWAMP
	Email: chief.joann.swamp@akwesasne.ca
	Office: 613-575-2250 ext. 2172 Mobile: 613-577-5592
	Portfolios: DCSS; DIHE; Government Secretariat; Nation Building
	Committees: Executive; Green Team; Beautification; Waterways; Property Acquisition Team (PAT); OVS; Hydro Quebec; Youth, Elders, Culture & Language (YECL)