MCA PETITION RESULTS

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is notifying the community of the outcome of petitions presented at the September 25, 2025 MCA General Meeting for the removal of three district chiefs. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Cheryl Jacobs completed the verification process of signatures and the results were delivered at the October 23, 2025 MCA General Meeting with the following results: 

Kana:takon District Chief Teresa Oakes
Threshold required: 84 signatures
Total signatures: 182
Invalid signatures: 14
Total Valid Signatures: 168
Result: Valid Petition

Kawehno:ke District Chief Vanessa Adams
Threshold required: 150 signatures
Total signatures: 192
Invalid signatures: 16
Total Valid Signatures: 176
Result: Valid Petition

Tsi Snaihne District Chief Sarah Sunday-Diabo
Threshold required: 177 signatures
Total signatures: 187
Invalid signatures: 15
Total Valid Signatures: 172
Result: Invalid Petition

According to the Akwesasne Election Law (AEL), Section 16. 2: A member of the Mohawk Council is removed from Council if: (a) a petition requesting the removal of a District Chief is signed by an equal number of votes plus one from the official total number of votes he/ she received on election/by election day and delivered to the Council at a duly convened General Meeting. 

According to the AEL Section 16. (3) Any petition submitted pursuant to section 16. (2) shall be examined by the C.E.O. to verify that each signature on the petition is that of an eligible voter. 

According to the AEL Section 16.(5): Should the verification process in Section 16. (3) above establish that a minimum number of eligible voters for section 16. (2) have signed the petition, the results shall be delivered to a duly convened General Meeting of Council. Council shall declare the member removed and order a By-Election for that position. 

Council held an Emergency Council Meeting on Oct. 24, 2025.  Council passed a motion directing that the declaration noted in 16.(5) be made by the Grand Chief. Therefore, by way of this notice, on behalf of Council, Grand Chief Leonard Lazore declares to the community that Kawehno:ke District Chief Vanessa Adams and Kana:takon District Chief Teresa Oakes have been removed from office by petition. 

A By-Election has been called for Dec. 13, 2025 for these two seats for the remainder of the 2024-2027 term, in combination with the By-Election already scheduled for one Kana:takon seat. This announcement is forthcoming.