NOTICE OF AKWESASNE ELECTION LAW REFERENDUM

Pursuant to Section 7.0 of the General Referendum Regulation (MCR 2015/2016-#263), the Chief Referendum Officer (CRO) hereby notifies the community of Akwesasne that a referendum will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the following locations: 

• District of Tsi Snaíhne: Tsi Snaihne School
• District of Kawehnò:ke: Ahkwesahsne Mohawk School (AMS)
• District of Kaná:takon: Kana:takon School

Referendum Background 


On February 27, 2025, community members from the districts of Kaná:takon, Tsi Snaíhne, and Kawehnò:ke presented a petition at a General Meeting requesting an amendment to Section 16.2(a) of the Akwesasne Election Law (AEL). 

Section 16.2(a) outlines the process for removing a District Chief through a community petition signed by eligible voters. The concern raised was that the current wording does not specify that the voters signing a petition must be from the same district as the District Chief being petitioned for removal. 

Following acceptance of the petition to amend section 16.2 (a), the Akwesasne Election Law Working Task Group (WTG) proceeded with the amendment process in accordance with the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Procedural Regulation (ALEPR). Phases I–III of the process included a call for community comments, community consultation meetings, and a legal review. 

The WTG has now developed proposed amendment language, which is being brought forward to the community for a referendum vote as part of Phase IV of the ALEPR process. 

Eligible voters will be asked to either approve or reject the proposed amendment through voting in the referendum. If the amendment is rejected, the proposed section of the Akwesasne Election Law will be shelved for 120 days, during which time no further development on the same subject matter may occur. 

A copy of the General Referendum Regulation is available at the Akwesasne Justice Department, located at 45 Johnson Road, Kaná:takon. 

The ballot question to be voted on will read as follows:  

Per MCR 2025/2026 – #281: “As a Voter of the Mohawks of Akwesasne, do you approve of the proposed amendment to the Akwesasne Election Law Section 16.2(a), to read: 

(a) A petition requesting the removal of a District Chief is signed by an equal number plus one of eligible voters from that District Chief’s district, based on the official total number of votes he or she received on election or by-election day, and delivered to the Council at a duly convened General Meeting; or…” 

Eligible referendum voters are responsible for ensuring their name appears on the Referendum Voters List. A member must be listed in order to vote. 

Referendum Voters Lists will be available for viewing effective Monday, January 12, 2026, at the following locations: 

• District of Tsi Snaíhne 
  • Iohahi:io Akwesasne Education & Training Institute
  • Snye Life Convenience Store
• District of Kawehnò:ke 
  • Bank of Montreal
  • Jock’s Kwik Stop
• District of Kaná:takon 
  • Canada Post Office
  • Village Currency 

If your name does not appear on your respective District  Referendum Voters List, you must contact the CRO and complete Schedule “G & H” to request to be added prior to the registration deadline. 

This referendum will be conducted by in-person polling station voting only.  There will be no door-to-door voting and no online voting. 

In-home voting will be limited to residents of community care or health facilities. Individuals requesting in-home voting for other reasons must contact the Chief Referendum Officer at least two (2) days prior to the advanced in-home voting dates, which have been set as: 

• Thursday, January 22, 2026: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 23, 2026: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Please note that the final deadline to be added to the Referendum Voters List is Thursday, January 29, 2026 no later than 9:00 a.m. 

For more information or assistance, community members may contact the Chief Referendum Officer at the Angus Mitchell Memorial Building (15 Akwesasne Street, Kaná:takon), by calling 613-575-2250 ext. 2126, or by email at  chief.electoral.officer@akwesasne.ca.  

Unofficial referendum results will be released immediately following the completion of ballot counting and will be posted on the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne website (www.akwesasne.ca) and social media platforms, and announced on CKON Radio. 

The deadline to appeal the referendum results is no later than 5:00 p.m., five (5) days after the public release of the results, and appeals must be filed with the Akwesasne Mohawk Court.