MCA STATEMENT ON RESPECT, UNITY & GOOD NEIGHBOURS
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) is aware of recent broad and harmful characterizations made about Akwesasne that have caused understandable concern and disappointment within our community.
MCA shares the sentiment expressed by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe that our relationships with neighbouring communities should be built upon mutual respect, understanding and partnership.
Akwesasne is home to thousands of hardworking people, families, professionals, business owners and community members who contribute every day not only to Akwesasne, but to the surrounding regions.
As we move forward, we encourage those in positions of leadership, influence and business to recognize the impact their words can have. Those with a public voice have an opportunity to help shape how communities see and understand one another, and we hope that influence is used to bring people together rather than divide them.
At the same time, MCA recognizes that the remarks of a few do not represent our neighbours as a whole.
In recent days, businesses and individuals from surrounding communities have reached out privately to express their support for Akwesasne. Some have chosen to do so without public recognition and have taken their own steps to raise concerns with leadership at various levels. To those who have reached out, spoken up or offered support simply because it was the right thing to do: nia:wen/thank you.
Akwesasne has longstanding relationships with our neighbouring communities. Our people work together, do business together, support one another and share many of the same hopes for safe, strong and prosperous communities.
It is these relationships, and the many people who continue to strengthen them through their words and actions, that MCA chooses to recognize and carry forward.